Google Earth Launching For Free

Nathan Weinberg writes "Google launches Keyhole 3 today, rebranded Google Earth, and are dumping the subscription rate (except for a $20/year "plus" versions with prettier pictures) available soon at earth.google.com. The program lets you fly around a 3D globe, with overhead satellite photos, tilted 45-degree photos, 3D rendered buildings, and overlays that display everything from roads to hotels to bike routes. I have a lot of info and screenshots at InsideGoogle, and Search Engine Watch has a big writeup. With yesterday's Google Video release, this is shaping up to be a major week for the search giant."

Corrupted download

[winkydink]

I get a CRC error when I try to unpack the .exe

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know. IT'S BEEEEEETAAAAA.

Google should change their logo to put that little Beta under the 'le'.

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Wow

[sosume]

This is the best web application I have seen for years. Now I will be able top spy on my neighbours from the other side of the house!

Re:Recommended configuration

[Evangelion]

You get 512M in cereal boxes these days.

Hell Building Instead Of Planet Building...

[__aaclcg7560]

Won't be long before someone comes up with a version of Hell. Oh, wait a minute. I forgot that AOL cornered that market. I'm sure Microsoft is working on something, and an open source version shouldn't be too far behind. Although it's a bit hard to improve on hot, hotter, and hottest.

Google FAQ Question #1.

[mcg1969]

Q: How can Google afford to give away so much for free?

A: Volume.

Re:Yet again no *nix version.

[savagedome]

You got it backwards. Google knows the penchant Windows users have for pretty pictures. That's why, all this 3D and 45degree angle jazz is for those snobbish Windows users. For us Unix and Linux people, Google will release a tool that will allow us to draw our own buildings on Earth. I say that will kick ass!

Re:Corrupted download

[winkydink]

Oh yeah, that's right, I forget. I signed up for the UDP-only connection. Sheesh.

Patents

[VanWEric]

I believe Google is infringing on prior art on the whole "Earth" thing. They are attempting to rebrand it, push it as an original and then patent it away from the original creator - God.

God will soon be unable to continue providing his "competing" Earth service due to rigorous patent laws, and everyone will PERISH - All because Google has the legal power to take a page from MS's book and assert that it was their idea in the first place.

Please contact your local congress(wo)man today and let hir know of this nefarious plot.

Re:examples of 3D buildings?

[BandwidthHog]

I have been unable to find examples of 3D buildings - anyone else have luck?

My town is littered with them. In fact, I'm sitting in one right now. They should be pretty easy to spot; a good rule of thumb is that if something is tall enough to trip over, it's 3D.

Re:Better

[The Bungi]

Whoa, I'm sold.

about time /. posted this

[TimeSpeak]

somthing about Google and Earth in the same URL excites me.

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Re:Yet again no *nix version.

[Le Marteau]

Yeah! How dumb can Google be? The first day they offer their beta service, and what do they go for first? Windows! Go figure! They're not going to make any money with THAT kind of thinking! Everybody KNOWS it's the Linux community which is the one to go to when you are a for-profit entity.

Re:Yet again no *nix version.

[TheCabal]

Ask- no, DEMAND- for your money back.

Re:How long will this last?

[Bandman]

why does Rand McNally hate democracy?

Re:Yet again no *nix version.

[zaphod123]

It takes quite a while to convert all of the maps to ascii. :)

Re:Pilots: Flight Approaches

[thegamerformelyknown]

And, for those of us who don't like to get ripped off by cab drivers (as a comedian on "Just for Laughs" did it), we can get the landmarks straight and talk about them :D

Re:examples of 3D buildings?

[TapeCutter]

I guess a 2D building would be called a flat!