- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Mac OS X 10.4
- Date added: October 14, 2007
- Total Downloads: 137,744
- Downloads last week: 1,793
- 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 52 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
The latest version of Google Earth makes it, indubitably, the only free mapping app worth considering. Accessible enough for casual users, Google has been added features that make it a necessity for those whose topographic desires are more serious.
Most of the interface's real estate displays a rendering of the globe, which slowly zooms in on a satellite image of your destination once you've keyed it in. The control panel has changed and is now translucent and sits unobtrusively in a corner of the map. The new diagonal movement control and flexible north anchor, so you can re-orient the map, are useful additions.
The Layers, Places and Search panes are now a left-side navigation bar, and have more options for determining what information appears on the map. Everything from roads and restaurants to crime statistics can be displayed; subcategories and individual items can be unchecked to show only what you need. Google's driving directions are incorporated, and the user community has produced several nifty mods, including historical maps. There's also integration with Google's 3-D rendering program SketchUp, so you can design a building and see it in a real-life setting.
The only downside to the program is that it can consume a large amount of RAM, so as the developer notes, older machines might experience performance issues. But everyone else is bound to love Google Earth, both as an entertaining novelty and an informational tool.
Publisher's description
From Google :The idea is simple. It's a globe that sits inside your Mac. You point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Tap into Google search to show local points of interest and facts. Zoom to a specific address to check out an apartment or hotel. View driving directions and even fly along your route. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
What's new in this version:
This version is the first release on CNET Download.com
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User reviews of Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 52 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 7 user reviewsSee all 7 user reviews
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
"Great but a little disappointing"
Pros: Nice to be able to see any sites from above. Looks and feel like you are flying over and close at that if you wish but read my dislikes.
Although I criticize the program, I do use it a lot and love it.
Cons: a) Direction finder(as a driver) I would give it a 3 star. I prefer Mapquest that gives many more options
b) as a site map I also give it a 3 star:
- Its areal photos for some areas are way to old. For example go to Washington DC and the WW II monument is still under construction also the buildings along the Mall for most seem like digital drawings
- Areal photos are not always clear. I wanted to show my guests the cities and sites I visited this Fall in the south of France. Toulouse was just perfect but for many other sites the photos were very fussy and others you could hardly distinguish the object.
- Too slow to draw-up and the tilting effect is not up to par.
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Version: Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
"Great views, mostly easy to use"
Cons: It took a few minutes to determine that I needed to turn off my popup blocker for the software to work properly
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Version: Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
"Wonderful detail for some areas, less for others"
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Version: Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
"it is fantastic, and I am speechless"
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Version: Google Earth 4.2.198.2451
Pros: If you have any sense of direction at all, you can find anyplace you have been.
- See all 7 user reviews Write review
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