Google Earth

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.