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The amazing things about Google Earth


Picasa Web Album – Geotag Photos Using Google Earth!

O'reilly Where 2.0 ConferenceLast night Google released Picasa Web Album. Here’s the official Google announcement. Not only does Picasa Web Album let you upload and share your photos on Google servers, but more importantly this version of Picasa lets you GEOTAG your photos with Google Earth! (NOTE: you have to sign up for the limited test, see below). You just find the place where you took your photo by looking at the aerial photos in GE (using search, the mouse, etc.), position where you took the photo and click to finish your geotag. Once your photos are geotagged, they are marked with a little geotag icon in your Picasa library so you know which ones you’ve already marked. In addition, the photos you upload to the Picasa Web Album are tagged as well. I haven’t seen this yet, but you also get a network link so you can view where your photos were taken in Google Earth and then look at the photos with the placemarks! This is like the old Flickr geoblogger network link on steroids and built in to two of the best Google applications out there: Google Picasa and Google Earth! Amazing! Apparently this is a limited test, go to this page to sign up. I also think you will need Google Earth V4 (beta) to use the new feature (but, I’m not sure). Download Google Earth V4 here. Click the link below to get Picasa.





[EDIT 11:07PM: Stefan at Ogle Earth has posted an excellent blog entry showing how the new Google Earth geotagging feature with Picassa works. Check it out!]

About Frank Taylor

Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.

Reader Interactions






PLEASE NOTE: Google Earth Blog is no longer writing regular posts. As a result, we are not accepting new comments or questions about Google Earth. If you have a question, use the official Google Earth and Maps Forums or the Google Earth Community Forums.

Comments

  1. Marc B. says

    I’m testing this feature. It’s amazing!.
    Geotag is introduced in EXIF picture information, so can we use in other programs.
    Windows Shell show the option of open pictures with GE (I have 4 Beta), too.
    There some bug in some options, but works.

  3. Derek says

    I can confirm, because I did it this morning, that you do not need Google Earth V4 Beta for geotagging with the new Picasa. Google Earth does keep telling you that it will be reloading the picasa kml file, but accept that dialogue (and you can tell it not to ask you again) and it all works marvellously.

  4. Roni Segoly says

    Is there a way to edit the EXIF Picasa put in the picture, without using GE? Can I geotag the pictures directly by editing the tag?

  5. gulfstreme says

    Looks like picasa/google earth is insterting the GPS info into the EXIF header at offset 1716. This corrupts some of the Vendor Original Information in the EXIF data for my Nikon camera.
    Roni – google “Exif editor”

  6. sugarsmax says

    (August 2006) Seems the signup page is no longer working. I had received a confirmation email a month ago, but through it out thinking I was done testing. Anyone know how to get it going again?

  8. mj says

    I’m interested in Roni’s comment about the picasa georef exif header corrupting some of the original exif data. Has anyone else had this problem with other vendors such as Canon?

  10. ArthurHH says

    Using Vista Ultimate and all the latests versions of Picasa and Google earth nad it will not work for me. I did have it working but it stopped after I COMPLETELY RELOADED MY MACHINE. Any hints as to what maybe the problem. Email is genuine

  12. ram says

    pretty exciting. i think GPS cameras with modems will be the defacto standard soon. you will see a new wave of citizen journalsim unleashed where people will snap and share instanteously across the globe. u will find TV networks/ internet-stations flashing – catch the action – breaking news pictures- it will be new kind of media explosion



PLEASE NOTE: Google Earth Blog is no longer writing regular posts. As a result, we are not accepting new comments or questions about Google Earth. If you have a question, use the official Google Earth and Maps Forums or the Google Earth Community Forums.