Google Earth

Unbelievable. Amazing. Incredible. I’ve never completely lost my shit about some software until today. I don’t think I can convey how mesmerized I am by Google Earth.

I was amazed when I first used Google Maps a few months back. The ability to move the map around without having to reload the page was pretty unbelievable. It was also one of the first times we saw the potential of Ajax technology.

Google Earth isn’t a website. It’s actually software that runs on your computer, but has the same “feel” of Google Maps. It also has a few more features:

• Transitions are smoother and more like a movie or a video game.
• You can zoom in a whole lot closer - all the way up on an individual or a car.
• You can adjust the tilt of the map so that you aren’t just looking over an area
• Buildings in the high-res images render in 3 dimensions, sort of. It’s not perfect but at least everything doesn’t look flat.
• View lodging, roads, dining, and state/county borders with the click of a checkbox.
• Get driving directions or create your own.
• Add your own “tags” and share them.

Here’s an image of me tagging my apartment:

Google Earth is like something you’d see on an episode of 24. The power this software possesses is a little overwhelming, yet the interface is intuitive and user-friendly. The folks at Google have yet another amazing creation on their hands.

Back to exploring…

Go download it now. *Note: After writing this, it seems Google Earth downloads have been temporarily delayed, so check back soon.