PenguinOpusAdministrator
(Sysop, Emeritus)
07/09/06 07:53 PM
Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

There's a new installer available if you go to http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html
(It's not yet available via Check-for-updates, but that should change early this week)

It is v4.0.1657 (Windows), v4.0.1658 (Mac), and v4.0.1660 (Linux).


It has the following fixes:

Changes From Version 4.0.1565
-----------------------------

- Language selection in client: Tools->Options then the "General" tab

- Restore missing Search/Places/Layers panes if the user chose to hide them in version 3.0

- Scroll wheel now defaults to "zoom in" for "wheel up". The setting can be
reversed in Tools->Options then the "Navigation" tab

- More reliable reading and writing of kmz files on systems with non-ascii
usernames

- Fixed imported terrain for SketchUp occasionally showing 'divots'

- Client now remembers the checked status of all layers between restarts

- Improved memory management, client does not require as much memory

- Automatic setting of memory cache based on machine RAM, improves
performance and prevents flickering overlays

- Fixed warnings about Software Emulation and DirectX on Mac and PC systems

Developer Notes:

- Fixed <Update> tag operation

- Fixed deletion of local kmz file when linked to by network link

- Fixed style information being lost upon restart of client (for some styles
that were shared across a folder)

- Using <Update> on LineString coordinates now replaces all coordinates
rather than appends

- Fixed network link occasionally going into fast continuous refresh

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/10/06 09:41 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Beta 2 does the same thing that beta 1 did on my computer (HP media center 1270N with everything stock. 1 gig memory, 128MB video card, etc). It starts running and then when the default place (my house) almost gets zoomed in all the way, it stops and locks up with a busy mouse. Have to hit the close button in the upper right corner and get the 'program not responding' message and click out of that.

Back to version 3 for me! And yes, I did uninstall v. 3.0762 before trying to install the new beta 4, same as I did on the earlier version 4. Version 3 works just dandy so I guess I'll stick with that for the forseeable future.

Dumme
(Tourist)
07/11/06 04:22 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

In Beta 2 I still cannot open links in external browser.

If I have FireFox 1.5.0.4 set to default browser it cannot open links in external browser.. No errors, no warnings, nothing happens.

If I set Internet Explorer as default browser, it works fine.

EDIT:
Got it to work after playing a bit with the registry.

lecolanb
(First Post)
07/11/06 06:57 PM
Google Earth 4 - Beta2 will run on my PC ??

Hi:
I just downloaded Google Earth Ver 4 Beta, in Spanish.
My PC has the following configuration:
CPU: Pentium III 1ghz
RAM: 512MB
Video CARD: Nvidia GeForce4 MX 400 128MB
Sound Card: Creative Labs 128PCI
Hard Disk: 80GB
Internet Connection: by Cable 52kbps

With the above config, may I install and run without any problem the google earth ver 4 beta ?? ...

Or I need something more ?? ..

thanks for your time
Luis

Se7en89
(Tourist)
07/12/06 07:08 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I can not find the Google Earth Beta 4 download link!! i

ToddUnderwood
(Tourist)
07/13/06 12:17 PM
View in Google Earth
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

did not see this addressed anywhere else. When I upgraded from GE3 Plus to the latest beta release (4.0.1657), many of the buildings on Manhattan Island are now flickering when I move the camera past them. It looks like they were built with multiple faces that have different coloring and the different shades of gray are fighting each other for visibility.

I have a high-end multimedia machine (3GB RAM) and I've tried clearing my 1500MB cache to no avail. I've also experimented with switching from OpenGL to Direct X and found no difference. It appears to be a problem with the building models themselves.

I am running the latest NVIDIA driver available for my card and the problem isn't on all buildings. Having seen this issue in 3D models I've built for video animation, I'm fairly confident that the problem lies in the actual models of the buildings. Perhaps they have identical polygons in the same place but two different shades of gray?

The attached placemark offers a good view of the problem... just navigate around it slowly and you should see what I'm talking about.

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
07/13/06 12:21 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi Todd

Flickering is something with the memory cache. Just give it a chance by increasing to its possible maximum.

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
07/13/06 12:23 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi Se7en

Try clicking this:
http://dl.google.com/earth/GE4/GoogleEarthWin.exe

or visit this:
http://earth.google.com/tour/thanks-win4.html

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
07/13/06 12:26 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 will run on my PC ??

Hi leco,

See this:
http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answ...ic=0&type=f

TheLedge
(Master Guide)
07/13/06 12:29 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi Todd, I've just been reading your other post. I have no problems with the buildings in your placemarks or any other 3D buildings in GE.
I agree with the others in that it appears to be a graphics driver or cache problem. Have you updated your DirectX ?

macnetz
(Tourist)
07/14/06 07:47 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi,

one thing I'm missing since beta1 of version 4

Compass On/Off

If the compass was on in version 3 it's also on in version 4
If the compass was off in version 3 it's also off in version 4
- you cannot change the settings

Regards - Anton

ToddUnderwood
(Tourist)
07/14/06 07:47 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Thanks for trying to help. I didn't have the problem in GE 3 and others have confirmed the problem in Beta2. I'm using the latest NVIDIA video card driver, and Direct X versions. It also happens in OPEN GL mode. My Cache is set to the maximum 1500MB size. This screenshot shows buildings that exhibit the problem:

Screenshot

These diagonal lines flicker and flash when you move the camera.

Todd

PenguinOpusAdministrator
(Sysop, Emeritus)
07/14/06 08:37 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Macnetz,

I see the Compass enable/disable in the View menu. Does that not work for you?

macnetz
(Tourist)
07/14/06 10:46 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

I see the Compass enable/disable in the View menu. Does that not work for you?

Hi,

now I can see it in the View menu too
You opened my eyes - Thank You

Regards - Anton

TheLedge
(Master Guide)
07/14/06 11:16 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Todd, would your card be a NVIDIA GeForce 6200 Turbo Cache by any chance?

Runtime
(Tourist)
07/15/06 01:47 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi, I've seen a drastic degrade in performance from the original Google Earth versions. Beta 1 of Google Earth 4 is by far the worst performance as of yet. I am currently downloading Beta 2, hopefully there will be a performance improvement, but

Many of my friends cannot even access Google Earth at all because it doesn't work, even though they all have recently made computers that are less than a year or two old, it just has integrated graphics or low RAM or something like that.

I have a really good computer, with a 3.4 ghz HT processor, and 1.5 GB of ram, and yet Google Earth runs considerably slow. If I want it to run smoothly, I have to close all other programs and run it at one time, and then only will it run perfectly.

the_terror
(Tourist)
07/15/06 11:51 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I don't now surely but i think that the problem is your computer.

the_terror
(Tourist)
07/15/06 11:53 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

My compas is working

TubbyBtch
(Tourist)
07/16/06 12:06 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I have been using GE4 beta 2 for about a month now. The following is my feedback:

Performance: on a x86 (Intel P4 3.6 hyperthreaded) is terrible. Much worse than on previous versions. I don't know if it is a server issue or a client issue, but it is SLOW!

Navigation: #1) I find the new controls too slow to be very useful. They may be ok if working at full speed, but changing a heading and waiting 10 seconds for it to respond. #2) When dbl-clicking to zoom into an existing placemark that is near ground level, the "camera" drops below ground level, then bounces back into a birdseye view.

3D Buildings: #1) SketchUp is just plain limited. Not many import/export options. #2) Most 3D assets are already created in an existing 3d program: 3ds max, Maya, etc. Of course, the native model format for GE4 is Collada, which import/export filters are available for most common 3d apps (max, maya). #3) However, about 1 out of every 5 models I try to use in GE4 will not work. (I'm contemplating writing a tutorial that will cover how to use max and maya for GE4 model authoring...is there interest?). #4) I am currently converting an entire 3d representation of the entire University where I teach...it will be a great tool when it works flawlessly.

Asset Packaging: #1) More documentation regarding asset packaging (KMZ, etc.).

Overall, I think GE4 will be outstanding...but I wish GE development had a place for serious testers to forward feedback.

Any comments?

kingcesar
(First Post)
07/16/06 01:06 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

Beta 2 does the same thing that beta 1 did on my computer (HP media center 1270N with everything stock. 1 gig memory, 128MB video card, etc). It starts running and then when the default place (my house) almost gets zoomed in all the way, it stops and locks up with a busy mouse. Have to hit the close button in the upper right corner and get the 'program not responding' message and click out of that.

Back to version 3 for me! And yes, I did uninstall v. 3.0762 before trying to install the new beta 4, same as I did on the earlier version 4. Version 3 works just dandy so I guess I'll stick with that for the forseeable future.



It's the first time I installed GE on my PC and I installed GE Beta2 v4.0.13XX.
I have the same problems. It starts running and zooming to about 2000 kms then it stops and locks with the same problems.

My PC is a AMD64 3200+, Win XP SP2, 1024 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 XT-4 with 256 MB, DirectX 9.0x.

Does anybody know a solution or the cause for this problem?
Greetings from a unexperienced GE user

TheLedge
(Master Guide)
07/16/06 01:13 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi and welcome to the GEC.
First of all click on the technical support link in my signature below and read through both posts.
If anything helps let us know. If nothing helps let us know too.

Cheers TL

PenguinOpusAdministrator
(Sysop, Emeritus)
07/16/06 01:43 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

TubbyBtch,

Your performance experience is uncommon, but it may be that what you're trying to do is uncommon also. 80% import success from 3ds/Maya sounds good based on the current Collada support. We're working on better compatibility, but be sure to select triangles on export. Tstrips/polyons aren't yet supported.

Regarding performance. If you're loading _alot_ of Collada files, its likely you've thrashed video memory and that is causing the perf you're seeing. We're working on managing it better, but GE4 is not going to automatically disable older models if things get overloaded.

perkeo
(Tourist)
07/16/06 01:50 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

thank you for this:-)

perkeo

Quote:


- Language selection in client: Tools->Options then the "General" tab
Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/16/06 09:35 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

You certainly CAN turn the compass off and on in beta 4! Just use the view dropdown menu....

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/16/06 09:44 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Compass works just fine here.

An addendum to my former post where GE 4 would just zoom in most of the way to my default place and then lock up with a busy bee and I'd have to exit the program (at least I could do that!). I found that running it in directX mode solved that problem. Prior to discovering this I always ran GE prior versions in OpenGL mode with no problem.

Also, I do not find any 'slow down' in GE 4. It's as fast or maybe even faster than earlier versions were. I have a pretty standard HP media center with a 3 ghz processor, 1 GB of ram, and the standard 128MB ATI x300 video card.

I suspect that a lot of the people experiencing 'slowdowns' have a lot of 'fancy stuff' loaded like many overlays, vector stuff and the like.

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/16/06 09:46 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Try starting GE in DirectX mode. You can do that from the Windows program menu and it'll default to that when you run it again (like from an icon). Or if you're running it now in DirectX mode, try running it from OpenGL mode.


Worked for me!

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/16/06 09:54 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 will run on my PC ??

Quote:

Hi:
I just downloaded Google Earth Ver 4 Beta, in Spanish.
My PC has the following configuration:
CPU: Pentium III 1ghz
RAM: 512MB
Video CARD: Nvidia GeForce4 MX 400 128MB
Sound Card: Creative Labs 128PCI
Hard Disk: 80GB
Internet Connection: by Cable 52kbps




Should work fine. But I question that internet connection speed?? Do you REALLY mean that you have a cable modem connection and the speed is ONLY 52kbps?? Man, that's slower than a 56k dialup (at least in theory). Regardless of the connect speed though, GE should still work. It will just take a lot longer to load the database than on a faster connection. I'm on a 6 megabit/second cable connection and it still takes a few seconds sometimes to load the data if I go somewhere that I haven't been to in a while..

Gonzalo36
(First Post)
07/16/06 10:13 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Any chance that one can go "really" fullscreen in this new version of Google Earth?

More specifically what I would like to do is to eliminate this annoying bar that is on top, i would really love to be able to see only what I like to, and that is the earth, not buttons.

ToddUnderwood
(Tourist)
07/17/06 06:13 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

No, it's the NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400 in an Alienware m7700 notebook PC.

Todd

rishmaster
(First Post)
07/17/06 07:40 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I like v. 4 beta more than v. 3, but I noticed that in v. 4, when you zoom using the mouse's scroll wheel, it does not zoom in or out smoothly. Instead, it zooms in/out in inconsistent amounts, in a unsmooth way. The same thing happend when I pan by clicking and dragging. Is there anyway to fix this in preferences or something, or is this just how Google Earth v. 4 beta runs?

ToddUnderwood
(Tourist)
07/17/06 01:51 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Incidentally, I did just revert back to GE 3 and the buildings no longer have the flickering problem. A shame because I really liked the new GUI on GE 4.

Todd

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/17/06 10:13 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

After I got beta 2 running ok on my machine (had to use directX mode), it moves and zooms every bit as smooth as version 3 did. Have you tried both modes (openGL and directX)?

jschutz
(Tourist)
07/18/06 06:20 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

. My Cache is set to the maximum 1500MB size.



Make sure that is the "Memory Cache Size", not the "Disk Cache Size".

haxnflaxn
(Tourist)
07/18/06 07:32 AM
Google Earth 4 b1/2: heavy performance degradation

feedback for GE 4b1/2
after running the application for a few minutes with intensive zooms and flythroughs, the performance decreases dramatically and renders the app useless.
There seems to be a connection with the mem-cache:

1) Increasing the mem-cache to (on my machine) to 600MB delays the appearance of the performance-decrease.

2) Clearing the mem-cache through the options-menu resolves the performance-issue for the moment - after a while the problem re-appears as described above.

The problem exists in both beta builds released so far.
DirectX and OpenGL show similar behaviour.
GE 3 is not concerned.



Regards,
HaxnFlaxn

config:
amd x2 4400
1gb ram

Graphics Card Manufacturer Powered by ATI
Graphics Chipset RADEON X800 Series
Device ID 554D
Vendor 1002
Subsystem ID 1047
Subsystem Vendor ID 196D
Bus Type PCI Express
Current Bus Setting PCI Express
BIOS Version 009.007.001.004
BIOS Part Number 113-AAXXXXX-XXX
BIOS Date 2004/12/15
Memory Size 256 MB
Memory Type DDR3
Core Clock in MHz 412 MHz
Memory Clock in MHz 506 MHz
Primary Display Yes

Driver Packaging Version 8.263-060607a-033678C-ATI
CATALYST® Version 06.6
Provider ATI Technologies Inc.
2D Driver Version 6.14.10.6618
2D Driver File Path System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{4B7674B6-A38D-43E2-90EC-B348B4BBF1E1}\0000
Direct3D Version 6.14.10.0407
OpenGL Version 6.14.10.5885
CATALYST® Control Center Version 1.2.2349.28584
AIW/VIVO WDM NSP Driver Version 6.14.10.6325
AV Stream (T200) Driver Version 6.14.10.1068

barnabu
(Tourist)
07/18/06 09:28 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I get exactly the same flickering problem with parts of GE 3d building models.

In every instance I've found, it occurs on those building models with an internal structure. Where the internal structure contains at least one flickering (multiple face) polygon.

It's as if the 3d renderer update from GEv3 to GEv4 caused internal modelling errors to present themselves externally for some users. Like having X-Ray vision.

As far as I can tell everything on my system is up to date:

Clean GE4 beta2 install

Latest video driver - ATI catalyst 6.6, DirextX 9.0c + every Windows XP Update

Both GE caches cleared and increased in size.

Makes no difference whether I use OpenGL or Directx.

mark0077
(Tourist)
07/19/06 01:14 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Just a teeny bug with the memory cache options..

When I tried to set the memory cache as large as I could, I type in 10000000, which of course is too large but google earth saw this as a negative value (probably to do with the number going beyond the limits of the data type, int probably).

It then selected 32mb as my memory cache when I was assuming it would see this as a huge positive number and select the max memory cache for my machine which seems to be 1500mb.

Cheers.

MrSmileyman
(Tourist)
07/19/06 02:43 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Yeah, it seems to do that when you input a value of 2147483648 or higher. (2^31 if I'm not mistaken)

Yes, I really did spend time figuring out the exact number.

EDIT: Hmmm, although now that I look at it, Mark, your number was lower than the number I discovered. Is that exactly what you entered? I don't think it's machine-specific because I tried it on both my computers and both act the same way (one computer is really high end, the other really low end)...hmmm, very strange.

dyatsko
(Tourist)
07/19/06 05:49 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

When loading several dae objects (scaled cylinders of various sizes using the <model> tag) in GE4 Beta2, the program displays an annoying progress bar window as it loads each object. Is this normal and can the progress bar window be disabled ???

whizerd
(Tourist)
07/20/06 06:40 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I've got 4.0.1565. . .is that the latest?

If not, if this 4.3(?) I read in the post here, where & how do I get it?
Thanks always for any and all assists!
Scott

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
07/20/06 07:09 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi
Here please:
http://earth.google.com/downloads.html

pedroalbertodelvalle
(Tourist)
07/21/06 09:05 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Thanks, works just fine !

Dale6
(Tourist)
07/21/06 09:36 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I am having trouble with GE 4 B2. I have a Matrox Parhelia card 128, 2gig ram, 2gig PII, broadband.
Every time I open GE it gives me an error message saying I should switch from Open GL to Direct-x but if I use direct-x I have graphic problems like the country borders on the Earth at start-up fly off into space as straight lines. Open GL works great, how do I stop the error message?
Also, when I zoom in the program slows down and gets "jerkier". When I try to pull the image or fly it pauses and jerks and runs slow.
I never had these problems with Google Earth 3.
Just some feedback
Dale

digitalearthguy
(Tourist)
07/21/06 04:59 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

It would be helpful if the Release Notes file that is opened (optionally) after installing the update included the latest release notes (i.e. those that started this thread). This version of the application still opens a v3 file from late 2005 on the hard drive...

lucifer666
(Tourist)
07/23/06 04:50 AM
Google Earth 4 - Beta2: Color of GIF Images???

Hello,

Here I want to report a weird behaviour of the last GE4 version

Here are two snapshots of my GE screen:

this is 4.0.1657


And here is the same placemark in version 4.0.1693


The icon used for the placemark is here:


Is this on Purpose?????

davidseed
(Tourist)
07/23/06 04:04 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread


beta version is jerky
(1GB mem 3.2ghz P4 (dell xps gen4 running win xp pro)) i.e much better than minimum requirements
don't like the new interface
reinstalled version 3

oogler
(First Post)
07/24/06 09:46 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2: Color of GIF Images???

When I overlay : http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/RadarImg/N0R/HGX_N0R_0.gif

all the colors are switched so that red is now green etc. This makes reading the radar image difficult at best. It's like the color table is being switched. It worked fine in GE3 but I switched to GE4 (4.0.1693) and now the colors are all wrong. I dont see anyway to fix this and I am certainly not planning on downloading and editing a 10 gif files every 5 minutes.

Needs to be fixed for next beta version.

LuciaM
(Master Guide)
07/25/06 11:53 PM
Odd Share Style behaviour

I've encountered an odd problem when attempting to share styles for a set of placemarks in a folder. This behavior occurs when the placemarks in question start out in Temporary Places.

1. I click open a kml file saved on my PC as back-up. I save the folder to my places.

2. I change one placemark's icon.

3. I click on the folder Properties. At this point, the folder is not showing an icon button in the Properties window. I go to View | Share Styles & I select the new icon as the one for the entire folder.

4. At that point, all of the icons in the folder change to the pushpin default icon.
No new icon selection shows up in the placemarks, although the icon button on the folder properties window is the correct one.

5. I close and re-open the folder properties window. The icon button appears with the pushpin default. I reselect an icon; it changes at that point.

The same thing occured when I saved some downloaded placemarks to my places and moved them to a folder.

If I create a folder in my places, with newly created placemarks, the icons work as expected.





LBB1404
(First Post)
07/26/06 06:05 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

When you click on a city i.e. in Germany, it is shown in Spanish, although I would like to have it in German. I also have set Google Earth (GE) to German, but it is not shown in German, but Spanish.

3DN_Frank2
(Tourist)
07/26/06 01:38 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Issues with Beta 2 - 4.0.1693 (technical info that'll probably bore non-GE developers).

The <up_axis> element in the <asset> element of the COLLADA docs is ignored. GE always assumes Z_UP.

Several COLLADA objects that I have created that validate against the 1.4.0 schema, and load fine into other apps, have caused GE to crash, or lock up. I'll try to save one next time I run into this.

The following link says that most of COLLADA is supported. However, I've run into several undocumented implementation issues, such as being limited to triangles with a 16 bit count . Can you post known limits somewhere, or better yet, just switch to 32 bit counts?

http://earth.google.com/kml/kml_tags_21.html#model

Charcos_Charley
(Tourist)
07/26/06 09:02 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Since this thread is about the Google Earth 4 - Beta 2, and I've just installed it, I thought I'd reply to this and ask a question while I'm in here. The new Google Earth 4.0-Beta looks better, "feels" better than the other version, and seeing I just used it for a look/feel, gave it a tryout, its rather good and I think I'll enjoy using it more often.
Just a question I've seen posted in other group discussions/usenet groups: Are the images in Google Earth still at 6 years old and will Google soon update that to more current images? Why are these images showing still the same as the previous version (seems like it to me since my state's, RI, had the same colorations as before and my home base area still looks the same as the previous version. When will Google update this portion of Google Earth?
Thanks.

Bob_the_printer
(Tourist)
07/27/06 09:34 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

The images in the Google Earth database are of varying ages. Some as new as this year, some as old as 2002. Just click on the 'DG coverage' item at the bottom of the layers menu and you can click on any given year to see what areas are covered in that year.

The GE program itself really has nothing to do with the data coverage and any given spot on earth should appear the same in any version or any level (free, plus, pro, etc) as any other level.

MrBarrett111
(Tourist)
07/29/06 06:53 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Just thought I would add my experience here - have been using GE4 and having persistent trouble when tilting the view - viewing window completely blacks out (nav tools and copyright info are still visible though) The view does not return unless you shut down and restart Google Earth. This happens in both Open GL and DirectX and even after clearing cache.
Has anybody else experienced this?

katuc
(Tourist)
07/30/06 12:36 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I have the same problem that Todd has i have an Nvidia Geforce 6200 256 mb and some faces of the structures have that problem. I'll put an example:
http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ejemplope3.png

pojoman
(Tourist)
07/30/06 11:43 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I agree: "jerky" was my immediate reaction upon installing 4 beta 2. When you are so comfortable navigating with subtle mouse gestures, the halting quality of movement of the new version is unbearable. This is on a new, fairly high-powered machine.

However, I noticed one subtlety. When I would close 4 beta 2, reopen it, and zoom in quickly, it seemed to run smoothly for a few seconds -- 10 or 15 -- then the jerkiness would reassert itself. This suggests either some kind of memory leak, or some kind of memory buffer fills up and causes the jerkiness.

I had to reinstall GE 3. I couldn't stand to use the tool long enough to check out the new features.

Z80
(Tourist)
07/31/06 06:27 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hello,
I have cahed some places but when I am logged in next time (to cache another place) the entire hires cache was discarded.
GE version was 4.0.1565.
So, I need to keep 2 versions of cache or re-cache previous locations.
Please, can you make that old cache discards and reloads only in the place currently viewed?

skftm
(First Post)
08/02/06 06:49 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Recently tried to install the new Beta version on my system. Based on my experience it has some compatibility issues with the Autodesk/Autocad (specifically Autodesk Express Viewer) software. It wont start and it keeps shutting down the system once I launch it. Have tried it several times so far and now going back to Version 3.

Hope this will get fixed soon!

SK

cacher
(Tourist)
08/02/06 11:17 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 - Terrible performance

The new beta (1693) runs terribly in my laptop, performance is degraded to the point GE is barely usable. Laptop gets a huge performance hit even when GE is done downloading the screen images (100%) and is minimized to the taskbar. Runs much worse than the last version, which I deleted (is there somewhere I can download the las 3.xx version?).
As others have said, I think this has to do with cache management, cause even with GE offline, screen updates take forever to load.

System specs:
CPU: Intel Celeron M 1.5 ghz
Video: ATI Mobility RadeonX600, Intel 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset, 128 mb ram, 1280x768x32
System RAM: DDR2 512MB, 38GB free HD space

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
08/02/06 01:16 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 - Terrible performance

http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

Somebodius
(Tourist)
08/03/06 03:58 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2: Color of GIF Images???

Quote:

When I overlay : http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ridge/RadarImg/N0R/HGX_N0R_0.gif

all the colors are switched so that red is now green etc. This makes reading the radar image difficult at best. It's like the color table is being switched. It worked fine in GE3 but I switched to GE4 (4.0.1693) and now the colors are all wrong. I dont see anyway to fix this and I am certainly not planning on downloading and editing a 10 gif files every 5 minutes.

Needs to be fixed for next beta version.


This problem annoys me to no end.

mallain
(Tourist)
08/04/06 09:00 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Im now running the new version of Google Earth 4.0.1693
It is greatly improved with larger window and sidebar removal and controls.
But As I zoom into to areas the images mix up with previous areas I have zoomed into. This problem is more apparant when the google earth community placemarks are turned on and of whilst panning etc.
Keep up the good work, this tool is proving invaluable!

asxless
(Tourist)
08/04/06 11:58 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2: Color of GIF FIXED

I stayed with GE 3 until this bug was fixed in build 1694. I may still go back to GE 3 due the poor performance but at least the NOAA Radar images are usable now:)

-- asxless in iLand

Note: I only tested this on the Mac version.

heymurf
(Tourist)
08/04/06 08:30 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

I hate to add to this chorus, but quite simple GE 4 is unbearably slow and jerky. I've tried numerous variations with cache settings for memory and disk and nothing cures the problem.

I haven't has a chance to fool around with GE for awhile, so this was the first chance I had to sit down and spend some quality time with the app since version 3. I was shocked at just how bad performance was.

I mentioned that nothing cures the problem, but there is one cure which is reverting back to version 3, which is just as fast and smooth as ever.

It really is a night and day difference between the two.

1 ghz eMac
1 gb ram
ATI Radeon 7500, 35 mg
OS X 10.4.7

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
08/04/06 09:28 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi

Personally, I've never experienced any slowing-down in any computer. And your complaint is reported so few.

Maybe it is because of being a beta. And give a last chance by manually removing the two cache files; have you tried it?

Thanks for your feedback.

asxless
(Tourist)
08/04/06 10:24 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

I hate to add to this chorus, but quite simple GE 4 is unbearably slow and jerky. I've tried numerous variations with cache settings for memory and disk and nothing cures the problem....

Hopefully this is just a bug in the Mac version of GE 4.x on SOME configurations. For example...

On our PowerMac G4 Dual 1GHz with an ATI Radion 9000 running the very latest 10.4.7 -- GE 4.0.1694 is nearly unusably slow and jerky. GE reports this video 'card' as capable of 2048x2048 texture.

On my PowerBook G4 Single 1.67GHz with an ATI Radion 9600 running 10.3.9 -- GE 4.0.1694 is pretty fast and only occasionally stalls. GE reports this video 'card' as capable of only 1024x1024 texture.

The test is quite simple...
I just zoom in and pan around until the Streaming goes to 100% throughout a modest local area. Then I try to 'sail' slowly across the area by nudging the image. On the PowerBook this produces a smooth hands free pan EVEN when the window goes beyond the area originally cached. The Streaming indicator simply starts showing varying states of incomplete Streaming. But when I do the same thing on the PowerMac, the hands off pan (sail) becomes jerky almost immediately EVEN in the areas where the Streaming indicator reads a solid 100%. BTW I've matched all GE settings. The GE window is set to the same size, The area is being tested is the same. GE 4.0.1694 was installed on both Macs yesterday. The system monitor shows similar % CPU usage on both Macs during the tests. OBTW the 'jerky' PowerMac is running on a ground zero OS X install (i.e. wiped the disk and installed OS X from the DVD, then applied all Apple Software updates) with very little additional software installed yet. The 'smooth' PowerBook is running a 10.3.9 install that is over 1 yr old with LOTS of additional software, etc.

FWIW the "fiddle with the cache mantra" is getting old. Both of these Macs are running the same cache settings. And the slow/jerky Mac began fresh with no cache to delete.

-- asxless in iLand

heymurf
(Tourist)
08/05/06 12:02 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

HI

I tried deleting both memory and disk caches from GE 4's preference panel, along with quitting and restarting the program after changes were made and I also manually deleted the disk cache file located at ~/Library/Caches/Google Earth. None of this had any impact.

I have a feeling GE 4 is not fully optimized yet for all graphics cards previously compatible with GE 3. Using GE 4 on my machine, it has a "feel" to it that it's relying more on the CPU than the GPU for graphics. I don't know if that's actually the case, but when I use GE 3, it's fast and perfectly smooth and has that open-gl accelerated feel of panning and zooming smoothness to it. As I said in my original post, the performance difference between GE 3 and 4, at least on my machine, is dramatic. No benchmarking needed. This isn't something subtle where you would need a stopwatch to verify what's going on.

Too bad, because I generally like the interface improvements of GE 4, it's frustrating that it appears it has a ways to go before it's suitable for use on all machines perviously qualified under GE 3. I hear that GE 4 works quite well with the new Intel-based Macs, and it may be working well with machines that are outfitted with the most recent pixel-programmable graphics cards, but it's back to GE 3 for me.

fleetpeople
(Master Gamer)
08/06/06 06:04 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi

Tried the download and couldn't open the server link.
Tried the test and all 3 successful.
???????????
Uninstalled and gone back to the stable version.

Sorry.

Halogeno
(Tourist)
08/08/06 07:37 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Although I prefer GE4 I have a problem with borders. My PC has a ATI RAGE 128 PRO card, it shows strange tangent lines shooting out of certain places in the borders, it only happens in Direct X not in Open GL. If you switch borders off ther's no other problem.

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
08/08/06 12:49 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hi

Try installing this:
http://www.omegadrivers.net/

forestaa
(First Post)
08/08/06 06:07 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

I hate to add to this chorus, but quite simple GE 4 is unbearably slow and jerky. I've tried numerous variations with cache settings for memory and disk and nothing cures the problem.

I haven't has a chance to fool around with GE for awhile, so this was the first chance I had to sit down and spend some quality time with the app since version 3. I was shocked at just how bad performance was.

I mentioned that nothing cures the problem, but there is one cure which is reverting back to version 3, which is just as fast and smooth as ever.

It really is a night and day difference between the two.



You said it. I have had exactly this experience. Updated Direct X, tried both modes, cleared cache, repeated re-boots and closed all other programs...still it is jerky and seems to have major memory leaks that lead it to freeze.

Google Earth 4 is not ready for prime time.

I reinstalled ver. 3 and all is well and I'm happy. I'm very surprised that Google (All Praise Be Unto It) is letting this one out of the box. I fully understand it is Beta, but I guess I expected a Google Beta to actually work.

nvida mx440
xp sp2
2.4
768

Thanks for the thread.

tekgergedan
(Master Guide)
08/09/06 12:59 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Thanks for your info. It is beta to be improved by your feedback. The majority is enjoying it with a limited number of bugs which are also looked after.

Best

jambo84
(Tourist)
08/09/06 12:12 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Got the newest Google Earth 4 Beta here, and it works absolutely perfect on my system, especially now that overlays don't flicker anymore.

There's just one exception: When adding new overlays, the overlays receive a strange kind of border around the image, which seem like the colors at the edge of the image has been dragged out by a few pixels. When adjusting and positioning an overlay, this border is even outside the adjustment handles. Since the pixels cannot be dragged out in the corners, the corners have black squares in them. Pretty strange.

My hardware is a Dell 6400 laptop with an Intel dual core processor and an ATI x1400 256mb grapics accelerator. The bug is very annoying when trying to overlap several overlays, which now is impossible without noticing this weird border. Hope this is something that will be fixed in the next update

Edit: I'm even more puzzled to find out that the fuzzy borders around image overlays are not to be seen on an other computer with an old Ati radeon 32 mb card. However, on that computer the new updated Google Earth 4 Beta runs really slow with overlays on.

weatherman22
(Tourist)
08/13/06 05:13 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Re fuzzy edges sounds like the older card does not have antialiasing switched on or is incapable of it. Antialiasing or FSAA is usually used to eliminate jaggies from games and to give less abrupt cartoon-like edges/joins. Its use in GE may have the opposite effect i.e. obscure the detail of the data.

I wonder if there is a way to switch off antialiasing for the overlays but still have it for the terrain etc.

netsurf
(First Post)
08/13/06 09:35 PM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

First off, I haven't looked to see if anyone else mentioned this....

When I installed Google Earth Beta, I put it on a different drive other than my system drive and, instead of reading any environment variables to find the system drive, google earth creates its own directory structure of "Documents and Settings" down to the user that's running it on that drive... Obviously this is a mere annoyance, but a minor bug nonetheless...

Daniel Wilson

TRairden
(First Post)
08/15/06 09:34 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread



Stephane_Coutu
(Tourist)
08/15/06 09:47 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2: Color of GIF FIXED

The bug with the rendering of the colors of gif icons was introduced when Google Earth went from version 4.0.1565 to 4.0.1693 . Something must have been fixed or improved in version 4.0.1693, but I can't tell what (this is the only difference I detect). Unfortunately, Google Earth only posts version 4.0.1693 for download. Fortunately I had kept a copy of the installation file for version 4.0.1565. I am using this exclusively until they fix this annoying problem. I notified them many weeks ago about this problem, but received no response and to this day (Aug 15, 2006) only the buggy version is available for download. So for now I am making my copy of the 4.0.1565 version available for download here. I will remove this link as soon as they fix the bug. You should uninstall your version 4.0.1693 first before attempting to install the older version. I believe all your places will be automatically remembered after this reinstallation procedure. Good luck!

Stephane Coutu

davoud
(Tourist)
08/20/06 10:07 AM
features disabled

You can no longer browse google earth within your cached data offline?

jambo84
(Tourist)
08/21/06 05:51 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Hmm, tried to post a reply but couldn't find it again so here we go again... I found out that my problem with the strange dragged pixels border around overlays has to do with the anisotropic filtering. When I turn it off and restart GE the overlays look normal. If the program is restarted with anisotropic filtering on, the overlays get the strange border again. This happens on both my computers, one laptop with ati x1400 256 mb graphics and the other a standard pc with ati x800gto 256 mb graphics. Of course I could use GE with anisotropic filtering turned off, but I like to have a clear view all the way to the horizon when tilting the camera towards the ground.

asxless
(Tourist)
08/21/06 07:14 AM
Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

Quote:

... I found out that my problem with the strange dragged pixels border around overlays has to do with the anisotropic filtering. When I turn it off and restart GE the overlays look normal. If the program is restarted with anisotropic filtering on, the overlays get the strange border again. ...

Same thing happens on my Macs

Thanks for posting the workaround. -- asxless in iLand

ertem
(Tourist)
08/21/06 08:25 AM
View in Google Earth
GE4Beta issue: <Lookat><Altitude> not working

Per the spec http://earth.google.com/kml/kml_tags_21.html#lookat
KML 2.1 is supposed to have <LookAt><Altitude> tags
but this does not work in GE 4.0.1693 beta (OpenGL, WinXP SP2.)

The two attached placemarks only differ by their own and
lookat altitudes, yet the viewpoind does not change from
one to the other. It's still looking at the ground underneath.

mce

davidhite
(Tourist)
08/22/06 12:05 AM
Bug with NetworkLink ViewFormat/LookAt/terrain

GE4 Bug with NetworkLink ViewFormat/LookAt with terrain on.

I just noticed this after I upgraded from the GE4 beta to 4.0.1693.

  • Create a network link where the ViewFormat is set to send the lat, lon, range, and tilt to your server.

  • Have your server reflect back the lat, lon, range and tilt in a LookAt.

  • If terrain is turned on (and elevation exaggeration is non-zero) the view's range increases with each update. It should not change.

  • If terrain is turned off (or elevation exaggeration is zero) the view does not change (correct behavior).

    I don't believe this was a problem with the previous GE4 beta and I know it was not a problem with version 3.

    • davidhite
    (Tourist)
    08/22/06 12:10 AM
    GE 4 "HTTP/1.1 204 No Content" response

    It seems that GE 4 is treating the HTTP "No Content" response to a network link GET as an error. This is causing the "No Data Received" popup to appear. This response worked great with GE 3. No popup was displayed and the objects were not redrawn.

    I tried responding with an empty "NetworkLinkControl" statement. That got rid of the popup but the objects were still redrawn with each refresh.

    Olexa
    (Tourist)
    08/23/06 02:46 AM
    4.0.1693 fails to open files with dots in the name

    Whet trying to open .gpx files with dots in file name (besides the dot that separates file name and extension), GoogleEarth 4.0.1693 beta displays "This file format is not supported by Google Earth" and does not open the file. For exapmle, it successfully opens the file with name "20060823.gpx", but fails to open it when it is renamed to "2006.08.23.gpx".

    You'd better took for last dot in file name, rather than first, when determining file extension.

    icerabbit
    (Tourist)
    08/24/06 06:30 AM
    Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

    For the Mac OS X side of things I would like to share that v4 beta 2 is a huge performance downgrade.

    After v4 beta 1 for mac wouldn't run, or so, I reverted back to v3 immediately.
    Skipped any other v4 version, if there was one.

    Where Google Earth v3.x was really smooth; with this v4 release I am unable to scroll / fly from one place to another without stuttering / stop motion / ... even when those places have been cached and you fly to and from several times in a row. This is on a Dual G5 PowerMac

    See also the entry in Mac OS X : http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=567939&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=#Post567939

    TheHose
    (First Post)
    08/24/06 12:12 PM
    Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

    Ditto, after installing the v4 beta2 on my Mac ibook, the touch pad will not function correctly (very sticky) & all processes including MAC OS X run extermely slow.

    ItsAllInYourHead
    (Tourist)
    08/25/06 12:45 AM
    Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

    Well, I'm not one of the "majority enjoying it"... I'm tired of the radars being inverted color. It's slow and jerky constantly. Locks up my computer on occasion. I've gone back to V3 a couple times now hoping that each time I download V4 again it will have a couple problems fixxed. Had to uninstall all of the GE software and reinstall it to get it to not be AS jerky. But the problem still definately exists. Very dissapointed. I know this is beta software, but geesh. It'd be nice to at least have the colors work right on the overlays.

    tekgergedan
    (Master Guide)
    08/25/06 03:27 AM
    Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

    A long time has passed after the last release unlike the former ones. It seems a big job is being done. GE3 is a stable version. Dont bother yourself with the beta; you are right.

    Munden
    (Collection Editor)
    08/26/06 02:26 PM
    Placemark Insertion Bug

    I've duplicated this bug every time I have tried it. I don't see anyone else having reported this.

    This involves the Search tool in Google Earth Beta 4.

    When I have MULTIPLE 'responses' from a SINGLE search, it is possible to accidentally begin to put placemarks into the response list rather than in the Places list where they belong if you've clicked on one of those multiple responses.

    It is important to note that searches with a single 'answer' do not cause the problem. I blew away some placemarks today because of this. Here are some very precise details:

    In the "Fly To" tab of the Search tool, type this:
    43810 EL PLA DE SANTA MARIA Spain

    Now click on a response inside of it, ostensibly to 'visit' one of the answers.

    Now if you insert a placemark you'll find it's being added to the Search tool's response list.

    This does NOT happen if you'd clicked on a single response answer such as 'Barcelona Spain' or if you've gotten a multiple answer from a Search but NOT clicked in it. However, if you get the multiple answer and click on an answer .. be SURE you click in the Places panel before adding more placemarks or you'll get a rude awakening if you clear your search responses.

    Hope that helps the Google Earth programmers.

    Olexa
    (Tourist)
    08/30/06 02:04 AM
    "&lt;" and "&gt;" in gpx track names

    4.0.1693 fails to open gpx files with "&lt;" or "&gt;" symbols in track names.

    Nusinov
    (Tourist)
    09/01/06 07:43 AM
    Re: Google Earth 4 - Beta2 feedback thread

    I'm still not sure if this is a bug with google or a problem with my KML but I thought I'd link to it here just in case.

    jkeegan
    (Tourist)
    09/02/06 01:51 PM
    Keyboard menu shortcuts gone?

    Hi,

    I haven't commented on any of the previous beta versions, so this is my first feedback since 3.0.. I apologize ahead of time if my comments have already been answered in some other beta-feedback thread that I haven't read.

    I'm wondering why all of the keyboard shortcuts have changed, and some have been removed..

    For instance, Control-N used to create a new placemark. Now I have to hit three keys - Control-Alt-P.

    I used to be able to save an image with Control-S. Now it's Control-Alt-S.

    There's a new behavior for Control-S now, conflicting with the previous definititon.

    Measure/Ruler now has no shortcut - it used to be Control-6.

    But worst, it seems I can't do some normal Windows Alt navigation to compensate for any missing shortcuts. For example, there's no direct shortcut for Save My Places in 4.0, AND it's buried inside a hierarchical menu.. Normally in Windows apps you could type ALT-F to bring up the File menu, then some other