| This week I had my socks knocked off! Which, | | | | to "Tilt" the perspective. You can change your |
| after being in the industry for over 25 years, is | | | | view all the way down to the surface and then |
| tough to do. I came across a posting on Slashdot | | | | pan around in all directions to get the sense of |
| about a new mapping application from Google | | | | how things look. I could go on for several |
| called GoogleEarth. At first my thinking was that | | | | thousand words about all the features included in |
| this was just another extension of the already | | | | GoogleEarth! Oh, and did I mention that it's |
| cool Google Maps online. But then I discovered | | | | FREE?There are several versions of the |
| that it was a downloadable client application. | | | | application but the Free version is the one that will |
| Humm. So I took the plunge. Then I lost over 4 | | | | suit the needs of most individuals. But, for just a |
| hours of productivity for that day. (And I won't | | | | minor $20 cost, you can add support for GPS, |
| mention how much since then.) And everyone I | | | | spreadsheet importing, path drawing, and |
| showed it to that day ended up gawking and | | | | annotations. There is also a $400 Professional |
| drooling as well.GoogleEarth is a new application | | | | version which provides the ability to import site |
| that jumps leaps and bounds over what we used | | | | plans and use the business related features. The |
| to consider to be mapping applications. | | | | ART of Software Development in GoogleEarth is |
| GoogleEarth takes the geo topology data from | | | | in the innovation that the Google folks have |
| the satellites and turns it into a earth wide | | | | introduced in this technology, and making it |
| mapping application. Not just pretty pictures! But | | | | available to everyone on the internet. Being able |
| true mapping functionality layered on top of the | | | | to go and visit a location that you've never been |
| pretty pictures. As these screen shots can attest, | | | | to before, can be a great comfort before going |
| the capabilities of this application are amazing! | | | | on your planned trips. Or you can just do some |
| Some of the incredible features of GoogleEarth | | | | virtual sight seeing in exotic locations. I spent over |
| are: Pushpins can be added to the map with notes | | | | an hour just flying around Hong Kong! GoogleEarth |
| about the location.Once you have several | | | | has a very easy to use interface. And the |
| pushpins, you can right click and select "Directions | | | | streaming data from their servers was a lot |
| from this..." then "Directions to this...", and receive | | | | faster than I would have expected for the quality |
| driving directions between the two points. Then, | | | | of mapping that's being presented. (I am on DSL.) |
| you can have GoogleEarth drive from point A to | | | | Keep in mind though that GoogleEarth is CPU |
| point B with the "Play Tour" button. Then drool | | | | Intensive! The faster the PC the better. While |
| some more as GoogleEarth flys above the entire | | | | GoogleEarth might work with dialup, I expect that |
| course. | | | | the data stream would present some long waits |
| Layers, Layers, and more Layers! Want to see | | | | for zoomed in details.Be forewarned! When you |
| all the street names? Just turn on the "Roads" | | | | download and start using GoogleEarth, be |
| checkbox. How about the local grocery store? | | | | prepared to spend some time exploring. You'll find |
| Just click on the "Grocery Stores" checkbox in | | | | yourself going back to it every chance you get, |
| the Layers window. Little shopping carts appear | | | | just to explore new areas. And be sure to email |
| on the map. Just a small sample of what's avalable | | | | me if you see any alien space ships at Area |
| in the layers is: City Boundaries, Postal Code | | | | 51!GoogleEarth can be found at: Trimble, The ART |
| Boundaries, Railroads, Water, Coffee Houses, | | | | of Software DevelopmentTimothy Trimble is a |
| Malls, and much more! Want to see some | | | | award winning, freelance writer, and software |
| buildings? GoogleEarth allows you to see computer | | | | developer. He has written a book for Microsoft |
| generated buildings with their true form and shape | | | | Press, articles for significant computer industry |
| for various major cities. You should see Las | | | | trade magazines, and is currently working on his |
| Vegas! | | | | second computer technology book to be published |
| Another great jaw dropping feature is the ability | | | | in early 2006. |