Is Google Earth a BIG White Elephant?
p2pnet news | Off Topic:- Is Google Earth a multi-million-dollar online white elephant?
It’s a favourite with newspapers, TV and news sites like to use it as a way to pinpoint troublespots and such.
But that apart, how many ordinary surfers actually use it?
“Traveler Anick Jesdanun used Google Earth to create a robust photo tour of a trip through Antarctica and South America, and found the software powerful but complicated and difficult to intuit—especially for friends with whom he shared the resulting KML file,” says LifeHacker in a poll on the subject.
Days one respondent:
“I have no idea what Google Earth is, but this poll makes me think I don’t need to.”
Otherwise, “Nope,” said 66.3% of the 3,228 people who’d bothered to answer when we looked at 2:10 pm Pacific yesterday.
“Once in awhile I remember Google Earth, fire it up, fly around and marvel at the imagery. The rest of the time I use Google Maps.”
Said 22.8%, “I launch Google Earth pretty regularly to see things up close, but I also use Google Maps.”
“Yes!” – said 9%.
“I’ve got a stack of KML files right here!”
.
.Stumble It!
LifeHacker – Do You Actually Use Google Earth?
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May 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have it installed on my system and use it only for checking places I plan to visit for work and see whats near the hotel.
I think I use it about 3 to 4 times a year.
Personally I think its good software just not something google should be investing millions into unless they find more uses for it.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I used it to see actual shots of Burma while watching Rambo 4, to compare the movie to the real location.
I find reference material like this, enhances my entertainment material.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I use it if I need to know how to get somewhere.
I also sometimes have a bit of fun with the hidden flight simulator. Apart from that, it didn’t take long to lose quite a bit of its novelty.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Most people think it’s live satellite imaging but if they knew it was only made up of old photos taken at various zoom levels patched together, it may lose a lot of appeal. They think they’re going to be able to spy on people and see nude females sunbathing, hahaa
May 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
“Most people think it’s live satellite imaging ”
So they never ran into the sections that were winter year around?
The “satelite” image (arial photo) of Edmonton Alberta used to be winter all the time. (and sure sit feels like it sometimes).
As I look at it now it shows the ring road around Edmonton as dirt and gravel for the southern portion. It is currently paved for that section. Looking at the construction on one of the bridges I’d guess it’s about 2 years old… maybe older.
Guess their only as good as the source of the data. Wonder where they get their data for canada?