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November 12, 2006
Four New Featured Google Earth Layers
[NOTE: for the "Rumsey Historical Maps" you must be running the latest Google Earth 4 (released November 1st). Download here. Also, you may have to change the "Tools>Options>General>LanguageSettings" to "English".]
Google has quietly introduced four new Featured Content Layers today. Go to the Layers on the lower left and look for "Featured Content". Open the folder and look for the new layers at the top. Each is marked with a red "New!". Here's a brief overview of the new layers:
- Rumsey Historical Maps - This is a collection of historical maps which you can overlay over their location on Earth. If you are not running Google Earth 4, you will not see this layer. Open the folder and turn on the map that interests you. The first link shows you the locations of the different map and each description gives you a few details. You can then turn on each map and they will be overlayed in GE. The maps are "regionated" which means they will load more detail as you get closer (it also means the images are scanned at a very high resolution). I'm sure some of my mapping friends like Jonathan Crowe will be curious to see these. See Rumsey's Google blog entry about the maps.
- Tracks4Africa - this is my favorite of the new layers. There are maps of places to go in Africa built by compiling data from GSP tracks. The layer also has lots useful information and photos. Zoom in closer to see more detail. You can read more, and buy the maps for your GPS, by going to Tracks4Africa's web site.
- Spotlight on Africa - This is a collection of placemarks showing the flag of each country of Africa. The placemark description includes an overview of basic information of each country from the CIA World Factbook. The placemarks were developed by the National Geographic My Wonderful World campaign to help kids become more geographically aware. This is nicely done, but you can see the whole world done in a similar fashion in this collection.
- European Space Agency - this layer shows ESA logo placemarks of different locations where a satellite photo can be viewed of that location. A small picture is in the placemark description, and a link to a page where you can see a larger picture. I am disappointed that you can't just view the larger pictures overlayed in Google Earth though.
Posted by FrankTaylor at November 12, 2006 08:13 AM
Comments
Posted by: Chris at November 12, 2006 03:19 PM
I'm not seeing the historical maps in my layers, but I do see the other new ones. Am I missing something?
Posted by: Ben at November 12, 2006 07:06 PM
Ben,
You need to open the "Rumsey Historical Maps" folder and turn on one of the options. It is a "radio button" folder which means only one map can be viewed at a time. Or, when you are done, you can select "Turn Maps Off".
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 12, 2006 07:24 PM
I think you also need the newest version of Google Earth.
Posted by: Jo at November 12, 2006 09:58 PM
The same for me : No "Rumsey Historical Maps",
No folder, no radio button to turn.
Bob, MacUser.
Posted by: Bob at November 12, 2006 10:35 PM
GoogleEarthVersion : 4.0.2413 (beta)
News :
- Tracks4Africa
- Spotlight on Africa
- European Space Agency
But no Historical maps...
Can you show a screen capture to show us where is the folder?
Thanks.
Posted by: Bob at November 13, 2006 08:15 AM
Had the same problem, until i changed Tools>Options>General>LanguageSettings to "English".
Posted by: thok at November 13, 2006 09:38 AM
You'll need to be running the latest version of Google Earth 4 Beta (from November 1st).
Posted by: PenguinOpus at November 13, 2006 11:23 AM
Thok, I have a mac version... Impossible to change the language.
Posted by: Bob at November 13, 2006 11:59 AM
Doesn't work under linux, since the last linux version is 4.0.2091 :(
Posted by: Jonathan at November 13, 2006 06:56 PM
Jonathan, I just checked with Google. Try downloading GE again. The Linux version was updated on November 1st as well.
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 13, 2006 11:19 PM
In the Mac version you have to open the "Featured Content" folder under "Layers". you will see the Rumsey Collection and much more there....Cheers.
Posted by: BoyTheEarthTalksTo at November 14, 2006 05:00 PM
Stop saying to download the last version, we did that. The real problem is that it's impossible to see those historical maps because :
- It works only with the PC version.
- Impossible on Mac or Linux.
- Only with English version.
- Impossible to change language on the Mac version.
- ...
So, go back to work, guys, and finish the job.
Posted by: Bob at November 14, 2006 10:07 PM
I just confirmed the Rumsey maps do work on the Mac (at least on my English version on a MacBook). I'm using version 4.0.2413 of GE (free version).
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 15, 2006 07:10 PM
The Mac version works fine on my PowerBook G4.
I am running Tiger 10.4.8 and Google Earth 4.0.2413 (beta). Google/View/Sidebar; Layers, Core, Rumsey Historical Maps. [radio buttons].
London in 1843 comes up beautifully.
Thank you Google.
Posted by: Clive Carter at November 16, 2006 01:10 PM
the Linux version works here.
Posted by: Steve at November 16, 2006 07:01 PM
I also don't see it on a Mac, v. 4.0.2413 and in German.
No way to change language.
But I have:
Tracks4Africa
European Space Agency
Spotlight on Africa
want to have historical maps!
Posted by: hans Mahr at November 18, 2006 06:52 PM
"Rumsey Historical Maps" doesn't work on my Windows XP Home Edition PC unless you are logged on with an Administrator Account!
Posted by: Phil at November 19, 2006 05:56 AM
I just wish they'd spell the name of my country properly - That's "Solomon Islands" not "Soloman Islands" if anyone from Google is listening.
Posted by: Lee at January 1, 2007 11:07 PM
there is an annying map in the top left hand side of my Google Earth, how do I get rid of it?
Posted by: David at August 25, 2007 10:16 AM
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NOTE: Please use English. Comments are moderated.
Fantastic! I'vwe been dying for Google to put in the South African street network. Including the excellent T4A data is certainly a step in the right direction!
Now for automatic driving directions...