- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Mac OS X 10.5 Intel, Mac OS X 10.4 Intel, Mac OS X 10.5 PPC, Mac OS X 10.4 PPC
- Date added: May 08, 2009
- Total Downloads: 159,262
- Downloads last week: 400
- 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: Seth Rosenblatt on February 02, 2009
The latest version of Google Earth continues to set the mapping paradigm. Accessible enough for casual users, Google has added features that make it a necessity for those whose topographic desires are more serious. Although Google Ocean is the big newsmaker in version 5, you can also check out the surface of our nearest neighbor, Mars, as well as incorporating historical Earth maps.
If you'll forgive the pun, the oceanic maps are pretty cool. They provide the capability to plunge to the floor of the sea, view exclusive content from the BBC and National Geographic, and explore shipwrecks like the Titanic in 3D. Exploring the Martian surface is limited to data provided from NASA, but that's not much of a limitation considering that it's unlikely that most of us will ever get to visit the Red Planet. Switching between Google Earth, Sky, and Mars can be done from the menubar or from the planet icon on the toolbar.
Most of the interface's real estate displays a rendering of the globe, which can zoom in on a satellite image of your destination once you've keyed it in. Controls live on a top toolbar and a left-side navigation window that lets you quickly jump between different views and locations. Google's Street View, real-time illumination of the Earth, roads, restaurants, and even crime statistics can be displayed. Smooth integration with Google's 3D rendering program SketchUp means that you can design buildings and see how they'd interact with their surroundings on the fly.
The only downside to the program is that it can consume a large amount of RAM, so older machines might experience performance issues, but even that can now be configured through the Options menu. Everyone else is bound to love Google Earth, both as an entertaining novelty and an informational tool.
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.
What's new in this version:
- 3D Buildings: OpenGL mode performance is improved. Buildings are streamed in smoother, and low memory situations are handled better.
- Tours: Make flyto and tour paths smoother by fixing several cases for jitters and unexpected jumps in camera path. Improve tour creation so that the tour path has smooth interpolation. On pause, open balloons are left open instead of closing them. Support generating tours from nested folders of placemarks.
- Collada Models: Enhance collada m... see all new features
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User reviews of Google Earth 5.0.11733.9347
- Average user rating: 0 stars Not yet available
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 3 of 3 user reviewsSee all 3 user reviews
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Version: Google Earth 5.0.11733.9347
"Google Earth 5.0 is a NIGHTMARE! BRING BACK 4.0!"
Pros: Nothing over version 4.0, except you can supposedly go under the ocean. Whoopee.
Cons: changing camera angle is a nightmare! Street photos grainy and awful. Fish eye things in place of cameras are stupid. I would give ANYTHING to get 4.0 back. Google Earth 5.0 is an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE!
Summary: When you changed the camera angle (from straight overhead view to angled view), in 4.0, it maintained position. You could zoom in on and out from your target at the exact angle you chose. It was great for looking at mountainous terrain. It really he... read more >>
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Version: Google Earth 5.0.11733.9347
Pros: possibilities are endless and beautiful
Cons: SO MUCH PROGRAM
Summary: I had to eventually remove this program from my MacBook simply because it took to much space on my hard drive, If we're being honest, the Google Earth programs are easy to easy to use, have spectacular results, but when disc space is an issue, it's ... read more >>
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Version: Google Earth 5.0.11733.9347
Pros: easy to use and amazing data base
Cons: i can't get more detailed views of personal intrest sites
- See all 3 user reviews Write review
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