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Google Releases Earth to Beta

Posted by Zonk on from the earth-to-go-live-in-2000-years dept.

Cros13 writes "Google has released a beta of it's Google Earth software to subscribers of the existing Keyhole service. New features include 3D models of buildings in selected cities, input from your gps receiver and a better search system. I have posted screenshots here and here." This product is in competition with Microsoft's Virtual Earth, as we reported earlier.

22 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Indiana... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    looks a little boring

  2. hmm by professorhojo · · Score: 5, Funny

    i know all the words in that title, but i just can't parse that sentence.

  3. And in related news. by rossdee · · Score: 4, Funny

    Magrathea sues for copyright infringment.

    1. Re:And in related news. by Nos. · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was going to be so clever and post a link to a google maps view of Norway and exclaiming how beautiful the Fjords were. That is until I scrolled east of NA, past the British isles, and found.... Alaska!

  4. Earth Beta Release by Sandbox+Conspiracy · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I've been living on the alpha version this entire time?

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    1. Re:Earth Beta Release by nxtr · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clearly. It's plauged by a malfunctioning thermostat that cycles every 10000 years. It's also got a random system crash that requires a total reboot. No one's sure when next one will hit but with a 65 million year uptime, we're due for one soon.

    2. Re:Earth Beta Release by Meostro · · Score: 3, Funny
      ...but with a 65 million year uptime...
      Those 16-bit unsigned ints will be the death of us, literally! Y2K's got nothing on Y2^16 Millennia...
  5. *StarCraft stimpack sound* by KefabiMe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, that's better. My dosage of Google news. Now I can start my day!

  6. Re:Obligatory humorous post. by Arctic+Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Earth is still in beta? After 3 billion years?"

    Gmail will probably be a beta just as long.

  7. Crazy Hoosiers... by TylerL82 · · Score: 3, Funny

    http://photos11.flickr.com/16639588_c9da324958_o.j pg

    Um...
    Why does it look like Indiana isn't mapped?
    There are lots of worse states out there...

  8. Closed Minded by mattmentecky · · Score: 4, Funny

    As a Google user that is beyond you're planet, I take offense to the fact that Google *only* included EARTH in there initial release!

    1. Re:Closed Minded by AyeRoxor! · · Score: 3, Funny

      As a Google user that is beyond you're planet,

      Hi. Welcome to Earth. Please study up on our language. Earthlings who can't even manage a basic comprehension of their mother tongue are frequently ridiculed as idiots. We expect no less from "supreme species" such as yours.

  9. Out the Windows by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wake me when they release one with a Total Perspective Vortex. I've got a fairycake craving.

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  10. Re:Obligatory humorous post. by SlayerofGods · · Score: 3, Funny

    Because there's still several billion bugs in the system :D

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    Technology, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems.
  11. I can't wait for the final release by lxs · · Score: 5, Funny

    For the last 4.5bn years we have struggled with an alpha version of the Earth.

    We can all remember Earth 0.1 , which was flat.

    Earth 0.2 was spherical but still lodged in the center of the universe.

    Earth 0.3 has served us well for over 200 years, but is still buggy as hell. The tectonics engine constantly crashes, causing massive earthquakes.

    I have good hopes for the beta of Earth, but for the final release I, and many users like me would like a bigger planet.

  12. Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? by tgd · · Score: 3, Funny

    Planning terrorist operations, didn't you read the /. article about the government passing a law to make it easier to get your records from your ISP? They want to know who downloaded Google Earth, duh!

  13. Well hell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    We didn't need Google to tell us that

  14. I got a better one... by alexandreracine · · Score: 5, Funny

    Looking at this picture gave me some idears... So, how about putting all this data in a new game?
    Behold! I present to you... (drum roll)

    Grand Theft Auto : New York!

    Humor note : Try our new live edition ;)

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  15. Re:What would you use Keyhole / Google Earth for? by Jagasian · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cue posts about possible uses for terrorism.

  16. Re:Obligatory humorous post. by FidelCatsro · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wasps and ants are features not bugs

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  17. Re:Like Google Maps as a local application by jusdisgi · · Score: 4, Funny

    For $29, this app delivers, per dollar, more fun and utility combined than anything else I've ever purchased.

    I suggest you take a quick look at two products: beer and condoms.

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    Given a choice between free speech and free beer, most people will take the beer.
  18. Re:Like Google Maps as a local application by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    I suggest you take a quick look at two products: beer and condoms.
    Dude, the guy just got excited over school district boundaries and ATM locations. Please don't encourage him to reproduce.
    Not real familiar with condoms, are we?