So you’re cruising around Google Earth and you find something really cool that you want to share. How do you do it? Here are a few ways:
Save a KML file
This technique is as old as Google Earth, and still quite popular today. Add a placemark to the map, right-click on it in the “Places” menu on the left, and choose “Save Place As”. The resulting KML or KMZ file can be sent to anyone and they can quickly view that location in Google Earth on their computer. You can also submit it to places like the Google Earth Community or Google Earth Hacks to show it off to a wider audience.
Use the “Share” options
Google Earth 6.2 made it easier to share items directly from Google Earth by simply clicking the “Share” option in the upper-right corner.
• Share screenshot on Google+: This is a nice feature, but disappointing that it only shares a screenshot. We’re hoping in the future that it’ll include a linked KML file so that your friends on Google+ can quickly visit that site in Google Earth.
• Email Image: Quickly grab an screenshot and email to a friend. You can also quickly save a screenshot by going to [File] -> [Save] -> [Save Image]
• Email View: Similar to the previous option, but this generates a KML file and sends that to your friend.
Use a site like EarthURL.org
With EarthURL.org, you can use the Google Earth Plug-in to browse around the globe and quickly share locations with your friends. What’s very creative about this site is that the page URL changes in real-time while you’re browsing around. At any point, you can stop moving the globe and send the link to your friend and they’ll immediately arrive at that same location. They also have quick “copy” and “Tweet” links at the bottom of the page. I had created a similar tool called ShareIt back in 2008, but EarthURL is a much better implementation of that idea.
These are just a few of the ways to share locations from Google Earth to your friends. What is your favorite site or technique to use?
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
I don’t know if I get the article right but the easiest way to share a view on location is to use a link icon in Google Maps which also offers short URL option. The link also “remembers” whether you were using maps, earth view or street view (maybe even something more but I didn’t check).
This does not work in Google Earth but you can easy jump from Google Earth to Google Maps.