Google Earth

Discussion about software such as GSAK, OziExplorer etc, as well as all things hardware, GPSrs, laptops, PDAs, paperless caching, cables etc
teamkittens
400 or more spectacular views seen
400 or more spectacular views seen
Posts: 259
Joined: 09 March 04 2:17 pm
Location: N51° 04.195' W115° 22.044'
Contact:

Google Earth

Post by teamkittens » 28 June 05 11:38 pm

Check it out:

<a href="http://earth.google.com/">Google Earth</a> its google's answer to worldwind and it support gpx and loc files.

User avatar
ideology
Posts: 2763
Joined: 28 March 03 4:01 pm
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Post by ideology » 29 June 05 12:31 am

wow this is good
Image

User avatar
riblit
It's the journey.
It's the journey.
Posts: 3444
Joined: 04 April 03 6:30 pm
Location: Land Grant of John Campbell

Post by riblit » 29 June 05 12:33 am

I downloaded and installed it. It looks pretty good.

grab <a href="http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php ... 25750">the highlight.kml</a> file from the google bbs after you have installed it. Swing to Sydney and zoom in on the pin.

User avatar
ideology
Posts: 2763
Joined: 28 March 03 4:01 pm
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Post by ideology » 29 June 05 9:31 am

it supports network links so we'll build a network link which to show caches and be automatically updated at the frequency you choose, eg daily, weekly, etc.

teamkittens
400 or more spectacular views seen
400 or more spectacular views seen
Posts: 259
Joined: 09 March 04 2:17 pm
Location: N51° 04.195' W115° 22.044'
Contact:

Post by teamkittens » 29 June 05 11:35 am

It doesn't have the data yet for australia but you can place a cache and it will then give you driving directions on how to get there. :)

User avatar
caughtatwork
Posts: 17015
Joined: 17 May 04 12:11 pm
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Post by caughtatwork » 29 June 05 2:08 pm

So how do you load a gpx or loc file in?

Mind Socket
Posts: 1329
Joined: 29 March 03 6:04 pm
Location: Gladesville, Sydney
Contact:

Post by Mind Socket » 29 June 05 2:30 pm

Dunno, but I noticed as it installed, an interesting .exe file called gpsbabel. One can only assume that they are using the open source software of the same name, and it supports gpx files (I think).

Mind Socket
Posts: 1329
Joined: 29 March 03 6:04 pm
Location: Gladesville, Sydney
Contact:

Post by Mind Socket » 29 June 05 2:58 pm

caughtatwork wrote:So how do you load a gpx or loc file in?
File -> Open then choose files of type GPS (GPS, Loc...)

User avatar
caughtatwork
Posts: 17015
Joined: 17 May 04 12:11 pm
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Post by caughtatwork » 29 June 05 4:37 pm

Ahhhh.
Didn't click on the dropdown. How embarassing.

It's a very cool program.
When you zoom in, it's not quite right as far as the actual location of the cache goes.

Probably 15-20 meters at best, so while you could find an easy cache just using the map, in a park under many bushes you could take a little longer.

Of course, seeing your own house (and what's in the neighbours backyards) is kind of cool.

Damo.
Posts: 2183
Joined: 04 April 04 5:01 pm
Location: Jannali

Post by Damo. » 29 June 05 6:08 pm

And it runs on my computer! (Unlike World Wind)

User avatar
Papa Bear_Left
800 or more hollow logs searched
800 or more hollow logs searched
Posts: 2573
Joined: 03 April 03 12:28 am
Location: Kalamunda, WA
Contact:

Post by Papa Bear_Left » 30 June 05 12:49 pm

I am most impressed! I couldn't run Worldwind on my el-cheapo desktop, only on the laptop, and the desktop's the one with the 21" screen.

This runs well, and seems to have better resolution than WW (at least in the cities/suburbs) I could see our pool and shed quite clearly, and I plan to put a canvas on the shed roof to see how often the images are updated!

Have you noticed that Sydney CBD is low-res? I noticed the same with New York City in WW, so I assume it's a silly anti-terrorist ploy... The suburbs are fine, but many country towns are also low-res only.

The ability to load GPX directly, rather than jumping through XML hoops is marvellous.

It must've been popular, as I noticed this morning that they've suspended further downloads for now!

Dooghan
Posts: 671
Joined: 06 April 03 5:03 pm
Location: Launceston TAS

Post by Dooghan » 30 June 05 1:20 pm

Yes, most impressive program. I do really like the image overlay feature. Had a play with it last night and overlayed these road maps over Rockhampton.

Image

Without overlay
Image

With overlay, with transparency set to about 50%
Image

User avatar
riblit
It's the journey.
It's the journey.
Posts: 3444
Joined: 04 April 03 6:30 pm
Location: Land Grant of John Campbell

Post by riblit » 30 June 05 1:24 pm

I like that - How do you calibrate the overlay?
<br />I can see a google earth tips thread soon.

User avatar
Cached
2500 or more caches found
2500 or more caches found
Posts: 3087
Joined: 24 March 04 4:32 pm
Location: Launceston, Tasmania
Contact:

Post by Cached » 30 June 05 1:32 pm

... on the wiki

team unicycle
3500 or more caches found
3500 or more caches found
Posts: 294
Joined: 15 April 03 11:03 pm
Location: Adelaide
Contact:

Post by team unicycle » 30 June 05 8:55 pm

I think the mouse navigation in World Wind is better, but Google's ability to load a GPX, then link straight to the gc.com page is so cool.

Post Reply