Google Earth

[Steve]

Not too long ago Google started work on performing a makeover on some software called Keyhole. The result is Google Earth. I have never had a play around with Keyhole, but I made a point of grabbing Google Earth today, grabbing a few screenshots as I had a look around.

You'll have to download Google Earth. The installer is a 10MiB file. However you will still need an Internet connection to use Google Earth as it streams imagery and other data from the web during use.

I fired up Google Earth and was presented with the Earth.



After spinning the world around a bit, I located Britain and zoomed on in.



As I zoomed towards London, Google Earth streamed more detailed pictures of the area onto my computer. So far, you may as well be using the Satellite view in Google Maps.



Now it's time to have some fun. Here's Buckhingham Palace:



Here it is from a different angle!



With Google Earth you can rotate the image and change the angle from which you view the Earth. Add to that the ability to overlay information such as railways, crime rates, road names and more and you have an application with some serious 'cool' to it. Alas, some of the features are quite US-centric, but where the satellite imagery is detailed enough, you can have some serious fun with Google Earth.

I'll let you have a play for yourself now. Let us know if you find anything funky or particularly useful!

[Lee H]

Now thats GREAT !!!!!!

I wonder if we can see all the good things on this like we found on the google satellite images such as planes and whatnot.

Kez - get looking for the B52's and blackbirds

[Steve]

Type your postcode into the box at the top left and watch Google Earth "fly to" it.

[unreal]

Beta over

[ajbrun]

Can someone host the installer, so we can all get it?

[Steve]

Can someone host the installer, so we can all get it?

Google stopped the beta for a reason, so I'm saying no.

[schmunk]

Gah!

[ajbrun]

Google stopped the beta for a reason, so I'm saying no.

What was the reason, and does your version still work?

[Steve]

I suspect, due to the fact that imagery and data is streamed from google's servers, that they closed it off to limit the number of initial users.

[midzt]

That looks amazing. It would be perfect for my graphics proejcts for which I need an overhead shot of the site i'm doing. Shame it been taken offline. Any idea when it may be back up?

[BlueMagician]

I just tried to install it at home, from a copy of the installer I used earlier today on another machine. Even though I got it setup, it won't run as it needs to 'activate' the beta account, which Google have evidently put the stoppers on too..

D'oh. I was really looking forward to playing with that tonight!

S.

[MrFlibble]

I've got an installer for the demo of keyhole LT, but you'll still need an account to use it. Have google bought keyhole then? if so, you'll still have the same problem

[Mike Fishcake]

I just tried to install it at home, from a copy of the installer I used earlier today on another machine. Even though I got it setup, it won't run as it needs to 'activate' the beta account, which Google have evidently put the stoppers on too..

D'oh. I was really looking forward to playing with that tonight!

S.

Not just me having the problem then. Installed it at work after seeing this thread. Played with it for about 30 minutes. Showed a colleague, who decided to download it, except he got the screen saying not available for download. I copied him the installer. He installed it on his PC and it worked.

I get it home, try to install it and alas, it won't work.

It truly is an amazing piece of software though. It's what in-car SatNav systems will look like in a few years!

(now where's my 1TB SD card...)

[unrealrocks]

Heh - Ive got it instaled on my main machine, Grand Canyon - WOW!

[scottyman]

It just blows my mind - it's too cool for words! Will be cool when they give us high-res imagery and sea bed data. Would love to import my existing points from my GPS - and integrate the data off my Dad's boat - see where our fishing holes are.
That view of buckingham palace is amazing.

[Mike Fishcake]

It's back on for download now!!