Fly home, virtually!

Google has just released Google Earth, which it describes as a "3D Interface to the Planet". The application provides pretty much complete photo coverage of the surface of the earth at various resolutions, and gives a really easy interface to work your way around the planet, zooming in on places of interest to you. Depending on the coverage of your area you may or may not be able to fly "home". In any event, it's a really cool programme and, if you've got broadband (needed for the imagery), it's well worth downloading from here.

Google have only opened up the site for download in the last 24 hours or so. I haven't found any bugs so far, but there may be a few.

Enjoy!

David

[preiffer]

David - FANTASTIC find! [y][y]

I'm playing with it now - I can see my old apartment in SF! The detail is incredible.

Thanks for the heads-up.

Paul - have a look at Manhattan. If you fly along a route you know, at about 300 feet, you could almost be there. It is really impressive.

I really can't summon much enthusiasm to start work just now - I wanna play!

David

Originally posted by DavidM
Google have only opened up the site for download in the last 24 hours or so.

Actually, just to correct that - it's been open for download for at least a couple of weeks now However, last Friday they took it offline:

Friday, July 1st

Google Earth downloads temporarily delayed

Thanks for your interest in Google Earth, but we're sorry we can't
offer you a download right now. As you know, Google Earth is in beta,
and we're still building out our ability to take on new users. We're
making good progress, and expect to be able to accept new downloads
shortly, so we recommend you check back daily

Cheers

Michael

[Nottingham Nick]

As soon as someone finds that it is back for download, could they post here, pse?

It looks great and well worth downloading.

Nick

[preiffer]

Nick, I don't understand - I only downloaded it this morning. Is the link dead?

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by preiffer
Nick, I don't understand - I only downloaded it this morning. Is the link dead?

I got a message similar to the one mcuth got above, advising me to check back daily [:(]

Nick

Hi, Nick. Noting what mcuth says above, and the fact I've been trying to get in for several days (and was delighted to find it up this morning), they seem to be regulating demand by bringing the site up for a while then cutting it back down. On that basis it's worth checking back regularly to see when it's up.

Alternatively, I've got the installation file on my hard disk. It's around 11MB, and I can IM or email it to you if you wish?

Best wishes

David

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by DavidM

Alternatively, I've got the installation file on my hard disk. It's around 11MB, and I can IM or email it to you if you wish?

A very kind offer, David. Thank you. I will give it a few days and check back on a regular basis, if that doesn't work, I may PM you.

Regards

Nick

[mitchja]

Google currently has the download available right now...but for how much longer I dont know.

Regards

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks James, Got it [8D]

Can't upgrade though.. they say they aren't taking anymore at the moment .. but keep checking.. sounds familiar [8D];)

Nick

[mitchja]

Nick

Odd as the upgrade has just worked for me

Regards

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by mitchja

Odd as the upgrade has just worked for me

Will try again then, James ... Thanks

Nick

[Nottingham Nick]

No... still get Google Earth Plus purchases temporarily delayed

"Thanks for your interest in Google Earth Plus, but we're sorry we can't offer you the service right now. As you know, Google Earth is in beta, and we're still building out our ability to take on new users. We're making good progress, and expect to be able to accept new downloads shortly, so we recommend you check back daily. We hope to be able to welcome you and other new planet surfers soon."


[xx(]

[mitchja]

Just a word of warning when using Google World. If you are on a PAYG broadband package and your ISP has set you a monthly download allowance, Google World does look to use up a lot of download allowance.

I'm on an un-capped product here but can monitor my daily usage and I downloaded 1.5Gb of data on Friday. Didn't do much else on Friday other than surf the net and play around with Google World.

Regards

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by mitchja
Google World does look to use up a lot of download allowance.

Good point, James, but it is easy to see why it eats so much memory:)

The definition on the US maps is just fantastic [:0] The UK maps aren't quite as good, but I suppose that will come with time.

It is a great piece of kit [8D]

Nick

[mitchja]

I agree Nick This is a great piece of software.

Was looking at Manchester airport yesterday - fantastic views . Most major US airports are there but not too many UK ones at the moment.

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja
Just a word of warning when using Google World. If you are on a PAYG broadband package and your ISP has set you a monthly download allowance, Google World does look to use up a lot of download allowance.

I'm on an un-capped product here but can monitor my daily usage and I downloaded 1.5Gb of data on Friday. Didn't do much else on Friday other than surf the net and play around with Google World.

Regards

Hi, James. I'm also uncapped on broadband, so I hadn't particularly looked at the bandwidth the application was consuming. But I've just had a fairly comprehensive trip round a series of sites in UK, with a mixture of high and low res imagery, and only used a couple of megs in the process. I'm sure you could use quite a lot of data if you bring in a lot of the hi-res imagery in the US to your tour, but I don't think the product is that hungry.

Any other experiences/views welcome!

Best wishes

David

[mitchja]

David

It might not be just Google World that hogged my useage on Friday (he say's at the same time checking his WPA wireless network security is in place - which it is ) I dont remember downloading that much that day.

I normally average approx 100Mb a day just surfing and emailing (unless I use P2P [:I]) then my usage goes mental)

Regards

Google Earth is amazing, some of the high res pics are outstanding.
You can even see a concorde parked at JFK.

James, may I ask what P2P software you use?

Thanks

Max

[mitchja]

Max

I use BitTornado

[:I] It also looks like the problem was simply with my useage graph as it's now down to 300Mb on the day I installed and used GoogleWorld.

Regards

[Nottingham Nick]

For anyone who is interested, the subscription service for Google Earth Plus is up and running this morning - (Sunday) [y]

Nick

Morning, Nick

Are you upgrading to Plus, or to Pro? And, out of interest, what features motivated you to join the subscription service? I looked at it, but couldn't see the benefit for me. I would like the ability to record trips and fly-bys for later replay in presentations, but that option is silly money for something I'd only use rarely.

Best wishes

David

[Nottingham Nick]

Hi David

I have only upgraded to the plus version. [8D]

The attractions were only the GPS facility and the support. With a piece of software like this I like to register. It is like the shareware stuff. There is nothing to say that you HAVE to pay, but you are usually well looked after if you do.

I think the UK maps will improve resolution in time and Google are offering regular updates / newsletters to subscribers. Plus $20 doesn't exactly break the bank [:I][:o)]

Nick

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
With a piece of software like this I like to register. It is like the shareware stuff. There is nothing to say that you HAVE to pay, but you are usually well looked after if you do.

Fair enough. I share your sentiment on shareware. I guess I have an image of a shareware programmer in a dodgy garret struggling through hunger, cold and thirst to complete the last line of code before the only 50 pence he/she has in the world goes through the meter and leaves him/her in darkness. Against this background I've always felt compelled to register and pay, in the hope that my contribution will get there before the lights go out.

I've never seen Google in quite the same light but, of course, everyone to their own!

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
... Plus $20 doesn't exactly break the bank [:I][:o)]

Nick

There is that...

Best wishes

David