- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: June 12, 2006
- 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. Google Earth's active user community has produced several nifty mods, including topographic and historical maps. The only potential downside to the program is that 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.
Release 4-BETA offers integrated Google Sketchup support for 3D modeling, expanded support for user generated geographical data, and a new UI.
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.
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User reviews of Google Earth 4 beta
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 1179 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 105 user reviewsSee all 105 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
22 out of 25 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4 beta
Pros: Love it and once again google did it.... Nice program with very easy to use steps and also its free with no limitations!! HOw great is that...
Cons: NO wonder this is popular...
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8 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4 beta
Pros: Man, google just keeps making it better. This version has a totally revamped interface. The scroller looks v sophisticated. Also there are new functions like switching to full view & also the ability to measure distances with the ruler function. Nice, thumbs up!!!
Cons: None as yet. Btw microsoft is launching their own version of earth, windows live local; but it still is far off from competition. Go google for it if interested.
Opps, did i just mention google again? ;p
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10 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4 beta
Pros: Ever seen satelite images of earth, if not download this software immediately even without thinking its that great.
Great program with awesome search engine to display results accurately.
Uses less system resource and low memory with hastle less installation,Great speed,ultra clarity,accurate search results, ad-less software for free.
This is yet another masterpiece work from google labs. The software stands to the brand of the company.
Displays the every part of the world and brings the image straight to your PC.
You deserve to experience the bird's eye view.
A flawless make. A five star rating from me. Double thumbs up and must have product
in the pc.
Cons: Nothing at all
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18 out of 27 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4 beta
Pros: Fantastic interface and thought!
Cons: I think that this program will be in the future really fantastic, but my PC laptop (HP nx7010) do not like this program at all, it freezes up my Windows XP Professional. I have installed it twice, but the result did not change. Bjorn Lundahl, Gothenburg, Sweden
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4 beta
"i can't imagine,how much real it is..!!"
Pros: i go through my city, streets and ofcourse through my girl friends washroom.... but i can't see there..
- See all 105 user reviews Write review
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