Google Earth

[Miwokhill]

Google earth is really amazing. I was just looking at the neighborhood in San Francisco where I lived as a kid. Then I ‘flew’ over to Bagdad and don’t know why I was amazed that there are block after block of residential neighborhoods not appearing all that different from our own cities…houses with back yards…don’t laugh, I’m not trying to be funny/sarcastic, try it and you’ll get my point i guess. It’s great to fly over Europe and zoom in on London or head down under to Sydney. It’s too bad though you don’t get the resolution in more rural areas that you get in the cities. Does anyone know if the upgraded versions give you more resolution everywhere? They have a $20. upgrade and then a $400. one, yikes!

Sad to go and check out New Orleans which seems to have been photographed before the hurricane.

Another interesting site that’s similar is Zillow.com which gives you aerial views as well as the housing prices in your neighborhood…well alot of places anyway… I think I got a better resolution from this site of where I live now than on Google Earth…Evidentally the photos were taken last year about this time because that old Toyota that I needed to have towed was still sitting out in front.

mike

[Walden]

I downloaded NASA Worldwind. It’s pretty fun stuff.

[Tyghress]

Walden, can you tell me about that program, please?

As far as Google Earth, it is still by far my favorite free site out there. I spend a lot of time cruising the world. My favorite flyovers are Australia and eastern Europe.

Two days ago I contacted my college friend Vickie. We talk periodically through the years, but I never felt so connected as when I zoomed in on her new home and could see the roof and backyard, and the stable where she keeps her horses. Unfortunately Chez Tyggy is not hi-res. (But the Sweetheart Flute Co is! try a search on 32 South Maple St, Enfield, CT and you can see the Powdermill Barn roof quite clearly!

[SteveShaw]

@Miwokhill

Google earth is really amazing. I was just looking at the neighborhood in San Francisco where I lived as a kid. Then I ‘flew’ over to Bagdad and don’t know why I was amazed that there are block after block of residential neighborhoods not appearing all that different from our own cities…houses with back yards…don’t laugh, I’m not trying to be funny/sarcastic, try it and you’ll get my point i guess. It’s great to fly over Europe and zoom in on London or head down under to Sydney. It’s too bad though you don’t get the resolution in more rural areas that you get in the cities. Does anyone know if the upgraded versions give you more resolution everywhere? They have a $20. upgrade and then a $400. one, yikes!

I like it, but the resolution for north Cornwall is pretty useless.

Steve

[Walden]

@Tyghress

Walden, can you tell me about that program, please?

It’s a freeware from NASA. Even in the rural areas you can focus in pretty close, using the black and white settings. http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

[BillChin]

@Walden

@Tyghress

Walden, can you tell me about that program, please?

It’s a freeware from NASA. Even in the rural areas you can focus in pretty close, using the black and white settings. http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Looks cool, but 700 Mhz processor speed and 1 GB minimum free hard drive space make me 0-for-2. It probably runs like a turtle with those minimums. Another thing to shelve until I buy a newer computer.

[Innocent_Bystander]

Wow! Yes, Google Earth is impressive. I can see my house from here! And on the day that they took the picture, my wife was out! (The car wasn’t parked outside.)
And there was an Air Canada Jet flying over Bourne End!

I quite like the blurry edges.

[fyffer]

Speaking of “I can see my house …”