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Specific Google Maps satellite view with Firefox is out of date but the same view with IEx11 is up to date

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The uploaded views are of Toronto Pearson International Airport and focus on Taxiway F which was completed last year. Google Maps satellite view was updated around September of last year and the updated view could be seen with both Firefox and Internet Explorer at that time. Recently I have seen that, when viewed with Firefox, only the old view is shown but, with Internet Explorer, the latest view is still shown. How is this possible? Although the satellite view of this airport is not of widespread interest but it could be one of many examples.

The uploaded views are of Toronto Pearson International Airport and focus on Taxiway F which was completed last year. Google Maps satellite view was updated around September of last year and the updated view could be seen with both Firefox and Internet Explorer at that time. Recently I have seen that, when viewed with Firefox, only the old view is shown but, with Internet Explorer, the latest view is still shown. How is this possible? Although the satellite view of this airport is not of widespread interest but it could be one of many examples.
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All Replies (15)

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Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.

  • Clear the Cache and
  • Remove Cookies
    Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to.

Type about:preferences<Enter> in the address bar.

  • Cookies; Select Privacy. Under History, select Firefox will Use Custom Settings. Press the button on the right side called Show Cookies. Use the search bar to look for the site. Note; There may be more than one entry. Remove All of them.
  • Cache; Select Advanced > Network. Across from Cached Web Content, Press Clear Now.

If there is still a problem, Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). While you are in safe mode;

Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe websites. Are there any problems?

Then restart.

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Looks like you cropped those images, don't see the Imagery footer that has the copyright date at all in the Firefox screenshot. Where the IE screenshot shows a slice of that footer.

That info should get updated twice a month, like on the 6th and the 20th. http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2010/10/how_often_does_google_update_the_im.html

I doubt if Firefox is showing an earlier version of that satellite view, maybe you have an older version coming from the Firefox cache - check the copyright date. Try doing a fresh reload bypassing the cache, using {Ctrl + F5} while viewing that area.

Also, I have been access older images of the Street View with the latest version of Google Imagery, but can't seem to find that with the Satellite View, They may not be cached and available

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Thanks to both. I cropped the images to keep the file size down but now I'm attaching the full images. What do you both see when you look at this satellite view in Firefox on your computers?

I disabled hardware acceleration but no difference. and I cleared the cache down to 0 kB and deleted all cookies and all temporary files but no difference but, just to emphasize, the updated view was shown in Firefox starting in September 2015 but now it isn't so it didn't seem like a cache problem.

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The only date I see is 2016. But on both screens, I see (in teeny tiny print) Feedback.

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I used the feedback link on June 9th and got a presumably automated reply saying thanks. No response since then.

The only difference in the information at the bottom of the two screens is Internet Explorer shows, in addition to the date :

Cnes/Spot Image, Digital Globe, First Base Solutions, Landsat

Have you looked at Taxiway F for yourself? I'm anxious to know If I'm the only one seeing this difference or if others can see it, too.

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Wow, the screenshot of Firefox is showing 2016 and I can see that the new section of the taxiway is missing.

See what I get zoomed in quite a bit and 1/2 width on the monitor to keep the file size acceptable. Win7, too - but my Firefox has some UI customizations - but nothing that would affect Google Maps / Satellite Imagery.

I got no ideas, but I gotta say that I am surprised that airports allow Google to show the resolution that the Satellite Imagery provides. To me that could be a security issue regarding possible terrorist targets.

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You can reload web page(s) and bypass the cache to refresh possibly outdated or corrupted files.

  • Hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload button
  • Press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
  • Press "Command + Shift + R" (Mac)

You can remove all data stored in Firefox from a specific domain via "Forget About This Site" in the right-click context menu of an history entry ("History > Show All History" or "View > Sidebar > History").

Using "Forget About This Site" will remove all data stored in Firefox from that domain like bookmarks and history and cookies and passwords and cache and exceptions, so be cautious. If you have a password or other data from that domain that you do not want to lose then make sure to backup this data or make a note.

Can't recover from this 'forget' unless you have a backup of involved files.

If you revisit a 'forgotten' website then data from that website will be saved once again.

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Since Google Chrome looks the same to me as Firefox, and I assume Google gives its own browser the latest image tiles, it's hard to explain what's going on.

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I have cleared my cache several times and reloaded and, because I have selected "Never remember history" in the Privacy options, I don't have any history entries to forget about.

Since Google Chrome was mentioned, I should say that it gives the same result as Firefox, i.e. an out-of-date view, but I don't know if that helps or just complicates the issue.

I am hoping some more of you would see for yourself if you get the out-of-date satellite view with the incomplete taxiway and let us know because I'm starting to think it's not just me who is seeing this. Thanks in anticipation to all who are contributing.

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Oh, duh.

IE is displaying the "Lite Mode" version of Google Maps with "Satellite" images. Chrome and Firefox are displaying the "full" version with "Earth" images. Apparently Google Earth is not as up-to-date for some reason.

To get Lite mode in Firefox, first follow this link:

https://www.google.com/maps/?force=lite

Then search for the airport and in the lower left you'll have Satellite instead of Earth. Click that and Firefox should match IE.

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Duh, indeed. You are correct and it works with Google Chrome as well. I am assuming you are confirming that it's not just me. Thanks.

The question remains as to why only Internet Explorer has the up-to-date satellite view in both modes.

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See also: Use Lite mode if Maps is slow - Google Maps Help: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3031966?p=litemode&hl=en&rd=1

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Your IE isn't using Google Earth -- apparently Google doesn't support it in IE. You'll note the different image supplier listed in the black bar; over time I would expect that photo to be added to Google Earth, too.

But for a more official and less speculative answer, feel free to ask Google: https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!forum/maps

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That must be it but it's funny that the unsupported IE is more consistent than Google Chrome between the two modes.

I didn't realise Google Maps had a forum so I think I'll go and bother them now.

Thanks very much.

Edit: I meant to ask, in case you have Windows 10, does Microsoft Edge behave in the same way as IE in this situation?

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Google Maps confirmed that the 3D imaging in the Full Mode takes longer to update than the regular imaging in the Lite Mode. In the case of IE, Google Maps can't load the 3D imaging so it automatically reverts to the regular imaging.

Maybe also my PC performance is borderline and can handle 3D imaging in some browsers but not in others..

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