Google recently launched Street View for Google Maps, which integrates a street level view into the map. You can view some of the streets in San Francisco (click street view in the upper right hand modes).

The technology, which was an acquisition from Stanford, allows you to virtually drive down city streets. They apply blurs and 3D mapping to the images that makes for a seamless and smooth navigating experience.

Currently, they have good coverage of San Francisco, including most of the major streets in the entire SOMA district. This brings us one step closer to being able to virtually walk down any street in the US without the computer.

Now, if only they had a real time view so that I could figure out where all the empty parking spaces are next to my apartment before leaving work.

Sergey Brin is helping finance his wife’s biotech startup, 23andMe. In other words, Google is investing in your DNA. Scared yet? Many people already have a disdain for Google.

23andMe’s mission is

[…] to connect you to the 23 paired volumes of your own genetic blueprint (plus your mitochondrial DNA), bringing you personal insight into ancestry, genealogy, and inherited traits.

Google’s goal (other than advertising) is to organize the world’s information. And what information is more relevant than your own genes? Imagine a future where you would be able to query Google about your genetic makeup.

Query: Should I eat that fatty meatball sandwich?
Google: We recommend that you don’t. High cholesterol runs in your family. [Ad: Low prices on Lipitor!]

Query: Should I become an artist?
Google: No, we recommend that you become an engineer. Your genes have a high geek-level count. [Ad: Buy hard drives at Amazon]

Query: Should I have kids now or later?
Google: Immediately. Your genetics show that you have a low fertility rate. [Ad: Get free fertility counseling]

Okay, so maybe this is a little overdramatic, but I believe that we’re headed this direction in the world of genetic profiling. Unlike most other people, I’m optimistic about the benefits that we’ll derive from such a keen understanding of our genes. I don’t mind giving up a little privacy about myself to Google (which I am already) if it means the potential of discovering a threat to my health that would otherwise be overlooked.

And anyway, if I really wanted to become an artist, I’m not going to let a Google query tell me what to do.

It looks like Google is going back to its old tricks again by providing a Google maps interface to images of Mars. In the midst of the clutter of betas, it’s nice to know Google still has time to mess around with science and other interesting quirks. I’ve actually been a little disappointed with Google’s offerings lately–they just seem to lack the tight focus that the company used to have.

What I’m seeing is little annoying things like Gmail being down for 20 minutes at a time and the new Reader interface showing huge bugs. I’m all for releasing prototype products and calling them beta, but, there is a point where releasing something too early can kill the product. It’ll be interesting to see where Google will be focusing its efforts in the coming years. The GDrive certainly looks promising, if not a little scary.