- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: June 28, 2005
- Total Downloads: 4,088,850
- Downloads last week: 92,027
- See full specifications
A newer version of Google Earth is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1179 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
It's rare to encounter free software as well designed and powerful as this informative application, but the folks at Google have done it again. When you first fire up Google Earth, you'll immediately notice that most of the interface's real estate is used to display a rendering of the globe, complete with topographical markings. You simply enter information for the location you'd like to visit--such as city name, country, or specific street address--and Google Earth will begin slowly zooming in on your destination. After a moment, you'll see a satellite image of the place you entered. Controls below the location window let you zoom in or out even further; move north, south, east, and west; and save specific locations on the map.
The program's Layers panes allows you to determine what sort of information appears on the map. For instance you can choose to display roads, hospitals, grocery stores, restaurants, golf courses, bars, and even crime statistics. We also appreciate the tool that provides point-to-point driving directions. The only potential downside of Google Earth is it can consume a fairly large amount of RAM when running in the background, so as the developer notes, folks with older machines might experience performance issues. But everyone else is bound to love Google Earth, either as an informational tool or an entertaining novelty.
Publisher's description
From Google :Google Earth puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. View exotic locales like Maui and Paris, as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, and schools. Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps, and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. With Google Earth you can fly from space to your neighborhood--just 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 and even add your own annotations.
Note: Google Earth is a broadband, 3D application that not all computers can run. Windows-based desktop PCs older than four years may not be able to run Google Earth and Windows-based notebook PCs older than two years may not be able to run it.
More popular Science Software downloads
- 15,442 downloads 1. Google Earth
- 4,824 downloads 2. I-Doser
- 1,164 downloads 3. WorldWide Telescope
- 979 downloads 4. Solar System 3D Simulator
- 705 downloads 5. ACD/ChemSketch Freeware
- See all Science Software downloads
User reviews of Google Earth
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 1179 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 5 of 198 user reviewsSee all 198 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
100 out of 120 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth
"What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's FANTASTIC!!!"
Pros: This program is just plain awesome! Type in any zip code in the world and Google Earth will take you there. Once you are there, you use the mouse wheel to zoom in to any point. You can find restaurants, stores, schools, churches, taverns, and even your house. I zoomed in on my street, found my house, and even saw my car sitting in my driveway! Now older, bare boned computers will most likely only find your street and your house will be a blur, but newer ones with a good 3D graphics card, and a lcd monitor, 19 inch or more, will even be able to see the license plate number on the cars! This will be great for people traveling with their lap top or moving to another city. It can show them where every thing is on the map. Did I mention Google Earth is free? 5 HUGE Stars and TWO thumbs way UP!
-
28 out of 29 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth
Pros: I hate to be a conformist but i have to agree with everyone here. This program is out of this world....or erm in this world. If this was by anybody else other than google then it would be about £500 which goes to show it can be done for free and that other software developers really do extort the people. I really like the way it lists the webcams which are available on certain streets and then you can go and watch the webcams. Google Earth is a must.
Cons: Not everything is detailed. I can find my street but i can't see my house because everything is a blur but i do live in a small town. Navigating around the planet can be a bit awkward and i wish people on here (me included) would stop saying they can't believe it's free because we don't want to give google any ideas now do we?
-
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth
Pros: This is an amazing program that is able to show you practically anywhere on earth. Just give it the right information, and it will zero in on where you live, where your family lives, or even any location you tell it to. I was amazed that it even shows nearby lodging, restaraunts, and businesses. The more that you toy with this thing, the more stuff you find. Many of the places have webcams where you can see a live cam of what is happening in a certain area. I actually "visited" Ground Zero right from my computer, as well as a nearby Firehouse. It generates information about many points of interest along the way, also. You can view schools, mountains, volcanoes, crime statistics, public offices, and more. The software even allows you to capture images. And the amount of detail that you can acutally attain with this software is kinda scary. I used it to view cars on the street near an NYPD station. You can add a placemark to anywhere you want to remember. And yes, you can get directions, too. This amazing program is feature packed, and best of all...IT IS FREE! Only Google could bring this to you for free.
Cons: If you don't have broadband, well, it probably won't work very well. And it requires a computer that has appropriate 3D rendering capabilities. So if you have an old computer, then this may not perform optimally. Some areas are not as detailed as others, so you may not be able to see some cities with the same detail that you can view in more popular ones. Other than that, I can't recommend that you try this. It is truly fantastic. And totally free, which is rare for a program of this caliber.
-
8 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth
"very fun and useful tool to have"
Pros: excellent learning tool for kids, very useful for finding any store, restaurant, or hotel.
Cons: none
-
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth
Pros: Whoa..i cant believe this really works with nice mapping, what can i say about? Good!
Cons: It's not the latest time for the mapping, such as like..my place was at night but google earth shows me the noon.
- See all 198 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
