Google maps are adding a street view, where you can see closeup photos of places taken by people onsite, not by a satellite. It's not a top down view; it's a view from down here, at street level and you can even see people in their homes if they're by a window. It is only in a few cities now.

http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/

http://maps.google.com/support/bin/a...6#street_views

http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/7834812.html