Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
Earthquake 3D provides a fascinating look at recent seismic activity around the globe. While the program provides a great deal of information and options, it suffers from its complete lack of direction.
We were initially impressed with the interface. The controls all looked basic, but soon we discovered that the Help file didn't do more than give a description of the product, and some actions we wanted to perform were not intuitive enough. The program itself was a spinning globe with magnitudes and the traditional multiring circles indicating earthquakes. We appreciated how the control panel let us filter quakes by severity and changed the globe's look to better see the quakes. This all functioned great, but zooming in was impossible. We learned with ease how to rotate the globe using our mouse, but could not get a closer look, even though it's the first thing the description promised. After several fruitless minutes we grew frustrated and gave up. On a more interesting note, the program did have a feature that updated the globe with the newest quakes. But this wasn't enough to rescue this program from its unfortunate lack of direction.
Earthquake 3D is a freeware program. The program comes as a compressed file. Even though we loved most aspects of this program, its lack of direction makes it hard to recommend.
Publisher's Description
From Wolton:
Zoom and spin your way around the globe while viewing earthquakes in 3D. Adjust and customize the display to see earthquakes in a variety of different ways. Filter earthquakes by size and time - then select from many options that include quake indicators and map references. Earthquakes are shown in near real-time using the latest data from the USGS via the Internet.
What's new in this version: Version 2.7 includes a higher resolution Earth image and a new depth exaggeration feature.
More Products to Consider
-
Track the sun, moon, planets, and astronomic events.DownloadThis download is served from an external site
closeNOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.
Sponsored Products
Installed
Smart Install -
Turn your computer to an interactive physics laboratory.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View satellite pictures, maps, terrain, buildings and other glo...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create a solar system model on your PC.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View your real-time physical position on moving Google Map.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Hear the Athan (Azan) automatically five times a day at each pr...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Learn chemistry with this periodic table, database of the eleme...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Look up words in thesaurus and dictionary from almost any progr...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Experience simulated space travel to over 100,000 stars.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View the same images that scientists at NASA use for their rese...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Discover how to type and improve your typing.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
CyberSky is an accurate, yet easy-to-use planetarium program.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Get reminders about prayer time.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View, read, and convert EPub eBooks.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Solve differential equations on your PC.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install - Encode several chemical similarity indices.Download
Installed
Smart Install -
Learn touch-typing with a program that dynamically adjusts trai...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Perform science calculations with a variety of tools, reference...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install - Encode several chemical similarity indices.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Get English and Sinhala definitions with technical terms glossa...Download
Installed
Smart Install -
Estimate toxic hazard of chemical compounds.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
View the night sky as it appears from anywhere on Earth with th...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Analyze, synthesize, and manipulate speech.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Allow you to perform a live saving operation on your Windows PC...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install
-
All versions:
4.0 starsout of 34 votes
-
Current version:
3.8 starsout of 5 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-5 of 5
-
"One of the best scientific software's available free."
Version: Earthquake 3D 2.7
Pros
Near real time updating available from a trusted source. Unobtrusive when not actively in use. Relatively low in graphics demands from processor and video cards. Gives several databasing potentials in filtering magnitude ranges and hemisphere selection, Mouse controlled in viewpoint and size scale by a simple and easy to understand mouse placement and scroll-wheel adjustment without keyboard requirements. Even young school children can learn to use this in a first try. The software is colorful and limited to internal functioning, it has no advertising nor any competing browser seizure of the computer when updating basic info on earthquakes. Timing of the view can be adjusted from one day to one week, with science value in all those timing periods. Teaches aspects of Earth sciences, including global tectonics, and the new study of Earth's fluxing, changing, gravity field structure.
Cons
I have requested several advances in this software.
1. Multiple colors in magnitude and selectable hemispheric color distinctions, to aid in graphical ordering of the global scene.
2. A selection of only the far side globe hemisphere, rather than the required combination of near and far side, to aid in graphics study of planetary and gravity field studies.
3. A selection cutout of lesser magnitude quakes as an aid in discriminating the gravity field larger quakes, versus the smaller magnitude adjustment and geographic controlled local quakes. The cutoff is about 5.0, but a user selection gives better science study control.
4. A figure of the relative position in Lat. and Long. to allow selection of viewpoint studies. The planet is controlling a series of landmass positions, and they are very related to the two main linear earthquake formations over time.
5. A time databasing potential at one month, rather than the limit of one week as currently allowed. Even at cost.Summary
I used this software to plot the Earth's gravity field to the pattern and magnitude of global earthquakes, resulting in a near perfect prediction of earthquakes along the active shear margins of high versus low gravity field strength. No significant earthquakes over mag 5.0 occur other than along the shear zones.
This was not known until the GRACE gravity field satellite was allowing this comparison in relationship to the global view allowed by software such as this Earthquake 3D by Wolton.
This is a unique high quality effort by an individual to serve the world with new science and and enhanced personal safety. It also serves to aid in education of all persons worldwide generally, and advances geology and planetary science.
While using this to study earthquakes could be greatly improved with my suggestions, listed in the 'Con's' section, as a free software it is unsurpassed in public releases thus far.
I recommend this in combination with the NASA 'Eyes On The Earth 3D' science software as a complementary assembly for educational use.
This is one of the fine new improvements in our lives brought by the World Wide Web and personal computers. -
"This is a great free service."
Version: Earthquake 3D 2.7
Pros
I think this is such a great tool to keep up with what's going on around the world concerning earth Quakes. It's so great to have immediate access that's updated in real time with the magnitude and location right on the global map. Thank you for this free service1
Cons
I really have no con's to say about this service.
Summary
If you are interested in what's going on in the earth around the globe then please down load this.
-
"Must Have!!!"
Version: Earthquake 3D 2.7
Pros
Excellent Earthquake display. Free. No disabled features. No ads. No sign-ups. The program is a small download and doesn't require any kind of installation or setup. The spinning globe is fun to play with. The depth (DEX) exaggeration feature is absolutely amazing! Very intuitive and easy to use. My kids love it.
Cons
I wish Google Earth could do this.
Summary
This is a very cool and unique Earthquake display program. I highly recommend it.
-
"Mot free! Just free to try"
Version: Earthquake 3D 2.7
Pros
Not sure because when I saw it was only free to try and had some features disabled. I uninstalled it. Why try to fake someone out to get them to try a product that is not fully functional?
Cons
The download has some features disabled until you pay for it.
Summary
If you want something simple to notify you about quakes, USGS has some nice things for free.....really free. Not like this fake you out free type thing. If its not free, they shouldn't say that it is.
-
"A Handy Tool For Ghouls"
Version: Earthquake 3D 2.7
Pros
I'm a bit of an earthquake fiend and it's interesting having a quick dip in to monitor movements after a major quake in a different part of the world.
Cons
It looks like the sort of application that I would design. As I can't design anything there is a clue there!!
Summary
Stunningly basic and not user friendly. If you have ever studied plate tectonics, it gives a small amount of insight into the planet and the power locked within it.
Results 1-5 of 5
