Microsoft recently launched a new online technology that is providing early versions of an Internet classified service and a local search function that provides extremely high res detailed pictures of local streets. The new technology has been called Street View, and it basically gives a drivers street view of Seattle and San Francisco at the moment. It uses detailed pictures so you can get an idea of the area you are searching for. This combined with pinpoint map locations, is sure to make this a powerful tool.

There has been an increase in recent offerings from Microsoft at an aim to keep up with Yahoo, and especially Google in the search field.

Last year, Google did purchase Palo Alto based Android, which was headed by co-founder Andy Rubin who started Danger Inc, the makes of the SideKick HipTop device. Android has operated under a cloak of secrecy, and not a lot is known about the company. But we do know that Android was some kind of developer of smarter mobile devices that make the owner more aware of their location and preferences.  There was a site that was run by Andy, that showcased some new technology with a lot of similarities to the Microsoft Street View project. It has since been taken offline, and could be offline because Google has pumped up development on the project.

There are experiment pictures and videos located Here, and Here.