Finally! Two weeks after GE 4.2 is released, the release notes are available. If you go to “Help->Release Notes” inside GE 4.2 you will be taken to the release notes web page. The big news here is another little sleeper: the new license agreement for Google Earth Free and Plus allows them to be used in a business setting (at least that’s my interpretation).
I don’t see any other major new things not already discovered by the community at large. Anyway, read the rest of the post for the main elements of the release notes (with some highlights provided by me):
Changes in Version 4.2.0180:
- Added Traditional Chinese language support
- Sky viewing mode, including search and high-resolution astronomical images
- Photo navigation and placement modes, including high-resolution tiled photo support
- Embed tag with Flash in placemark balloons (Windows only)
- Icon palette changed to match Google Maps
- End User License Agreement moved from the installer to the download page
- Expanded terms of service for Free and Plus products
- Embedded flight simulator
- Support for KML gallery
KML 2.2 Support:
- Reference elements inside KML files with the feature anchor syntax
- New <Camera> element to specify viewing parameters
- New <PhotoOverlay> element for rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical images
- New <ResourceMap> element in <Model> for better control of <Model> textures (replaces the textures.txt file)
- New <maxSessionLength> element of <NetworkLinkControl>
- <ExtendedData> for balloon templating
- Full list of changes at code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation
Major Fixes:
- Improved COLLADA importing
- Allow larger and zero values for icon size, label size, line width
- Garmin USB GPS device support fixed for Mac OS X 10.4.10
- Numerous translation improvements
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.
I cannot find pointer elevation on the map any more.