Google Earth v4 Released - Linux Support at Last

chrisd writes "We're very happy to announce that the a new version of Google Earth has been released. It features 3D textured buildings, some neat UI updates, better internationalization and, with this release, a native Linux version is available for download as well. The Google Earth team (with the help of Ryan Gordon) worked very hard to make this possible. Please see the Earth support site and check out the BBS for more information."

Comments

Oh, the Irony!

[birge]

One would think Google porting earth to our beloved linux would enhance the image of the platform. Having played with it, however, my guess is that it will simply serve as a perfect example of why linux is such a miserable pain in the ass. First, there's the font availability issue. Then there's the graphics card support (mine didn't work properly despite using a supported card for RHEL). When an app barely works under RHEL, then I'd say there's going to be a lot of problems. I just don't honestly see how one can distribute an app as complex as Earth on linux, let alone hope to support it, when there's absolutely no standardization on installations out there. That, in the end, is why linux will never make much of itself beyond the geek niche: there are, in essence, about 500 versions of linux out there to write to and support. If I were Google I'd say screw this in quick order, and I'm guessing that this linux version will be orphaned. They'll fix this one the best they can and then leave it in the dust while the Mac OS X and PC versions are updated.

Now, before the birkenstock idealogue choir chimes in with all the goddam web sites I'm supposed to visit to figure out how to get this thing working under linux, let me just say this: Fuck that; I'm booting up my Mac and playing with the new Earth there. Life is too short for me to dick around trying to cajole yet another linux app into working with my particular kernel and my particular font installation, etc, etc, etc... And you can call me all the names you want, but the fact of the matter is that I'm on the high end of patience and ability with computers (relative to the average guy, though probably not here) and I just don't give a shit enough to spend another second trying to get the linux version of Earth working or figure out the correct way to install it on my system. My point is simply that if a guy getting a PhD in EECS feels this way, you can bet the vast majority of the computer users in the world do, too.