Highlights:
What's New in Google Earth?
   Imagery
   Updated Layers
   Search Results
   Add Content Button

Explore Further:
UFO Time Animation
3D Warehouse Updates
Southern California Wildfires
Tips & Tricks: Navigating in Sky
Placemarks of the Month
Sightseer Exclusive! SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse
November Calendar
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Please note that Google Earth 4.2 was updated in mid-September. Make sure you download the latest version. Most of the content mentioned in this newsletter will only work properly on Google Earth 4.2.

What's New in Google Earth?

Each month we highlight the newest additions to the built-in Google Earth content. If you haven't been subscribing to Sightseer for long, check the forum for previous editions.

New Imagery - On October 2nd, we released a significant amount of new or updated 60cm satellite imagery for Google Earth and Maps. Much of this imagery is concentrated in the U.S., Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Australia and New Zealand. But, there is new and updated imagery in many places touching nearly 130 countries. The strips of imagery are acquired as the satellites fly over the Earth, and the ones with the clearest views (no clouds or haze) make it into Google Earth. So, get out there and explore!

Do you love high resolution? We do too. So, on October 23rd, we released a large amount of high resolultion imagery for Google Earth and Maps. This new imagery is concentrated within the Americas, France, the UK and Germany. Make a point to scope out the latest French Riviera imagery. Hello, beaches!

Updated Imagery- Updates to imagery were also included in the October 23rd release. While a significant portion of this imagery was within the US and the UK, updates can also be seen in all other continents. The updated terrain in Canada and Niagara Falls is especially exciting.

New and Updated Layers - On October 10th we updated the layers in Google Earth 4.2. We added three new layers:

1. YouTube - Under the Featured Content layer folder we've added a new layer called YouTube. It lets you see the many videos people have mapped from YouTube, and let's you explore videos in the context of a place. If you are using the Windows version of GE 4.2, you can watch thevideos within the placemark pop-up. If you are using another operating system you can click on the link to view the videos in your browser. If you would like to map your YouTube video, select the "Edit Video" option and look for the new "Date and Map" option. It may take a while before your video appears in the Google Earth layer.

2. Spot Image - This layer, from one of our satellite imagery providers, shows all the locations Spot Image has in their inventory for the last year.

3. Klokhuis (Netherlands only) - This layer shows videos from a Dutch kids television show.

• Improved Business Layers - Google Earth shows businesses in many categories. Try turning onlayers such as: Dining, Lodging, Shopping and Services, Travel and Tourism. Each layer shows a different placemark icon for the category of information. The resulting placemarks nowshow photos and reviews (when available) in addition to addresses, links, and phone numbers. It's like a phone directory with customer reviews, driving directions, and more. Add your own reviews by clicking on "Write a review".
  
  
• Borders in Europe - If you turn on the Borders layer, the borders in Europe have been enhanced with data from TeleAtlas. The new borders add more detail and updated information.

Learn more about using layers.

New Search Results - Over the last year, we've been working hard to organize local wisdom; we've sifted through millions of My Maps, KML files and other information created by all of you in the geoweb. Now even more community maps will be available in search results in Google Earth. Say you want to take a hike up Half Dome? Enter "Half Dome hike" in Google Earth's "Fly To" search window while viewing California. You are presented first with "Community maps". The first link is a post of a hike which includes a GPS track of their hike up and back Half Dome. Other searches to try: "ruins of Pompei" or "chimpanzees in Tanzania". Whenever you do a search, look for "See community maps" for more results.

Add Content Button - If you have downloaded Google Earth recently, you may see a new button in the Places pane called "Add Content". This button takes you to samples from our Google Earth Gallery of useful content to view in GE.

UFO Sightings Time Animation

Ever wondered just how many reports there are of UFOs? UFO Maps uses a Google Maps mashup to show the history of UFO sightings in the US back to the late 1800s. The website also has a KML file which lets you view their data in Google Earth with each year's data in separate folders. Recently, Frank Taylor of Google Earth Blog posted a modified version of the UFO map adding time animation (2 Mbs). Select the play button to the right of the time slider to start the animation. The first widely publicized UFO sighting was by a pilot named Kenneth Arnold in 1947. But, you'll be amazed how many reports have been made in the last twenty years.

3D Warehouse Updates

The Google 3D Warehouse is a growing repository of 3D files from modelers all over the world. You can use the free version of Google SketchUp to upload 3D models to Google Earth and share them with 3D Warehouse. We love seeing all the great 3D SketchUp models that pop up in the 3D Warehouse. You can find everything from abstract art to buildings. A good place to start is the Best of 3D Warehouse layer in Google Earth, which everyone can see just by turning on the 3D Buildings layer.

Southern California Wildfires

Beginning on October 20, 2007, wildfires began to ravage areas of Southern California. The Google Earth team worked with several news entities, NASA and our own internal teams to track and update fire perimeter and evacuation data. Thousands of new users turned to Google Earth for disaster relief in a statewide emergency situation. See continuing updates of the San Diego fires, including evacuated areas, courtesy of KPBS and the Los Angeles Times.

Tips & Tricks: Image Overlay

"The Image Overlay feature (Add > Image Overlay) allows you to place an image over terrain and adjust the position, size and opacity of the image as you see fit. This is particularly useful if you want to show a map image in Google Earth, such as a topographical or historic map. If you are trying to match your image overlay to an exact location, positioning the image overlay can be tricky. Here are some pointers:

• First, position the center of the image as a reference point. Use the Shift key in combination with one of the anchors to scale the image for best positioning.
• Be sure that your image overlay and your view in Earth share the same heading orientation (example north=up).
• If necessary you can rotate the image overlay by dragging the triangle anchor
• Use the opacity slider to help you match features on your image with geographic features in the 3D viewer.
• If you know the coordinates of the boundaries of your image, you can specify these in the Location tab.
  

As with other items in the Places panel, you can edit the image overlay at any time. If you want to share your image overlay with others, consider using a network link so that the image refreshes each time it is updated on your server.

Placemarks of the Month

Plane Towing Glider - See post
Crocodile Man - See post (Turn on 3D Buildings layer)
World's Largest Swimming Pool - See post

Sightseer Exclusive – Save 15% on a SpaceNavigator™ 3D mouse

Speed through canyons, soar over mountains or swoop down to your own backyard when you use a SpaceNavigator in Google Earth. Instead of using keyboard commands, you can navigate Google Earth by sliding, twisting, tilting or pulling the SpaceNavigator’s controller cap. Because the cap is pressure sensitive, it requires little effort to change speed and you can change directions without stopping. Users experience a fluid sense of control that some have described as “addictive.” 3Dconnexion’s SpaceNavigator also works in Google Earth’s Sky Mode, so now you can fly among the stars. Save 15% on a 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator today. Offer good through November 16th, 2007.

November Calendar

Click on the links below to fly to places associated with this month's events. Don't forget to click on the Placemarks in Google Earth to read the descriptions.

November  1 - All Saints Day
November  4 - Will Rogers Born
November  8 - The Louvre Opens
November  9 - Rolling Stone Magazine Premiers
November 11 - US Veterans Day
November 15 - NBC Debuts
November 20 - Robert F. Kennedy Born
November 29 - Thanksgiving Day

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