- New Version of Google Earth – As I predicted, a new version of GE 4 Beta is expected soon. Yesterday, Michael Jones (Chief Technologists for GE) spoke at AGI2006. Michael demonstrated a new feature which allows KML files to demonstrate the element of time. He showed how placemarks could be shown from a GPS track progressively using a slider. This feature had been known to be in the enterprise version GE, but will now be released in the next update to GE 4. ZDNet picked up this story (with a few of their facts wrong according to OgleEarth). CNET does a little better with the same information. Oh, and Microsoft’s new Virtual Earth update was mentioned as well.
- China Redux – The stories about secret military locations in China continue to get press. This time the San Jose Mercury News summarizes the recent stories including the secret Sumarine base and tunnel and the amazing giant replica of a border region. They even sent someone to the replica and tried to find out more information (not much luck) and did a fair job of summarizing the reality. The reality is that military organizations have been hiding secret stuff from satellite cameras for decades. It really doesn’t change things except that now the general public can look at places easily.
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.