According to the below-linked AP story, the Google maps are about 6 months to one year old. My guess is that they're more like 18 months old based on the pictures around where I live.

Google Feature Incorporates Satellite Maps

So, keyhole was the company acquired by google, which is where the satellite data comes from.

Some of their data and equipment, yes is DOD type stuff, but much of this technology comes from trying to monetize their investment and make information available at a consumer level.

The satellites, are not everywhere, and DOD allowed them to "photograph" areas of the planet when they were near a "target", mean DOD was paying for a satellite feed and Keyhole was trying to caputure as much data as they could in real time, without extra cost. sort of like, Hey, I need ONE picture of the Grand Canyon but since I am here, I might as well shoot the whole ROLE of film in case I might ever want to create a panorama of the grand canyon.

So, a LOT of the data is from old fly overs, some is always going to be more current than others.

I checked out some South San Jose regions, not much of a "target" mind you, and there were spaces empty which have had buildings for about two years.

Map data, for GPS applications as well, is the bane of the manufacturer and complaint of the user - ALWAYS!!

You mean area 51 is not in there?

area 51

what's interesting is jfk. if you zoom in you can see a parked concorde! that's like from a couple years ago at least.

these were found at google sightseeing

You will never believe what I found in AREA51

Actually, what I find even more interesting is the aircraft stopped in the 4R overrun area. (Keep moving to the right, then zoom in.) Looks like some emergency vehicles out there as well.

Interesting - don't know if they were taken on different days & stiched together, but both EWR and LGA appear to be using 22, not 4... might explain why that one used up some extra runway