Google Earth

There are many programs and online mapping services that provide impressive high resolution maps, most of these sites are filled with useful features like route planners, maps with different types of views (satellite view, hybrid view, street view, etc), and traffic data. Most web mapping services are apparently the same thing, they all look alike, they all provide the same basic features, but none of them can compare to Google maps. That's the reason why I know that if you like Google maps, then you are going to absolutely fall in love with Google Earth.

G Earth is considered by many the most powerful web mapping solution, as most technology experts, I believe that Google Earth has the most amazing set of features and tools, there is not one single program or service out there that can compare or compete against this one. G-Earth is hands down the best! If you want to use Earth, first you have to download it, and then you have to install it on your PC. Keep in mind that Google Earth is not a web based solution like Google Maps, however, it does provide the same basic features such as driving directions, street maps, satellite view, hybrid view, street view, plus many more features that are useful, fun, unique, and exclusive for G Earth users.
Some of those features that make Earth so unique include 3D maps, Google Ocean, Flight Simulator, and the incorporation of thousands of layers that allow you to identify real time data. For example, you can use those layers to find out where earthquakes take place in real-time, you can check out airplane paths, undersea oil pipelines, you will have access to accurate demographic data, and much more! Each layer will provide some kind of interesting statistic, or useful geographical data, features and tools like these are what make Google Earth the most powerful mapping solution on the planet!

Important Update: 3d maps can now be accessed through Google Maps as well, in order to do so, you only have to download the G Earth plugin for Google Maps.

If you are a Google Maps fan, and your only purpose of using the G Earth mapping software is to get driving directions, find locations, and stuff like that, then you probably don't need to download and install Google Earth you'll do just fine with G Maps alone. If you love high quality maps, if you like to explore the world through great 3D images, if you want to discover what's life like beneath the ocean, then all you have to do is download G-Earth right now, then you will be able to enjoy all the cool features that this unbelievable program has to offer.

Here are some interesting facts about G Earth, this program was originally known as EarthViewer3D, it was created and owned by Keyhole, Inc, then Google bought this company in 2004 and they obviously acquired the EarthViewer3D software as well, now the software is known as Google Earth. The technology behind this program is amazing, its function is to map the earth by the superimposition of images and pictures, providing use with easy access to the GIS 3d Globe, satellite imagery, and aerial photography.

Find Locations and Get Driving Directions Using G Earth

Google Earth provides reliable geographical information and interactive maps, it's also a virtual globe which can be seen from every angle, and that can be fully explored by anyone for free. You can use G Earth to get driving directions and map locations, the same way you do it at Google maps, or at Mapquest. The G-Earth interface is a little bit different to the Google Maps interface, that's why many users get confused and frustrated when trying to use Earth, but don't worry, it's actually quite simple, and it is very easy to use.

If you want to find a specific location use the "fly to" tab, enter the location in the input box, and click on the search button, you will notice that next to the "fly to" tab, there is a "find businesses" tab, and a "directions" tab as well, if you need to find a specific POI (point of interest), or a specific landmark, you can use the "find businesses" tab, if you want to get turn by turn, driving directions use the "directions" tab, all you have to do is enter the required information in the input box and then click on the search button once again, then all you have to do is wait while the software maps out the location that you requested for. If you were getting directions, then the software will display the route on the map instead, it doesn't matter what you're trying to do, because this software can complete any action in just a couple of seconds. Don't forget that you can always use the "fly to" tab to find any address or location, just enter the address, the name of a place, or the name of a business in the search field, hit enter, and the program will automatically fly you to that place.

Another easy way to use Google earth to get driving directions is by clicking on a certain location to create a placemark, that placemark that you are going to create is usually your starting point or your ending point, when you click on the placemark an information bubble will appear, if you are traveling or driving to that location click "to here", in the start address text box enter the address of your starting point. This second option to get driving directions is a lot more simple and you don't have to know the address of the place where you are going so this makes planning the route even more simple, if you don't like it you can always click on the "directions" tab where you can enter all the information in the input box and then search for it, but it is quite easier and faster by simply creating a placemark.

Street View

Google earth also has the the Street view feature, most of you must know by now what Google street view is if you don't just click on the link and you will get a very detailed explanation of how the whole service works. Street view offers street level imagery with full panoramic 360 degree views.

Google Ocean

Google ocean allows you to dive beneath the ocean, you can even visit the deepest part of the ocean the Mariana Trench. With this feature you will be able to explore the ocean like never before! If you are a scuba diving fan then this is the tool and the feature that you have been waiting for all your life!

Google Moon

Google Moon allows you to explore the moon through satellite images.

Google Mars

Google earth 5 provides its users with a separate globe of the planet Mars, it allows you to explore and analyse planet Mars, there is a browser version of this feature but this one has much better quality with very high resolution imagery.

Google Sky

Google Sky allows users to view stars and celestial bodies.

Flight Simulator

The flight simulator allows users to fly around the world it can be controlled with a mouse or a joystick. With flight simulator you can even fly underwater, you just have to hit the ocean very carefully at a very low angle, controls are the same but some values like altitude meters will show up in negatives. The flight simulator lets users use several different aircrafts and they can fly to several different airports across the world.

Historical Imagery

This feature shows users where things used to be, it shows imagery from several years in the past worldwide. To activate this feature you just have to click on the clock icon to scroll through time.

Map Data

The map data used in Google Earth is the same data used in Google Maps for roads, landmarks, and borders.

Terrain

Earth provides users with measurement based terrain, it shows mountains, cliffs, valleys, etc. It even shows terrain under the sea like continental shelves and stuff like that. To make images on your screen even more impressive you can exaggerate terrain by up to three times.

3D Buildings

The 3D feature allows users to have a more realistic view of a building or a city, 3d images are made with photo realistic models of buildings in a city including downtown and their surroundings. With this feature you can also create your own buildings, if there's a building somewhere and it hasn't been modeled and added yet to Google earth you can do it by Google SketchUp or Google Building Maker, once you have modeled a building you can place it directly where it belongs in G Earth.

Google Earth for Mobile

Yes it does exist, there is a Google earth app for mobile devices and phones, this app allows users to view 3d imagery, perform local searches, show or map your location, you can perform searches by voice in multiple languages, multi touch to pan, zoom, and tilt as you travel around the world, you also get access to the layers data a lot of useful geographical information that can be very easily accesed through your mobile phone like roads, Panoramio, borders, and much more. Earth is currently only available for Nexus One, Iphone, and Droid. To get the earth for mobile type the following url "m.google.com/earth" in your mobile's web browser to get the download link.

I'm pretty sure that reading all of this information has got you thinking that this program is truly the best mapping solution in the world, guess what? You are right! It is not only useful, it is also very fun and interesting, what I like the most about this software is that it allows my imagination to fly away, there's no way to describe what i'm feeling or thinking when i'm exploring the Ocean, or when I'm taking a real close look at Mars. Google earth is a must have for every person or family, it is great to help kids with their learning in many different subjects, it is great for any household not just to learn if you use this software the same way you use google maps you will also get to save money and time when you use the route planner. As you explore and mess around with earth you will discover that it is a valuable and useful tool that you must have always with you, the cool thing about downloading earth is that you don't have to use the web browser any more to get directions, you can get them right from your desktop!

Update: New Google Earth 6.2 Available for download.

Click here to Download version 6.2 at the official G Earth website.

External Links and Resources:
G Earth Showcase site
Earth Wikipedia page.