Google Earth Review
- Product:
- Google Earth Beta
- What’s Good:
- 3D Rendering, Quick, Google Search, World Coverage
- What’s Bad:
- Required Internet Connection, Not all areas are high resolution yet.
I was working on a review about Keyhole and how it compares to NASA World Wind but when I got an email this past Friday from Google about this Beta, I figured pictures from Google Earth would be more appropriate.
I don't see anything in the email about being quiet about this so here goes with some cool new mapping features from Google Earth. Soon to be a replacement for Keyhole.
Compared to Keyhole, you will notice changes right away with the interface. Integrated Google searches and a large number of landmarks that can be turned on and off.
3D Buildings
Lets start with the big things first. On selected US cities, you can view a grey scale 3D rendering of the city skyline. Pictures are worth more then words so I'll let the screenshots do the talking.
Public Transit
View Railroads, Subway lines and Bus routes along with all their stops. Or select multiple locations and have Google give you directions.
Land Rendering
This was in Keyhole but it's still amazing. Screenshots really can't capture how amazing it is to freely move around a 3D world.
Coverage
The coverage area has been increased over the past month.
Animation
You can select places or simply draw a path and then play an animation that will follow it. Or simply just measure the distance between point A and point B.
Other things to note
- GPS, Road Directions
- It's easy to get lost when zoomed in close and fast mouse movements.
- Screenshots are as easy as File > Save Image
- Arrow key navigation is slower then Keyhole was
- The side menus bounce around based on the number of search results.
- Tons of layers to turn on and off.
Comments
Terry - September 15, 2005 7:59 pm
I have the free version of Google Earth and the maps are very old, over 5 years. How do you get current views of satillite feeds?
Stephen DesRoches - September 16, 2005 10:13 am
Terry: You can't. The images come from an archive and are not updated on a regular basis. Google Earth is not a live view from space.
Ramon Santiago - October 17, 2005 8:26 pm
How can I aquire the free software it's for schooling purposes, especially for my daughters.
shivakannan - November 18, 2005 6:55 am
I need a copy of google earth for knowledge purpose.
Anand - Internet Blogger - October 18, 2006 6:27 am
Google Earth is available for free download from http://earth.google.com
If you have any problems, then try out http://wikimapia.com