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Google Earth

Home Page Release Notes Screen Shots License:
Freeware (see text)

Current Version: 5.0.11733.9347 (May 11, 2009)

Google Earth is a free program from Google that combines satellite imagery, maps and the Google search to a huge amount of geographic information at your fingertips. Features include:

  • Fly from space to your neighborhood. Type in an address and zoom right in.
  • Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
  • Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.
  • Save and share your searches and favorites. Even add your own annotations.

Version 5 is a major new release that adds/changes the following:

  • Support for displaying underwater terrain, water surface and underwater 3D models.
  • Support for historical imagery including new UI element to allow selection of historical imagery assets.
  • New touring feature that allows a tour or presentation to be recorded and played back. It also allows sound recording and playback.
  • Support for full HTML, Javascript and iframes in balloons shown in Earth.
  • Support for Mars imagery/terrain/layers through drop-down menu for sky and planets.
  • Support for 15 new languages, for a total of 41 total languages.
  • New unified user interface for time in Earth, supporting sunlight, time-based KML, and historical imagery.
  • Redesigned user interface icons and splash screen.
  • Support for opening description balloons by clicking on lines and polygons.
  • Support for arbitrary corner positions for ground overlays
  • 3D buildings enabled by default on capable machines.
  • Full scene anti-aliaising in OpenGL mode on Windows systems.
  • GPS device track import (46 new devices) and real-time tracking now in free version. You can find more information at http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/ug_gps.html
  • More prominent bouncing of labels for KML content.
  • Separate installers targetted for installing for All users or single user on Windows.
  • Faster start-up time.
  • Earth honors cache settings more rigorously.
  • Faster processing of KML files.
  • Significant performance improvements for 3D buildings in DirectX mode.
  • Enhanced support for anisotropic filtering.
  • Improved level of detail computation for better performance and quality.
  • Use OGC standard KML name when saving KML files.
  • Support for installers for users with non-administrative priviledges on Vista.
  • Improved performace for regionated KML files.
  • Improved performance in Pro version printing images, saving images and capturing movies.
  • Added HD view / output sizes.

The recommended configuration for this release is as follows

  • Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4.5
  • CPU: G4 1.2Ghz
  • System Memory (RAM): 512MB
  • Hard Disk: 2GB free space
  • Network Speed: 768 Kbits/sec
  • Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM
  • Screen: 1280x1024, "Millions of Colors"

The "Pro" version is available as a 7-day trial, and may be purchased online for $400 per year. It adds the following enhancements:

  • Fastest performance - enhanced network access
  • Improved printing and saving capabilities (2400 pixels)
  • Additional annotation tools (draw polygons with height)
  • Spreadsheet import - ingest up to 2,500 locations by address or lat/lon
  • Additional measurement tools (square feet, miles, acreage, radius, etc.)
  • Technical Support assistance (email and phone) during business hours (PST)
  • Optional premium features including: Movie Maker, Premium Printing and GIS Data Importer

Google Earth is not a typical Mac OS X "Cocoa" or "Carbon" application, but rather it was written using the portable Qt/Mac framework. This means that the application is a little larger than you might expect, and it also helps explain why it uses rather old-fashioned looking tabs and controls. That said, it functions quite well, and it's worth a download.

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Also Consider . . .

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