Now Google has updated Google Earth with the imagery from Landsat 8, launched in 2013. It did so by analyzing a large number of images, similar to how it produced this global time-lapse image of the earth. This was still the best imagery available at the time, though, which forced Google to come up with a means of removing those gaps from Google Earth. However, the images Landsat 7 captured after 2003 were affected by a hardware failure that resulted in diagonal gaps of missing data. When Google first unveiled its techniques for eliminating from Google Earth images striped artifacts, clouds and other atmospheric effects, it was using imagery from Landsat 7. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Landsat 8 satellite. Today, the company has repeated the process, but this time with newer, crisper imagery from NASA and the U.S. Just be warned that enabling this setting will most likely use more data than the standard interface.Several years ago, Google engineers figured out a way to stitch together satellite imagery to remove clouds, giving Google Earth and Google Maps users a better and more comprehensive view of the ground below. To turn it on, open the Android Auto app on your phone, launch Google Maps, tap the menu button in the search bar, and check Satellite. It does appear that the option is available now for most people. It wasn’t until now that satellite view has been enabled for Android Auto’s infotainment system mode. As he mentions, this view isn’t the standard 3D model that is found online, but it should be enough to help drivers better navigate unfamiliar locations.īut as AndroidPolice points out, Google Maps has had a satellite view option in Android Auto for quite some time, but it was oddly only available while using the phone experience. Do you ever get tired of seeing the same old gray and dull Google Maps while driving around using Android Auto in your car? Well, you’re in luck as it appears as though satellite view has become available for the infotainment system.Ī user on Google+ by the name of Roberto Mezquia Jr first noticed the change to Google Maps and snapped a couple of photos of satellite view in action.

Google maps satellite