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April 16, 2008

New Navigation Gadgets in Google Earth 4.3

The new navigation gadgets are a pretty big change from the previous versions of Google Earth. They are designed to help you realize the full potential of the 3D environment in Google Earth. Google has updated the Google Earth User Guide, and they have added the following video to help explain the new gadgets:

Here are some other tips for navigating:

• Fast zoom - You can zoom in/out quickly by pressing the right mouse button and dragging up and down. NOTE: I find it annoying that the direction of motion is the opposite from the behavior of the zoom gadget (up is out, down is in for the mouse zoom).

• CTRL arrow keys - you can move your view like with the "look around" gadget by pressing CTRL and using the arrow keys on your keyboard to move your view.

• Middle Mouse Button - if you have a 3 button mouse, use your middle mouse button. Click and hold the middle button - you now get a marker for the place you clicked and you can hold the button down and use your mouse to tilt and rotate about that point. This is a little different than in previous versions of Google Earth, but it works quite well.

• Reset your view - to get your self re-oriented quickly - click in the 3D window and then hit the "r" key on your keyboard. This resets to "straight-down, north-up" viewing.

• New shortcuts - Here's some other tips on shortcuts for navigating from the new user guide.

Also, read the official GE User Guide on navigation (as linked above).

Posted by FrankTaylor at 10:32 AM | Comments (6)

April 15, 2008

Video Demo of Google Earth 4.3

For a fast look at the main new features of Google Earth 4.3, here's a 6 minute video demonstration. Everything you see is with the free version of Google Earth 4.3 (download here). Shown in the video are the new day/night lighting effects, new 3D buildings, new 3D navigation gadgets, and, of course, the new Street View imagery inside Google Earth. You need to download the new Google Earth 4.3 to see these new features (see tips on getting the brand new download). Read my mini-review of GE 4.3 for more details on the new features. Here's the video:

Posted by FrankTaylor at 10:01 PM | Comments (4)

Google Earth 4.3 First Impressions and Screenshots

[UPDATE 2145 ET: I've created a quick video demo of 4.3 and put it on YouTube .... And, here is a YouTube demo by Google of 4.3].

Google Earth 4.3 (beta) is now available - it's available for all versions including the free version. You can download it from the Google Earth download page or download it on GEB's download page. The Google Earth web site has been updated, and the User Guide now reflects 4.3 tips.

This is Google Earth 4.3 (beta) - an incremental update with new features and some pretty cool new data as well. Based on the last release, we'll probably see an update to this version, fixing any problems that surface for the beta, and an official 4.3 will be released in a few weeks. Also, this is NOT a major new version (which presumably would be called GE 5.0 - and would contain a whole suite of new capabilities, data and interfaces). However, as mentioned in my earlier post, there are some significant new features.

First off, we have new day/night lighting effects. You can turn on a real-time sunlight which shines on the new atmospheric lighting Google has added. Look for the new sun icon in the upper middle (next to the new Sky button). Once it loads, you will see the current position of the sun. You can grab the time slider to change the sun over the course of a whole day so you can see the sun from sunrise to sunrise. Note that the lighting effects the atmosphere, so you actually get color changes near the horizon, and on clouds (if you turn on the Weather->Clouds layer). Here are some sample screenshots showing the lighting effects:

Day / Night Shot from Space
Sunrise in Denver with 3D Buildings

I expect there will be some pretty screenshots showing some cool lighting effects in the coming days...

Keep reading this post for more details and screenshots.

Continue reading "Google Earth 4.3 First Impressions and Screenshots"

Posted by FrankTaylor at 07:35 PM | Comments (51)

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 06:25 PM | Comments (7)

Google Releasing Google Earth 4.3 Today

[UPDATED: 0815 ET - Added features: Flash on the Mac, and faster switching to Sky]

Today Google will be releasing a new version of Google Earth: Version 4.3. The download isn't available yet, but will be sometime later today. Based on past experience, the download will be available in some areas of the world sooner than others (many servers are needed to distribute to the millions of world-wide GE users). GEB will release full details and screen shots as soon as possible. Here are some of the more notable new features expected in GE 4.3:

• Street View inside Google Earth - As rumored weeks ago, Street View will be here soon. And, yes - the images will be viewed with the Photo Viewer. That answers that question.

• Imagery Dates - You will now be able to easily see the dates when imagery was taken for most imagery (but, not all - simply because the date data isn't always available from the many imagery providers delivering to Google).

• New navigational controls - New features enabling better ways to look around at 3D buildings and 3D terrain using new navigation gadgets and your mouse or keyboard.

• More 3D buildings, faster loading - Faster loading 3D building models, and faster rendering as well. New photo-textured cities (it will be interesting to find out how they were made, where they came from, and how many new cities are included).

• Day/Night Lighting - Real-time sunlight lighting option. Time slider control of the sun position. Expect a more realistic looking view of Earth from space. This has been done before by others, but now will be available built-in and supported by Google.

• Flash Support for Mac - That's right, you'll now be able to play YouTube videos and put other flash apps inside Google Earth placemarks just like on Windows. There may be a couple of caveats though from reports I have. More on this later.

• Switching to Sky Faster - Switching between Sky and Earth modes will be much faster.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 03:01 AM | Comments (10)

April 14, 2008

Google Earth's KML Now International Standard

The file format developed initially for Google Earth to exchange geographic information and mapping presentations is now an international standard. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) will now take control over the KML standard. Here's Google's comments on the KML file format:

KML was originally created as a file format for Google Earth, allowing users to overlay their own content on top of our base maps and imagery. It's since become something much larger -- KML has become the HTML of geographic content, the dominant way to share user-created maps online. There are now tens of millions of KML files available online, hosted on more than 100,000 unique domain names. KML is supported by a large and growing number of vendors and products, and can no longer simply be described as Google Earth's file format. Because it has transcended Google Earth in scope, and even outgrown Google itself, we have decided to give it away.

I know the Google team have been working hard to develop KML features and documentation, and working with the OGC over the course of the past few years to make this a standard. It's a testament to their hard work, the support of millions of users of KML, and the support of many companies participating in the OGC that this standard has been accepted.

via Google Lat Long. Also, see CNET news article.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 01:45 PM | Comments (2)

Advanced Photo Placement in Google Earth

The other day GEB mentioned a research project called Viewfinder which is attempting to greatly simplify the process for placing photos in the precise orientation the photos were taken for viewing with Google Earth. When version 4.2 was released last August, Google added new KML features and a Photo Viewer mode which lets you share and see photos the way they were taken - in 3D position. The photos can be normal snapshots, panoramas or complete 360 spheres as well (see this helicopter example). Not only that, but you can also have super-high resolution photos where more details are brought in as you zoom (see the Gigapxl photos for example, found under the Gallery layer folder).

If your photo shows terrain or 3D buildings which happen to be modeled in Google Earth, you can match your photo to the background for comparing your photo to the Google Earth world. The Viewfinder video demonstrates the results of this really well.

You can actually enter your photos using the built in Google Earth interface for adding a photo (see user guide tips). However, it can be a bit tricky to place the photos correctly. I've created a short video on how to do it. First, I found some photos by turning on the Geographic Web layer. Good candidates are photos with 3D terrain - so, I chose one at Yosemite National Park. Watch this short video for a quick tutorial on adding a photo aligned with background terrain:

(Click here for higher quality version)

Keep reading for more details and advanced photo techniques for Google Earth.

Continue reading "Advanced Photo Placement in Google Earth"

Posted by FrankTaylor at 08:42 AM | Comments (4)

April 11, 2008

Links: GE/SketchUp Classes, Sea Ice Update, Bergen Terrain, Waldo

• Google Earth and SketchUp Classes Available - Alex Oliver of school (which does great SketchUp Training DVDs and samples on their site - see GEB review), has written to let me know they are the first Google Authorized Training Center (ATC) in the US. They now offer live training classes for SketchUp and Google Earth! The Google Earth class is currently being taught in 17 locations around the country and more being added each week. Here is the schedule of classes available. More details on the classes are on this page.

• Sea Ice Update - The folks at the Snow and Ice Data Center have updated their Sea Ice Extent KML file. This file shows a time animation of the extent of ice at both poles. There is a magenta colored line which shows the average ice extent for comparisons. The new file not only includes the new March data, but also has a new option to turn off the layer when not in use. This makes it easier to keep the network link in your Place pane. See the GEB review of the Sea Ice Extent file. NOTE: there's also a new "Greenland Annual Surface Ice Melt" file at their GE page.

• Bergen Terrain - Here's an interesting tip. A GEB reader from Norway named Ove Daae Lampe wrote to let me know the recent upgrade to the data layers included a high resolution terrain map for Bergen, Norway. This is very high resolution terrain - possibly from LIDAR? So high that buildings were captured and show up as bumps in the terrain. However, overall, the terrain looks very good, and makes me want to visit Bergen someday! The bumps in the terrain from the buildings will make it interesting when they go to put 3D models of the buildings. According to Mr. Lampe, they will soon have 3D buildings for the entire city as well.

• 

  Waldo - An artist in Vancouver, Melanie Coles, wrote me an E-mail last week about her efforts (along with other art students) to place a huge 55' tall "Where is Waldo" character on the top of a building (see the blog). The idea being it would be caught by a satellite (or aerial photo) and placed in Google Earth someday. To help things along, they took their own aerial photo of it. I was able to find the location where they did it based on the photo, and I've added their photo as an image overlay in Google Earth . Their photo was taken at an angle (not straight down), so it isn't stretched properly over the scenery. But, you get the idea. Turns out her project has grabbed the attention of the media. Unfortunately, Google recently updated the imagery for Vancouver (although I've had reports they used four or more year old imagery). So, I have no idea how long it will be before they get new imagery. Hopefully someone will get a decent straight-down shot for Google to include. This isn't the first time Waldo has appeared in Google Earth.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 10:01 AM | Comments (7)

Impressive Upgrade to Virtual Earth 3D

Well, Microsoft has been working hard. Last night they released a major upgrade to Virtual Earth that includes some impressive new features. Here's an excellent summary of the new features by Microsoft Steve Lombardi. NOTE: you will have to install the new version when you go to visit the Virtual Earth site - virtualearth.com and click on the 3D option. Let me summarize the key new features I see from a Google Earth perspective:

1. 

   Improved 3D buildings - Virtual Earth 3D already had more buildings with consistent quality textures (compared to GE). But, the texture resolution was low. They've now upgraded the texture resolution, increased the range of coverage to suburb areas, AND are now rendering trees as well! So far, only Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver and Phoenix have this new "version 2" upgrade. But, they promise hundreds of cities by the end of the year. Here's my initial impression: Models for the first city I tried took a while to load, but not terribly slow. Textures definitely look better, although not a huge increase in resolution. For some reason anti-aliasing is not working on my computer so edges on models look jaggy. The trees look really good - at least in Las Vegas. If they are automatically rendering trees from photogrammetry, I'm really impressed! [UPDATE 1030 ET: Steve pointed me to a new blog post, by Jerry Skaw of Microsoft, sharing more details about the 3D rendering. And the trees are automatically generated - and it matches my guess at how they would do it. See the post for more details and screenshots.]

2. Export to KML - Microsoft has added the ability to export collections (their equivalent of placemarks) to KML, GPX, and GeoRSS. This means you can now save collections to files and use them in other things like Google Earth, or put placemarks on your GPS. Another step in improving functionality for practical use.

3. 3D Modeling Improved Also - Steve also mentions that their 3D modeling tool, 3DVidia, was also upgraded. I'll have to look at it, but the earlier version didn't seem as good as SketchUp.

4. Bird's Eye Enhanced - You can now see street/map labels inside Bird's Eye views. This is a cool trick in projection since the photos are taken at different angles. It makes Bird's Eye much more useful as well. Cool feature!

5. MapCruncher integration - MapCruncher is Microsoft's application that lets you place maps and photos over a location very accurately. They've now integrated this with Virtual Earth 3D. I haven't tested this yet. But, since VE3D was missing a way to put image overlays into their world, this is a step in the right direction. I just wonder how hard it will be to use. GE has a very easy and intuitive interface for adding image overlays. But, it doesn't have the ability to accurately project them into other than rectangular overlays.

6. Explore Collections - Steve called this GeoWeb Explorations. It's kind of like dynamically searching for user content as you move your view. Something I think Google Earth should be doing as well. You find the option in VE3D under the "Collections->Explore" option in the upper right. They have added the ability to filter your searches by KML, or other tags that appear in your scene. And, you can filter based on photos, OR 3D models. I'm guessing Microsoft has developed their own equivalent of 3D Warehouse with a few models. I haven't found a lot of models available in this mode yet.

7. Movie Capture - Microsoft has a new capability to make movies and even claim the ability to capture up to HD quality movies. Google Earth Pro does not do a good job of capturing movies at higher frame rates (probably due to using the built-in Microsoft video codec). But, I use Fraps and can capture HD for GE anyway.

8. Real-time Traffic - Microsoft has a new traffic application called ClearFlow that allows it to predict traffic patterns based on other traffic data. This sounds like impressive stuff. See the NY Times article, and Mickey says some good stuff about it at Digital Earth Blog. Mickey also notes what they really need is a mobile version - which I'm sure will come eventually.

9. Improved KML Support - Steve says they can support KML files with a new "&mapurl=" parameter - meaning you can add the URL of a KML file without having to load it inside the app. He notes this means you can view a Google Mays MyMap inside Virtual Earth. Interesting! I tried this, but it is a little tricky. Steve gives example URLs for how to use the new parameter. You then look for the "View in Google Earth" inside your Google MyMaps and copy that link as your URL.

Overall - I would say this is a significant upgrade to Virtual Earth. The new features have some impressive capabilities. I'm obviously a big fan of Google Earth, so my opinion may be slanted. But, I still feel the Virtual Earth 3D interface is not as friendly or smooth as Google Earth. It will be interesting to see whether the inclusion of MapCruncher makes it easier for people to add content like image overlays. The enhancement to the 3D buildings is welcome, as is the slick addition of labels for Bird's Eye imagery. The 3D buildings (and trees!) and Bird's Eye imagery are still the main two attractions for me to use Virtual Earth 3D. But, not enough for me to use it every day.

Posted by FrankTaylor at 08:38 AM | Comments (11)

April 10, 2008

Links: Viewfinder, KML in the North, GE Pro Address Trick, Boy Finds Home

• ViewFinder - A project at the University of Southern California (USC) has been published which describes research into ways to improve the way photos can be placed in Google Earth. Last August Google added a new photo capability that lets you place photos as they are taken (completely in 3D including zoom, height, angle, etc.). Once a photo is aligned, you can compare it to the 3D data in Google Earth. They put together a great video showing what this looks like in Google Earth You can read the results of their project at the site. Lucky for them, the New York Times wrote about it, and yesterday Boing Boing as well. Here's the video:

• KML in the North - John Bailey wrote me to say they are having a Google Earth presentation in Fairbanks on April 23rd. They even have one of the GE team members up to give a talk.
  

• GE Pro Address Trick - I didn't know it could do that!
  

• Boy Finds Home - The Times of India writes about a young man who was displaced from his home as a young boy, but searches Google Earth to rediscover where he lived.
  

Posted by FrankTaylor at 09:15 AM | Comments (1)

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