Google Earth

[Digby]

Take a look at Google Earth. It's a free download from Google of about 5mb. If you are on broadband, it connects to a server of geographic visual data taken from aircraft.

It takes a lot to impress me, but I think this is the most spectacular thing I have seen on a computer in over ten years. Get a copy and be amazed. Essential software for any explorer.

[timmygowalkies]

That is fantastic. I will certainly be using it a lot. Most interesting thing I've seen all day I think.

[WooleySheep]

Brilliant piece of software. Would definitely recommend downloading it to anyone.

[Emanresu]

If you slide the slider on the right hand side of the navigation cluster to the bottom, It shows you a lnadscape view. Awsome! Make sure you have 'Terrain' turned on. If you go to Tools/Options and set 'Elevation Exageration' to 3, it is even better.

[Ollie]

You can also get it to give you driving instructions as if you are driving down the road (go to directions, sort out your route, and then click 'play'...

Amazing stuff! :D

[Raging Sheep]

I always wanted to fly over the Sahara at 10,000ft!

[Superslogger]

I could watch it for hours!

[Ollie]

I was going to see a mate at his house the other day, and, not sure on his directions, we looked on google earth. We could tell exactly which house was his...

He had told us what cars we should see in the drive so that we'd know what house it was. We could see the cars on the map..!

Ollie

[Marmot]

Its odd that some areas are mazingly detailed, try hong kong, i can see my old apartment block! where as others the detail is just plain rubbish!

[Marmot]

Ok i take it back, im in love, check out the grand canyon under colorardo river view, its immense. What are the best images other people have found?

[Jake D]

My house is all blurry compared to some of the other places on the map :(

[Ollie]

Well mine just looks like a field!

[Marmot]

If you want something with a little bit more interaction try earthbrowser.com
"Dynamic 3D Earth model shows current weather, earthquakes, volcanoes and clouds"

says exactly wht it says on the tin, very good for anyone with a little interest in geography, or just whats goin gon in the world.

From what i gather it also provides the satelite images, but for a price, and i havent quite gone down that road yet. if anyone does want to waste some money for the good of the cause to see if its worth it pelase let us all know!

[Ollie]

Looks impressive!

I'd love to see what would happen if the best bits of each application were combined. Google, are you listening?! :D

Ollie

[Ollie]

Found a cool feature on Google Earth the other day - try turning on 3D buildings and flying over New York! AWESOME detail!

Ollie

[macgl78]

Try looking at Northwest Scotland 56'41'08.24 North 5'13'05.42 West I used to live there, how lucky was I.

[Ollie]

Google Earth was updated a few weeks ago - looks even more impressive now!

http://www.google.com/earth/earth4.html

[MariaD]

Indeed it does, although the picture of my house is still way out of date. Surely they realise that my house should be their highest priority?! :p

[wandering_fox]

-Out of date - this is one of the issues with GE, its old satalite data, sometimes 5-10 yrs old or more. (Note the Apple headquarters doesn't (or didn't) appear as its too new) - so some entire housing estates etc aren't on.

Its supposed to be good for finding old relic information and ancients paths/buildings now buried/lost because of the contrast you can see in the ground shapes, but other than that and going "oh cool" it doesn't actually have any practical application.

Quite a bit of the UK is at fairly poor resolution too.

[Ant]

Try http://maps.live.com/ if you want to see somewhere in detail, photos are a quite old though.

[Hillwalker]

Marmot, check for updates from time to time and you will find they are adding detailed maps all the time.

I love it!

[macgl78]

Its that good even government agencies use it, cheaper than getting real time sat images or over flight photography (Just dont tell Google).

[Jayyyrox]

i think the reason why some areas are clearer than others is that it is based on military sattelite photos (i think, bit of a case of a friend of friend told me) thats why some areas such as portsmouth are clearer. plus apparently thers nothing of interest in the country side, so thats all blurry.

[Ollie]

The photos around our house have been updated now - we are no longer a blur but a proper house! You can see our picnic table and everything :p

[Ant]

Seems they took a lot of time and effort to line up the new images along the welsh and scottish boarders as best they can so it only covers enlgand.