Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
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. In addition to Earth cartography, you can also check out Google Ocean, historical Earth maps, and the surface of one of our closest neighbors, Mars.
The oceanic maps 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 menu bar 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.
The only downside to the program is that it can consume a large amount of RAM, so older machines might experience performance issues. That can be configured through the Options menu, and recent updates have helped address many of these performance issues, with improvements to rendering speed, frame rate, and even launch time.
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:
- Integrated Street View: In Google Earth 6, the Street View experience is now fully integrated. You can enter Street View either by dropping pegman in navigation controls or by zooming in all the way to ground level on places that have Street View.
- 3D Trees:Google Earth now has trees. You can enable trees by turning on the check-box next to the Trees layer under the 3D buildings layer folder. You can see trees in several places, and we will add trees to more places over time. See all new features
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 95 votes
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Current version:
3.2 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Not very impressed."
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
It's free.
Cons
It crashes far too frequently, needs to be fixed.
Summary
Would not recommend it in it's present form.
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"Crashes way too often"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
Free, which is better than others.
Cons
It crashes when I least expect it.
Summary
This version, along with 5.2, crashes so often that it's almost unusable. Google Maps with satellite view is the better option by far. Otherwise, you'll spend half an hour trying to zoom into the same spot a hundred times.
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"Amazing piece of work."
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
It does (eventually) what it says it will. Better than we have a right to expect in a piece of free software.
Cons
It really puts a strain on my iMac.
Summary
I guess I'll have to get a new computer.
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"Google Chrome"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
I can't yet decide if there are any improvements.
Cons
If I have no control over "updates" I'm not leaving myself open to any security issues.
Summary
Any application that controls when and what I download is a thing I avoid. This is very surprising for Google, but there's never any telling who and what will surprise you with some oddity. Maybe next version? I'll give it an arbitrary "two star" for an unearned proof of improvement.
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"Fantastic Upgrade!"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
Street view is incredible. It is very easy to navigate. Images are clear.
Cons
Navigation on Street flow can be tricky.
Summary
This is a fun, entertaining and very useful application. I can see places I am going before I get there.
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"Crashes in current iMac/Safari. Totally unusable."
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
Nothing to report.
Cons
There are bugs still to be worked out with this program.
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"Much faster, definition better and 3D great"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
Getting from place to place no longer requires long load times.
Cons
Programmers still believe the US is the only place on earth. Some of those features would be appreciated elsewhere.
Summary
This version is cleaner and goes back to the "old days" when GE was so simple to use. Some of the new features are awesome so it's a pity they don't work outside north America.
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"SUCKS.... nothing ( or hardly anything) works."
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
Nothing so far.
Cons
The download and installation mounted OK but when opened would not perform.
Summary
The street view was unstable and would not respond to mouse directions. Street cameras all over the place and on clicking what appeared to be the camera for the street view of property I wanted, the window that appeared was about two streets away???? Needs a whole lot of work.
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"Outstanding views, the earth from space to ground level"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
I have friends in China and Family in Europe. I read their emails about where they are and then go there with GE.
Cons
Nothing wrong with this app from my perspective.
Summary
It is one of my favorite pieces of software. To put this into perspective I have over 400 applications as well as about 200 UNIX command line binaries and I'll say it again this is one of the top 10.
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"I like this program and would recommend it to anyone"
Version: Google Earth 6.0.0.1735
Pros
It is a very nice way to travel around the world to investigate new things
Cons
I have found none
Summary
I would recommend this program to anyone trying to learn more about the planet earth
The program was excellent before and continues to be that way.
Updated on Dec 6, 2010
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