Google Releases Earth to Beta 310
Cros13 writes "Google has released a beta of it's Google Earth software to subscribers of the existing Keyhole service. New features include 3D models of buildings in selected cities, input from your gps receiver and a better search system. I have posted screenshots here and here." This product is in competition with Microsoft's Virtual Earth, as we reported earlier.
Indiana... (Score:3, Funny)
Well hell (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Indiana... (Score:2, Funny)
Great to see the final version is out!
Ba dum tsss
The Windypundit article (Score:5, Informative)
Why wasn't a link to the Windypundit article [windypundit.com] placed in the blurb?
It's just off the page and contains a lot more information.
Re:The Windypundit article (Score:2)
hmm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:hmm (Score:2, Funny)
Well, it's simple: "Google" released control of Earth (our planet) [all hail our Google overlords] to the planet Beta [all hail our new Betan overlords].
And in related news. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And in related news. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And in related news. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:And in related news. (Score:3, Funny)
Earth Beta Release (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
So that would explain all the trolls. Hmm... it neatly coincides with the introduction of CAPCHA techniques...
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:3, Funny)
Too bad no one's heard anything from the developer for the last 2000 years. Talk about a bad information policy...
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
Re:Earth Beta Release (Score:2)
Obligatory humorous post. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:5, Funny)
Gmail will probably be a beta just as long.
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:2)
Young earther? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Young earther? (Score:2)
Re:Young earther? (Score:2)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:2)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:2)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:2)
Re:Obligatory humorous post. (Score:2)
What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:3, Interesting)
-Jesse
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:3, Funny)
You racist clod!!
OR
Oh, so you fly into Japan a lot?
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:4, Informative)
As an engineer, Google Earth (or in my case, more likely MS's Virtual Earth since MS has at least hinted at Mac compatibility via Firefox, while Google Earth seems to be Windows only), would be a godsend - I spend a lot of time looking over aerial photos to identify buildings (or 'sensitive receptors' as we call them in the noise biz) and the more detail we can get, the better we can make our estimates.
For example, having a clearer indication of building height or terrain features can help us create better sound propagation models that accounts for shielding or diffraction. Sure, GE/VE won't give us exact values, but every little bit helps. Topo maps help a bit, but if you've ever had to model an area with complex geometry (say San Fran or Seattle) topos become unwieldy pretty quickly.
We spend a lot of money right now sending people to certain project areas to help get a better sense of the terrain and building geometries. Having an fairly accurate 3D model of these features can save hundreds of thousands of dollars just in travel costs.
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:2)
-Jesse
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:3, Interesting)
Well worth $29/yr.
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:2, Interesting)
Google Earth sure made up for it:
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? (Score:3, Informative)
This type of program just confirms it. I think it would be tremendously useful although it seems like a stretch at this point, that it would feature actual trails. Mapping streets has been done but inputting trails and their exact elev
It's its not it's! (Score:3, Insightful)
Of course "their" might have been a better choice anyway.
Re:It's its not it's! (Score:2)
But, I guess we're all headed for a chatroom-English world anyway.
-Jesse
Re:It's its not it's! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:It's its not it's! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It's its not it's! (Score:2)
Bob The Angry Flower! [angryflower.com]
Re:It's its not it's! (Score:2, Funny)
Google's... Earth ? (Score:2, Funny)
Moreover I'm worrying about Earth reaching release.
Everyone knows that vogons will destroy earth before it happens, so don't let that happen !
Re:Google's... Earth ? (Score:2)
*StarCraft stimpack sound* (Score:5, Funny)
Ah, that's better. My dosage of Google news. Now I can start my day!
As seen in Snow Crash (Score:2)
Crazy Hoosiers... (Score:4, Funny)
Um...
Why does it look like Indiana isn't mapped?
There are lots of worse states out there...
Re:Crazy Hoosiers... (Score:2, Funny)
Sorta like that NASCAR oval that used to be Dallas/Fort Worth and the Massachussetts Memorial Hockey Arena.
Simpsons quote (Score:2)
Grandpa: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah!
Re:Crazy Hoosiers... (Score:3, Informative)
It seems likely that essentially all of the Ea
Re:Crazy Hoosiers... (Score:2)
I'm left with no choice but to consider it a vast government conspiracy.
Re:Crazy Hoosiers... (Score:2)
(The image data that Google is currently using in this and Maps is composed of the best images they could find from old data for each location, and these don't necessarily match in features like time of year, time of day, and weather; however, Indiana only seems to be grey in this screenshot, not in the data on Maps)
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Closed Minded (Score:2)
Re:Closed Minded (Score:4, Funny)
Hi. Welcome to Earth. Please study up on our language. Earthlings who can't even manage a basic comprehension of their mother tongue are frequently ridiculed as idiots. We expect no less from "supreme species" such as yours.
Out the Windows (Score:5, Funny)
Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:5, Informative)
The most amazing part is the driving directions--they're plotted out in front of you on the zoomable and scrollable earth, like Streets and Trips on steroids.
The ability to measure arbitrary lines and paths, carried over from the previous version of Keyhole, adds a nifty dimension. Instead of staring at a feature in the satellite imagery and wondering, "How big is that, anyway?", you can measure it and find out. I used it to definitively settle which of the two routes I can take home from work is shorter.
For $29, this app delivers, per dollar, more fun and utility combined than anything else I've ever purchased. You can use the layering features to do extremely useful stuff, like highlight the locations of ATMs, school district boundaries, golf courses, parks, show crime statistics, and even show placemarks set by people on the Keyhole web forum ("Look! I found a cool thing here!").
Sounds a bit like I'm babbling, but this thing is seriously hella-cool.
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:3, Funny)
Just imagine how cool it would be to tell it what model and color of car you have and get a real time display of your car driving on the road:)
Okay this would best be used by your passenger/navigator.
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:5, Funny)
For $29, this app delivers, per dollar, more fun and utility combined than anything else I've ever purchased.
I suggest you take a quick look at two products: beer and condoms.
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:2)
PVP [pvponline.com] said it first [thinkgeek.com]
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:3, Funny)
Dude, the guy just got excited over school district boundaries and ATM locations. Please don't encourage him to reproduce.
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:2)
That was the feature I was hoping for after I checked out Keyhole. Now you can have stringers uploading data to your Globe. Some day we'll be able to do GPS mapping of photographs so that they can be plastered on those 3D projections of buildings.
Like Snow Crash. Next they just have to build the Librarian.
Re:Like Google Maps as a local application (Score:2)
Yeah, but surely you have to keep paying. its not just a pay once use forever.
I can't wait for the final release (Score:5, Funny)
We can all remember Earth 0.1 , which was flat.
Earth 0.2 was spherical but still lodged in the center of the universe.
Earth 0.3 has served us well for over 200 years, but is still buggy as hell. The tectonics engine constantly crashes, causing massive earthquakes.
I have good hopes for the beta of Earth, but for the final release I, and many users like me would like a bigger planet.
Re:I can't wait for the final release (Score:2)
Billus Gatos
You're in luck! (Score:2, Funny)
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Wait a second... (Score:2)
Re:Wait a second... (Score:2)
Microsoft will listen to REASON, I'm sure.
Sweet new game? (Score:2)
Big Diffence (Score:2, Interesting)
Note: Google now has screenshots and Microsoft has only stated that MSN Virtual Earth service is to debut in the summer.
Re:Big Diffence (Score:3, Informative)
MSN have more than a screenshot, they have video [microsoft.com]. And unlike the google keyhole (google earth), msn virtual earth runs on Linux and OSX!
Virtual Earth: MSN's answer to Google Maps [msdn.com]
the Earth is still in Beta....? (Score:2)
I will now duck and cover.
Can anyone comment on whether "Earth"... (Score:2)
Next in Google Land.. (Score:3, Funny)
Now *that* would be pretty cool. Hey, Google is here in Mountain View.. and Moffett Field & Lockheed are right down the street, they could get some stuff goin' on with NASA...
Real time satellite imaging! Imagine being able to zoom in on a baseball game that's in progress. Suh-weeeeet!
Actually, I bet that the "topless beaches in France" would become an immensely popular search...
Re:Next in Google Land.. (Score:2)
Oh yeah, those pixels are slightly more flesh/nipple colored than similar pixels on other beaches, I'm really excited here...
I guess maybe it is exciting, since on the internet it is so hard to find detailed, close up pictures of topless or naked people....
Microsoft in competition with Google. (Score:2)
Virtual Earth still appears to be unavailable to users.
Beta (Score:3, Funny)
Another short (p)review (Score:2)
Re:Another short (p)review (Score:2)
This was in Keyhole but it's still amazing. Screenshots really can't capture how amazing it is to freely move around a 3D world.
Freely moving around a 3D world? Is that anything like what I do all the time?
Angry flower... (Score:3, Funny)
Submitter, please read this important memo [img104.echo.cx].
Windows app not an internet app? (Score:2)
Also I have this sneaking suspission the competetion will only run on ie.
Nasa has one also (Score:5, Interesting)
World Wind 1.3
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ [nasa.gov]
The servers are a little slow but its still a handy program.
Error: (Score:2)
Reboot Universe? [Y/N]
|
Google's and Microsoft's "earths" (Score:2)
I haven't really found any information about their coverage goals with these tools. I personally know my neighborhood well, and there are good national resources for my country in my own language too, so I imagine it's when I travel I'd find it would be nice to have a virtual Earth for this, but at the same time I can't imagine Google making this effort seen in the screenshots on more than a fraction of the actual Earth.
Open Source (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh, and the guy over at vterrain.org has some ambitious goals related to this type of thing too with lots of links to sources etc...
Will it run under OS X? (Score:2)
Re:Slick! (Score:3, Insightful)
I got a better one... (Score:5, Funny)
Behold! I present to you... (drum roll)
Grand Theft Auto : New York!
Humor note : Try our new live edition
Re:hmm (Score:5, Insightful)
If you ban Google Earth on the ground, then also ban Hotmail (those terrorist email communications!), keyboard (they type the emails with 'em!!), batteries (they power the bombs they describe in the emails with 'em!!!), and nail clippers (they won't be able to make the bombs if their nails are too long). etc.
Stop being paranoid...
Re:Those bastards... (Score:2)
Re:FP? (Score:2)
=Smidge=