Just What is Google Earth Anyway?
I've recently downloaded Google Earth and have become somewhat of a Google Earth fanatic. Most people don't know what Google Earth is and I want to tell the world.
Wikipedia gives this overview of Google Earth:
Formerly known as Earth Viewer, Google Earth was developed by Keyhole, Inc., a company Google acquired in 2004. The product was renamed Google Earth in 2005 and is currently available for use on personal computers running Mac OS X 10.3.9 and above, and Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP. A Linux version has been announced for 2006. In addition to releasing an updated Keyhole based client, Google also added the satellite imagery from the Earth database to their web based mapping software.
Many large cities are available in a resolution high enough to see individual buildings, houses, and even cars. The degree of resolution available is based somewhat on the points of interest, but all land is covered in at least 15 meters of resolution. Google Earth allows users to search for addresses (for the USA, Canada, and UK only), enter coordinates, or simply use the mouse to browse to a location.
Google Earth also has digital terrain model data collected by NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. This means one can view the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest in three dimensions, instead of 2D like other map programs/sites. In addition, Google has provided a layer allowing one to see 3D buildings for some major cities in the US.
Many people using the applications are adding their own data and making them available through various sources such as the BBS or blogs mentioned in the link section below.
Google Earth is available in a free version, and in licensed versions for commercial use. It is currently officially available on Windows XP and Mac OS X . The Linux version, which was expected to be released in 2005, has been announced to be released in mid 2006. A leaked version of working non-public beta of Google Earth for Mac OS X started to appear on the internet on December 8, 2005.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_earth
The easiest way to find out about Google Earth is to download it and try it out. Google is one of the webs most trusted companies so you can rest assured that it is a safe and secure download. What do you have to lose? Give it a try!
You can also download the Google Earth getting started guide and video that shows you how to download, install and begin using Google Earth. You can get the guide here:
Download Google Earth Getting Started Guide & Video
Tags: Google Earth, Google Earth Basics, Google Earth In The News, Downloading Google Earth
