Google Earth
Wednesday, 29th June 2005 by
Wow, Google Earth is pretty impressive. If you haven't heard about this yet, it is a cut down version of Keyhole that Google have released completely free. Google bought Keyhole last year and most of the recent mapping technology has been based on their work. Fellow sightseers have reported that the image data in Google Earth is slightly older than the stuff on Google Maps, which is nice to know from our point of view (no pun intended). Of course, Google Earth has other features to put it above Google Maps. For some areas it has actual terrain data and it maps the satellite images onto a 3d mesh. This is demonstrated pretty spectacularly in places like the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. Google have also mapped out the major buildings in a lot of cities and these appear as 3d models, sticking out of the landscape. They aren't texture mapped, which is a shame, but it's still cool to actually fly around New York with the buildings towering above you.
James and Alex (being Apple hippies) are also not amused that it is only available for Windows. It's difficult to tell whether they'll release a non-windows version as Picassa (another company acquired by Google) is also solely Windows based.
I'm also working on a little script to serve up Google Earth formatted files for our 'Sights'. Look out soon for a link on our posts that will zoom you to that point in your copy of Google Earth.
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Google Earth (free or otherwise) seems to be down at the moment – I think its own success is killing it, for now at least!
Does anyone know what cities and locales have 3d renders for them?
The 3D terrain is worldwide. Already ‘been’ flying through the alps, pyrinees, alaska, hong kong, new zealand, colombia, chile… the 3D terrain is well represented in all areas.
ps. Cant wait for sites like this one to start appearing for Google Earth… it is much nicer than maps, IMHO, and if you rather see tops-down scrolling like maps, can be done with one button on the UI.
I had developped an online tool to convert from Google Maps to Google Earth (and vice versa): http://www.gouillou.com/ge/convert.php I’ve used it a lot to convert the Google Maps URLs found here (thanks!) and see them in Google Earth, so maybe it will interest some readers. Philippe
It doesn’t seem to work for me…..is this because the site is overwhelmed? Can you actually rotate the view 360!?!? wow I really want to see this!!
the coolest thing is the directions tab. Type in two places and it will pan you down to almost road level and drive you through the route on the roads. Its awesome, all you need to do is press the play button. Also, check out Mt St Helens. In terms of sightseeing, I think if people submitted coordinates, that would be good.
Philippe.. can you create an executable of these converter? Google might ask you to take the web page down (they killed the google wallpaper sight) and at least we can have these converters for ourselves if this happens.
have you guys heard of Nasa World Wind? it was released just a month or so ago and has the same concept behind it. check it out here: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
ALSO, I save a copy of the google earth installer to my HD, its about 10mb if anyone needs it. (cant really host it here or anything). The server for google earth still works fine, its not down, just the link to the installer.
Directions are neat, you can put point A to point B, and fly thru the directions and turns from a satellite view… even change the speed of the overheard tour (down at a tilted angle so its more realistic) It currently defaults to about 150 miles per hr, so it can be slow, but you can change that speed to zip thru your directions quicker.
Lots of links to the keyhole community forum with small places of interest back when keyhole did all the searches that google earth/maps now does.
Maybe there will be a way to link to this google sighseeing webpage from inside google earth (there appears to be a network link option that you can put url’s and servers for google earth to see), unsure how to use all that yet.
Nothing wrong with Apple Hippies! XD
I think you should start posting KML files. Google have their own sightseeing page, which is part of keyhole anyway… you could integrate into that, it is so extensible it rocks.
Google are tyring to get 3d cameras into cities, to take pictures of the buildings, imagine if this texture maps the buildings in the city, with store fronts?
Than you need to project live webcams into the scene. (or historic data) this is actually something I have been looking at for over 5 years.
System requirements say you need Windows 2000 or XP. Drat — my home computer is running ME. 🙁
You can download Google Earth here: http://desktop.google.com/download/earth/GoogleEarth.exe 😉
wow, why dont they chill down a bit, its going to fast! i havent even looked at the europe maps yet!
chris (June 29th, 2005 at 5:36 pm) Says: “Philippe.. can you create an executable of these converter? Google might ask you to take the web page down […]”
I don’t think it’s needed: during the beta test it has been anounced that this feature will be added to Google Earth : http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=SupportGE&Number=32548
Philippe
I am having some problems with the Google Earth Pro (the unico q download funcionava)….quando I I open the program the bar of search nao I appear… alone I obtain to see stars ¬¬… if someone wants you help me add me [email protected]
forgives my English… I am Brazilian
anybody got it to work on Win98SE yet?
THough having obtained a Mac mini recently, I think I’d prefer a copy on there, lets hope they really do release a Mac version.
lol, the example coordianates they give you above the search box are to the Google Campus
doesnt seem to work for me, i get som error at startup that it cant connect. (i have no firewall or anything though). wierd, any ideas?
Now, I wonder if Google will ever (or how difficult it would be to) make an API for developers like me to integrate this free data into insanely robust (Open Source or otherwise) simulator video games. I can just imagine being able to play a game like Midnight Club 3 or something equally outrageous using the layouts of the world’s roadways and such.
I can’t connect with that file either :\
Philippe, It seems there might be a bug in your conversion routine. In Google Maps, I typed in “Hononlulu, HI” and got the URL: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Honolulu,+HI&spn=0.155577,0.240704&t=k&hl=en
Your routine returned a .kmz file that Google Earth used to take me to some place west of Africa, 180 degrees from Hawaii on the opposite side of the globe. Good idea, though. Just got to iron out the wrinkles 🙂
As an aside, be sure to check out the legacy database. It has less overlays than the standard but in some areas the maps are much more detailed. Check out how close you can zoom in on ‘The Strip’ in Las Vegas. You can practically see Seigfried and Roy on the sign in front of The Mirage.
Google Earth Stops Downloads
Internet search engine Google stops allowing downloads of its new mapping product a day after the release. June 29, 2005
Google stopped allowing downloads of its Google Earth mapping product Wednesday, just a day after the Internet search firm trumpeted the new feature that lets users get satellite images of places ranging from their homes to the Eiffel Tower.
More info: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=12589&hed=Google+Earth+Stops+Downloads§or=Industries&subsector=InternetAndServices
Shadoefax: as indicated on the page in #1, you need first to double-left-click inside the map/satellite view, and it will works fine (not a bug :-)).
The reason is that in the URL obtained directly via a search there is no Lattitude/Longitude indication, so the converter uses the 0,0 point which is at the west of Africa. The double-click inside the view is necessary to add the Lat/Long indications in the URL.
Sorry for the bad explanation on the page, I’m going to correct it to stress the importance of this double-click.
RE: Nels Nelson Says: June 29th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Now, I wonder if Google will ever (or how difficult it would be to) make an API for developers like me to integrate this free data into insanely robust (Open Source or otherwise) simulator video games. I can just imagine being able to play a game like Midnight Club 3 or something equally outrageous using the layouts of the world’s roadways and such.
Ask and ye shall receive: http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/txt/google_maps_api.html
The deal with Picasa, I’m given to understand, is that Mac users are so happy with iPhoto, there’s no point porting Picasa.
Me, I’d far prefer to have Picasa — which is a bit galling since I’ve recently bought a Mac intending it to me my main photo and MP3 box.
Google Earth is one the best experiences I’ve ever had, sex included. Ouch!!!!!!
i can’t connect to kh.google.com server… why is that? tell me! [email protected]
WOW its great. Keep it up. George thorndyke
How do I get back the Legacy Data Base??? When I downloaded the upgrade it did away with it!!! It is the only Data base I can use here on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mahalo
I think google earth is just mind blowing and nothing can touch it, some other people have come out with 2nd rate applications but i cant see them making more, i just love searching around the globe, i think we’ll never stop, once you think you’ve done some thing else pops up and get you started again, I think its one of the best simulators i have ever used.
i only have windows 98 SE…does anyone know how to get it free for my comp?? lol
The ability to tag the overlays by having ‘i’ posting to various places is proving to be of nuiesance. Especially when people start to tag ‘Private’ info such as who stays where without taking permissioin from the person about whom the information is being published.
Does google have a recourse for this?
Some inputs are urgently required.
WHEN I USE THE ZOOM UP TO A PARTICULAR IMAGE I AM NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN A REFINED FOCUS. IS THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE?
I dewo! I want to install google earth live in my house I want to install it because I wanted to watch my house every day! NASA please accept my request to download google earth in my house