Top 25 Stories of Google Earth 2007

The following are my favorite stories about Google Earth in 2007. In retrospect, Google Earth had a fantastic year both in terms of new features and data added, but also in the wide acceptance and influence the application has created throughout the world. There also were a lot of interesting finds in the imagery, and cool content developed by creative GE users around the world. The list is presented in chronological order – with a few comments for perspective.

1. Google Earth 4 Officially Released – Major new release, lots of new features added.
2. Car parked on side of building – Not a fake!
3. Guatemala Sinkhole – Found the location of a bizarre news story.
4. Swiss Alps Fighter Tour – I was told Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, liked this one!
5. Dig a Hole Through Google Earth – Ever wondered what is under you?
6. Clean Underwear and Google Earth – Funny!
7. Rising Sea Level Animations – Popular animations.
8. Google Earth on the Simpsons – This proves GE has reached critical mass!
9. Crisis in Darfur Layer Released – Gets Presidential Notice – Most significant new layer.
10. Google Acquires Panoramio – Very cool news!
11. Weather and Storm Tracking Tools for Google Earth – Weather is cool stuff in GE!
12. Google Earth Outreach Announced – Significant new program for reaching the public.
13. Western US High Resolution Terrain – Lots of new high-res terrain added this year!
14. Blues Brothers Jump Bridge – You have to watch this video if you’re a fan!
15. Our Sailing Holiday – GPS tracks, photos, and placemarks.
16. Google Earth Layers – the most overlooked feature of Google Earth
17. Google Earth 4.2 Released – Google Sky – Big new release! Lots of new features!
18. Google Earth Flight Simulator Tips – Tips on how to use this cool easter egg.
19. Star Wars 3D Sky Animation – Fun animation for Sky
20. Help Find Steve Fossett – No one found him, but they sure tried. Notice comments.
21. YouTube Layer in Google Earth – Cool new layer.
22. California Fires in Google Earth – Big news turns to Maps and Earth
23. Weather Layer in Google Earth – Finally a weather layer!
24. Arctic Ice Melting Animation – Whoa, the ice melted that much!?
25. Astronaut Mode in Google Earth – Very fun add-on for Google Earth

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.

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