Google Earth 5.0 (beta)

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Google Earth (beta) is now up to version 5.0, with a bunch of news, as some may have seen. Among them:

• Historical imagery from around the globe
• Ocean floor and surface data from marine experts
• Simplified touring with audio and voice recording
  [/list]http://earth.google.com/%5B/url%5D

  Watch out for Google Chrome if you don’t want to include that in the download, nothing bad per se, but not necessary.

  Product Tour – New! in Earth 5.0 (beta): http://earth.google.com/intl/en/tour.html%5B/url%5D

  I have only used the free version, but there were some more before, as you know; Plus and Pro etc.

  As I understand it Google Earth Plus is discontinued (last year), however there are good news. Google Earth 5 Free now contains its features. GPS tracking is available in the free version; importing of GPS tracks and real-time tracking, as I understand it.

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For some reason I am inordinately amused by the end of the URL, which is download_earth….

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Is Google still forcing installation of Google Earth into C:Program Files….?

Or have they implemented the ability for the user to choose where they want to install the program?

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It is only 1 Mb in size and is an upgrade file, so it installs where your last one was.

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I don’t have “a last one” of Google Earth.

I refused to install it some time ago after Google removed the ability to specify an install location and switched to the Microsoft virtual earth instead.

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“I refused to install it some time ago after Google removed the ability to specify an install location”

That’s fine I suppose – it’s your choice – but any particular reason?????

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Because I use logical partitions and try to keep the C: drive just for system level programs. User programs are on my D: or E: drives. If I have need to restore the C: drive, then if there are not user programs there, I don’t have any problems with having to reinstall them. And I have also moved my C:Program FilesUsername folder structure to my D: drive.

It is not easy to keep the C; drive because there are many arrogant, stupid, lazy or shortsighted companies that think everyone has only one C: drive and everything goes there. A couple of examples are Acronis TI allows you to choose a install location but then puts most all its files under C:Program Files and Intuit’s Quicken puts stuff all over the C: drive also. Microsoft, of course, puts almost all their stuff in C:Program files. There are many others.

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I used to follow a similar scheme. I gave up because so many programs now store vital information in the registry that it no longer seemed practical to restore the C drive without restoring my program drive. I now use a bigger C drive and store all programs and operating system there – and back it up regularly.

StuartR

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I don’t know. I have not had the time to install the latest version.

I don’t have a problem if Google follows what is set in the %ProgramFiles% variable. In my case it is “C:Program” (Swedish OS).

I can tell you that it can be much worse than a program following what is actually set in the variable; that is some US/UK etc. programs that is hard coded to put it in “C:Program files”, even if the OS is not the same as theirs and even if the %ProgramFiles% variable points to something different, in my case the default: “C:Program”. That is a stubborn program! And they usually proceed with their “things” in to the Start menu; I get extra “Accessories” and “Start up” folders, though I have “Tillbehör” and “Autostart”.

A program that follows the %ProgramFiles% variable as Google Earth seems to do is not in the worst category in my mind. That said, to be able to specify destination folder is of course nice.

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Argus,
I DL and installed the latest V5.0 and just quickly took a check around.

1.It destroyed all of my place-marks from the prior version.

2. I took a look at one of my favorite places. Bermuda. I don’t know WHO decided to put some of the points of interest there but the capital of Hamilton was on the south shore and far east of where it really is. Spots on the shore roads were something like ” A nice beach” or “pink beach”. Just like a tourist would mark them. Some of the larger hotels were either not marked or incorrectly marked on the map.

I haven’t tried other locations but I hope Bermuda was not a indicator of accuracy for the rest of the world!

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Interesting. I used the Google Updater and didn’t have any such problems. The only thing I get annoyed about is misplaced photos. (No, this lat=40.597939, lon=-111.606835 shot is taken on the ridge about 200 yards to the NW lat=40°35’57.96″N, lon=111°36’23.55″W! )

Edit: can we do in-line KMLs in a post?

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John,
I didn’t use the Updater. That’s probably why the placemarks were blown away. My fault.
BUT those amateurish placemarks on the island were too much! None would be better than those things.

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As a rule I avoid updaters, but Google’s works.

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