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September 13, 2006
New Version of Google Earth 4 Beta
[Update 15-Sep 1025 ET: Several new items added in blue. Also, even newer version to fix some problems.]
A new version of the Google Earth 4 Beta is out! If you go to the Google Earth download page you can download GE 4 and get the latest version of GE 4 Beta (4.0.2091 for Windows, and 4.0.2093 for the Mac). File size is actually a little smaller at 14 MBytes. (NOTE: doing a "Check for Update" in the application will NOT get you the new version - you have to download from Google as if it were your first time for GE 4) Here's the scoop on the significant new features (since the last beta) from release notes and observation):
- As I predicted - Japanese Language Support - Google has made a big effort with this release to support Japanese content. Go to the "Options" under "General" to make your language selection. Now English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese.
- As mentioned earlier today there are many new layers for Japan including 3D Buildings for many cities in Japan.
- Caching of 3D models (new Collada format) to improve performance
- Improved printing option for turn-by-turn driving directions with satellite imagery
- Support for flight controllers - word of caution - if you have a joystick or flight controller (yoke and rudders for flight simming) and you install this new version of GE, the Earth might be rotating around when you bring it up. You may need to adjust the trim on your controller or calibrate it to get it to stop. But, on the plus side you can now use your joystick/flight yoke to fly in Google Earth using the fly mode (Ctrl-G to turn on, Ctrl-T to go back to normal). Very cool!
- KML Time Tag and Interface - This is the feature many of us have been waiting for. It's a feature allowing data to be time stamped and presented in GE according to some sort of interface.
As soon as I get more details on how it works I'll let you know.Check out this review of the new time gadget feature and example. - I imagine there are a lot of fixes from the last version not in this list.
- Undocumented new feature: when you load an image overlay you get a slick icon showing it's loading an image.
- The desktop icon for GE is a little more refined
- GE Pro support HDTV movie recording
- Support for Web Mapping Service(WMS) image/data overlays (now in free version too) - Note: OgleEarth explains why this is important.
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system grid overlay
There are also some developer notes for the new Time tags: <TimeStamp> & <TimeSpan>.
The new GE 4 Beta for Plus and Pro is also available. I'll write a separate story reviewing the application after I play with it more. Getting this out now so folks can start playing!
Related News:
- New Layers for GE
- New Satellite / Aerial Photos
- New Time Gadget for Google Earth 4
- National Parks Layer
Posted by FrankTaylor at September 13, 2006 8:22 PM
Comments
Posted by: x at September 14, 2006 2:57 AM
And not just Japanese language support - Japanese ROAD support! Google Earth has just become 1000 times more useful to anyone living in Japan. The outlines of cities and towns are also accurate now.
Posted by: Tamyu at September 14, 2006 7:57 AM
I don't know if this is related to the layer update or the new version, but city names appear a lot sooner now when zooming in.
Posted by: Szabolcs at September 14, 2006 10:56 AM
I just noticed that India is now displayed with state borders, and so are many other nations. I saw this only after updating to the latest beta. Also, the major airpots in the cities around the country are identified (this was there in the previous beta).
Navneeth
Posted by: Navneeth at September 15, 2006 3:48 AM
Can anyone tell me if the beta version has high quality satellite imaging for any city in the globe?
Posted by: john valor at September 16, 2006 11:33 AM
I have a problem with my Google Earth, all the city names appear as little squares for some reason. And then when you click on them, the descriptoion of the city appears in what I'm pretty sure is Japanese. Can someone help me set this ino english
Posted by: Rijul at March 2, 2007 9:15 AM
Rijul,
To set your language in Google Earth, go to the GE "Options" (under the menu "Tools" in Windows, or "Preferences" on Mac OSX). Under the "General" tab look for "Language settings".
Frank
Posted by: Frank Taylor at March 2, 2007 9:21 AM
about Syria,speceficAleppo city..sorry but its not clear and the photos is very far,,hope if u care about it,,thanks alot..:)
Posted by: sam at May 14, 2007 12:38 AM
i have problem with google earth as soon as it loads all kinds of colored lines show up all over the screen please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jake jkjk at June 27, 2007 2:44 PM
please i want more picture more resolution mor update picture more love google company
Posted by: abido at October 3, 2007 8:32 AM
I am using Google Earth since one year. at the moment my version is 4 Beta (4.0.2091). My question is,after how long google Earth loads new (Latest) images of my aria (Rawalpindi,Pakistan)?
because what i see, is old pictures,any how GE is highly useful software to watch places, where i cant go by foot OR program my HUNTING,CAMPING and traveling. Thanks for this WONDERFUL world of Google Earth.
Posted by: Saqib Bashir at October 4, 2007 9:00 PM
I hope from google earth to improve the quality of images in all syria and spectialy in lattaquia towards the country because it's very interssting to view the landscape
with all my respect
Posted by: Hala at October 11, 2007 8:06 AM
I have been using google earth quite happily for a year or so. I tried to update to the new version. However it wont load at all. It freezes on initialisation and the whole computer freezes up. I uninsatalled the files and started again but the same thing happened. Is there any way now of downloading the previous version (which works).
Thanks
Posted by: Neil Hodson at October 20, 2007 10:49 AM
Like Rijul,I have a problem with my Google Earth, all the Japanese kanji names appear as little squares for some reason.
I actually want to get Japanese Layers.
I have changed the program language to Japanese, I have even changed the PCs regional language to Japanese.
But alas, all I get are little squares instead of kanji.
Posted by: Charles at November 2, 2007 8:39 AM
I have the reverse problem to everyone else it seems - I am travelling in Tokyo and upgraded my google earth - now all the subway station and names appear in Canji and as I can't read it - google earth has become useless to me to help find my way around. Can anyone help turn it back into English aphabet please???
Posted by: John Schmitt at November 9, 2007 9:02 AM
Johh: Google Earth's subway layer has always only been available in Kanji (it was from a database given to Google by Japan). Google suggested you try searching for other resources, and found found this KMZ file you can use:
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 10, 2007 8:09 AM
how i change google earth from arabic to english
Posted by: mafar at November 10, 2007 5:10 PM
I updated at one time and had a new map with my new house on it, then a couple of mounths later I did another update and my house was gone I was back to the older map. My house was built the summer of 2005 and as I have said I know you have the map with my house on it so why can't I get it????
Thanks
Danny Turner
Posted by: Danny Turner at November 22, 2007 11:40 PM
The default language somehow changed to japanese or asian. I can't change it back. I've tried changing it through tools, Options, general, language, english then restarting. please help.
Posted by: Jose at April 10, 2008 10:38 PM
google earth is one of the most best software.i am very happy to use this kind of software to improve my knowledge.
Posted by: babul baloch at June 7, 2008 8:48 AM
I like google earth i have been using it since it came out its very awsome.
Posted by: tristan at August 14, 2008 3:40 PM
I am from the USA, have lived and worked in the middle east for 25 years and my new adopted home is southern Spain. I find google earth great to revisit many of the places I have been but I would like to see an up to date image. My present image is 2005. Is there a later image available?
Posted by: Jett Allen Smith II at August 21, 2008 1:32 AM
I am from the USA, have lived and worked in the middle east for 25 years and my new adopted home is southern Spain. I find google earth great to revisit many of the places I have been but I would like to see an up to date image. My present image is 2005. Is there a later image available?
Posted by: pranjal at November 8, 2008 12:00 PM
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NOTE: Please use English. Comments are moderated.
nav controls go haywire and earth/camera start a constant rotation as soon as i plug in my joystick. It's as if the calibration is way off but other games/programs work fine and control panel shows perfect calibration. Any ideas?