# "Google Earth"- wow. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240 "2005-06-28T18:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/21 "2005-06-29T09:16:36Z")
Freaking addictive. I’ve looked at Paris, Damascus, Jerusalem, Mecca, Pyongyang, Tokyo, and many U.S. cities. Sydney, Australia had amazing detail at 384 feet. Even the tiny islands around Tasmania and northern Norway came in clear as a bell. :eek: Adam ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/22 "2005-06-29T11:37:01Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Sure. That’s what they’re telling _us_. What does the CIA have–“Google Spy”? Well, if the CIA had a way to get real-time high-resolution photos of areas of interest, then conceivably they’d just have to mesh them together with accurate reference points, and then consult their (purely notional) database of “points of interest” within a country. This application could be a great intelligence tool if it were tied to a slightly different data set. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/23 "2005-06-29T13:04:31Z")
I am on a quest to find all the stadiums in MLB. So far I’ve found (in order) Wrigley and Busch. I’m searching Comisky (or U.S. Cellular or whatever it’s called now). This is some amazing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/24 "2005-06-29T13:56:28Z")
After finding San Diego’s Petco Park, now in its second active year, under construction according to Google Earth, I wonder how old these pictures are? ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/25 "2005-06-29T14:02:17Z")
Is there a place that one can share one’s [del]bookmarks[/del] placemarks? I’m in the Air Force, and I’ve been going through different bases and attaching tags to all of the aircraft sitting out on the runways, but the information is only stored on my machine – I’d love to contribute to a big (horribly cluttered?) list of cool items. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/26 "2005-06-29T14:46:57Z")
Aw. ☹ All I get is “Beta Temporarily Closed.” I can’t download the software, darn it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/27 "2005-06-29T16:34:37Z")
They must be getting hammered on the bandwidth, what with all those people sucking down map data as they zoom across the world. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/28 "2005-06-29T18:47:34Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > After finding San Diego’s Petco Park, now in its second active year, under construction according to Google Earth, I wonder how old these pictures are? Data is updated around every 18 months, according to the website. Satellite data, that is, I’m sure the roads and other icons you can layer on top of it are up-to-date. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/29 "2005-06-29T22:45:31Z")
My OS is not supported. That’s what I get for working somewhere that hasn’t even loaded Win 98 _SE_ on this computer. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/30 "2005-06-29T23:29:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Google Earth downloads temporarily delayed > > Thanks for your interest in Google Earth, but we’re sorry we can’t offer you a download right now. As you know, Google Earth is in beta, and we’re still building out our ability to take on new users. We’re making good progress, and expect to be able to accept new downloads shortly, so we recommend you check back daily at [earth.google.com](http://earth.google.com). We hope to be able to welcome you and other new planet surfers soon. > > We appreciate your patience, > > The Google Earth Team Darnit! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/31 "2005-06-29T23:47:01Z")
Good thing I got my installer file a couple of days ago. Would it be too annoying to mention that I found all the places in the Watership Down book? The downs, the rivers, the railway embankment… Search for Overton, Hampshire, England, UK and scroll north. It’s between Overton and Newbury, just to the east of the A34. You can zoom down to ground level, come in from the north, and actually see the downs rising on the horizon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/32 "2005-06-30T01:12:12Z")
Says the download is down :mad: ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/33 "2005-06-30T01:51:12Z")
With this update, Google was kind enough to extend my subscription for a year and upgrade my account…free! ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/34 "2005-06-30T09:42:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Would it be too annoying to mention that I found all the places in the Watership Down book? The downs, the rivers, the railway embankment… Search for Overton, Hampshire, England, UK and scroll north. It’s between Overton and Newbury, just to the east of the A34. You can zoom down to ground level, come in from the north, and actually see the downs rising on the horizon. Annoying? No. Cool? Yes! ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/35 "2005-06-30T12:34:01Z")
This is so incredibly addictive. Apologies to my friend, who I may not be able to meet later today… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/36 "2005-06-30T13:03:25Z")
I got the software, and loaded it. But it won’t connect with google earth. I just get an error message, and the troubleshooting tips at the site don’t help. I suspect they’re not connecting up anyone new. Anybody have any other ideas? Happily **elfbabe** is running it so I can participate vicariously. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/37 "2005-06-30T17:05:19Z")
> [@JimSox5](#): > > I am on a quest to find all the stadiums in MLB. So far I’ve found (in order) Wrigley and Busch. I’m searching Comisky (or U.S. Cellular or whatever it’s called now). Check out the roof of Safeco Field! ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/38 "2005-06-30T17:15:04Z")
Oh I know. It’s very cool. Try to check out Miller Park in Milwaukee. Apparently, that city is one big blur. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/39 "2005-06-30T17:32:09Z")
Another thing I noticed was that the Niagara River is clear… except for one square of blur, right over the hydro-electric power plants. I wonder whether that’s intentional? Also, has anyone experimented with the 3D buildings (in, for example, San Francisco)? Were you wondering when they’d start mapping pictures of the outsides of the buildings to the models’ sides? BTW, the mountains around San Francisco look AMAZING. They really show the potential of the system. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240/40 "2005-06-30T17:51:09Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Also, has anyone experimented with the 3D buildings (in, for example, San Francisco)? Were you wondering when they’d start mapping pictures of the outsides of the buildings to the models’ sides? They’re cool, but not perfect. The Transamerica Pyramid shows up as a big cylinder, but the B of A building is shown in great detail- the sides of the building are ribbed. [Transamerica on the left, B of A to the right](http://boonedocks.net/travel/california/images/dwntwnsf_lg.jpg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-wow/310240.md?page=3)