Friday, July 07, 2006

NCJ Does Google Earth

Looks like the North Coast Journal is going to start doing some type of news thing using Google Earth. First I'd ever heard of Google Earth (and I thought I was in the internet loop). It will be interesting to see how this develops.

One question I have is whether or not the software you need to download is spy or adware?

11 Comments:

At 10:53 AM, Blogger Hank Sims said...

It's definitely not adware, and I've never seen anyone accuse it of being spyware. Google's reputation is pretty good as far as these things are concerned.

Check it out, Fred! Next week's is going to be even better.

 
At 11:10 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

So which one do you download; Google Earth Release 4 Beta?

 
At 11:55 AM, Blogger Hank Sims said...

That'd be the best, yes.

 
At 1:11 PM, Blogger Anon.R.mous said...

Google did cause some problems with one of their (now defunct) programs that stored a cache on a server of a webpage. Turns out it would also show a cache of secure pages (bank statements, emails, etc etc) and host them on a local server. Just remember that Google is out to make money, and isn't your friend all the time, and you'll do fine.

That being said, Google Earth is pretty fun, it showed me at work, not at home, but the best is the fishing boat heading out to sea, I think it's past the Jetty.

 
At 1:18 PM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

So, what exactly does it do?

 
At 2:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, the same google which censors abu graib photos here and just about anything thoughtful against the communist china regime over there, not surprised to see the journal jump into bed with the likes of them.

 
At 2:57 PM, Blogger Hank Sims said...

You've almost got to see it to believe it, Eric. Basically, it models the entire world. They take satellite photos of the Earth, drape them over the Earth's actual topography, and present the whole thing in a marble-shaped little geo-browser. You get to fly around from place to place according to your interests.

What some people do, and what we've started to do, is to add custom information on top of the basic Google Earth system. So this week, for example, we show where you can get cable service in Humboldt County, because we have a story that relates to that. You look at Google Earth, and the ground glows orange in places with cable service.

Apart from that, we take you on little trips (some more interesting than others, I'll admit). We take you to the headquarters of the big evil music conglomerate that ended up with rights to a local record label. We show you the location of the Orick Rodeo. You can get driving directions, if you want them. Etc.

Next's week's issue is SoHum-themed, so get your Google Earth while it's hot! You gotta have broadband, though, and it helps to have a somewhat capable video card. It just now occurs to me that maybe you don't have broadband. If not, I heartily apologize for the huge file I sent you a couple of weeks ago, when I was testing this out.

 
At 3:00 PM, Blogger Hank Sims said...

2:49 -- Hell, yes! We're pro-Commie, and don't let anyone tell you different.

 
At 11:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Google earth is great, type in your address, and zoom in to the satellite photo, and then fly over your twon, out over the ocean, and up along the beaches... go to paris, see the eiffel tower... the grand canyon...

 
At 12:51 AM, Blogger Eric V. Kirk said...

Well, I do at work. And I have an excuse to check this out, because it could be very helpful in easement cases.

 
At 8:49 AM, Blogger Fred Mangels said...

Ok. I have it now and found my house.

 

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