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April 15, 2008
Google Earth 4.3 - First Look - How to Download
Just now downloaded Google Earth Version 4.3 (beta) off the Google servers!
[UPDATE: You should be able to go to the official download page to get 4.3 now. You won't need to use the trick below.]
In order to get it, I had to go to the old way of downloading Google Earth. Please note: the following method will bypass the Google Updater method, but will enable you to get an early look if you can't wait to see the new version. Further note: Not all the servers will have the new version. You may not get 4.3 when you try this! So, if you're in a hurry, click here to download old method. If you're more patient, the better way is to visit the official Google Earth download page after waiting a few hours for the servers to completely deploy.
Real quick, here is a couple of screenshots to whet your appetite. I will begin writing a mini-review of the main new features next and developing some videos. So...here is what Google Earth 4.3 looks like:
Notice new day/night lighting, new nav gadgets in upper right
Street View in Google Earth
Notice in the second shot this is a close-up view of Street Views (normally you see gold camera icons). You click on a sphere and you enter inside and can look around (or double-click a camera icon). You can then double-click on camera icons to be flown to other views (from within the sphere). This is done through the GE Photo Viewer interface, and works pretty well. Turn on the Street View layer to see the icons, and then fly to a city with the icons to see them up close.
[UPDATE - First mini review with more screenshots here]
Posted by FrankTaylor at April 15, 2008 06:25 PM
Comments
Posted by: lxnyce at April 15, 2008 08:07 PM
I can confirm that the quick download works for Mac, as I now have v 4.3.7191.6508 (beta) on my new MacBook Pro.
Speed is unbelievable (maybe because not many have downloaded it and the servers are free). It is a beta and I noticed that the Places menu gets scrambled when I select a site (the selected site goes to the bottom of the Places window box). The controls are different, I don't like that I cannot just double click to return to vertical view when in Terrain mode (I have to hold down the lower arrow until it rotates back up), but double clicking the North arrow swings GE around to north as before.
Also for the Mac I don't get the nice bubbles for street views, rather they are half circle panoramas in rather low resolution (at least for NYC). But when you swing around from above they rotate with you showing the corresponding street view. Kewl!
I guess my taxes are going to be late this year....
Eric
Posted by: Eric Moeller at April 16, 2008 12:41 AM
im lost since when there jakson coverage in street view dont look tho be finish to wierd
Posted by: jo at April 22, 2008 04:52 PM
I have two questions that I can not settle anywhere!
I have installed Google Earth v4.3.7191.6508 in my desktop and my laptop, but while in the latter everything is "ok", the computer fixed the start image of the earth is the same as the old version (the one without sunlight and the atmosphere very clear) I have reinstalled the program several times but the result does not change. Another point: why you can not choose where "install the new version of Google Earth? I hope you can help me because otherwise I do not know to whom to address. Thank you
Posted by: Vito at April 23, 2008 02:50 AM
Vito: When you open Google Earth, what version does it report when you select the menu "Help->About Google Earth"?
If you have indeed installed 4.3.7191.6508 (beta), then check to make sure your Atmosphere is turned on under the menu "View->Atmosphere". Then select the "View->Sun" option.
Posted by: Frank Taylor at April 23, 2008 07:37 AM
HOW CAN I UNINSTALL THE WINDOWS INSTALLED FEATURES THAT ARE CAUSING GOOGLE TO BE UNABLE TO CONTACT MY SERVER
Posted by: RON WILLIAMS at May 3, 2008 04:44 AM
I just installed the 4.3 version and this version is dead slow for everything. Can anyone could tell me other things besides "upgrade drivers", "check connection".
I have a DELL Vostro 1000 with 2 Gb - AMD Turion TL-58 and ATI 1150 with 256 Mb - 400 MHz.
The previous version of GE works so fine.
Regards from Brazil.
Posted by: Tarcizio at May 7, 2008 12:06 PM
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Thanks for the info, very nice. I just tried it looking at the Atlanta area, and it was dirt slow. Perhaps they are updating the data or something, but it's taking a really long time to get buildings.
I left it sitting there for about 5 minutes, and the building textures just haven't filled in with high res textures. Neither have the grey buildings come in. Considerring Virtual Earth actually had a speed improvement with their better textures, I think this is a bad look for Google.
Aside from that, I love the new sun shading. It's a direct rip from Sean Oneil's atmosphere tutorials, but good nonetheless. Here is a link if you're interested. http://sponeil.net/index.htm