Click to the latest Google experience, Google Earth, at http://earth.google.com. Google’s new satellite imagery-based mapping product combines 3D buildings and terrain with mapping capability and Google search. Based on Keyhole technology, Google Earth enables users to fly from space to street-level views to find geographic information and explore places around the world.
Key features of Google Earth include:
• 3D buildings in major cities across the United States.
• 3D terrain showing mountains, valleys, and canyons around the world.
• Integrated Google Local search (to find local information such as hotels, restaurants, schools, parks, and transportation).
• Fast, dynamic navigation.
• Video playback of driving directions.
• Tilt, rotate and activate 3D terrain and buildings for a different perspective on a location.
• Easy creation and sharing of annotations among users.
“Google Earth utilizes broadband streaming technology and 3D graphics, much like a videogame, enabling users to interactively explore the world — either their own neighborhood or the far corners of the globe,” said John Hanke, GM, Keyhole, Google Inc. “With many ways to access geographic information, Google provides a very rich local search experience for users worldwide.”
For users interested in more advanced mapping capabilities, Google Earth Plus ($20/year) offers additional features including GPS compatibility, data import and annotation. Google Earth Pro ($400/year), for commercial use, offers high-resolution printing and GIS data import capabilities.