Google Earth 4.2

• Popularity:

  #1 in Science (out of 559 products)

• Editor's Rating:

  5.0 stars

• Average User Rating:

  4.0 stars (out of 1004 votes) Rate it!

• Downloads:

  2,802,605

• Requirements:

  Windows 2000/XP

• Limitations:

  No limitations

• Date Added:

  August 22, 2007

• Previous Versions:

  Select a version Google Earth 4.2 Google Earth 4 Google Earth 4 beta Google Earth

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Publisher's description of Google Earth 4.2

Google Earth puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. View exotic locales like Maui and Paris, as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, and schools. Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps, and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. With Google Earth you can fly from space to your neighborhood--just type in an address and zoom right in, search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions, tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings, save and share your searches and favorites and even add your own annotations.

Version 4.2 adds the Sky in Google Earth feature, which lets you view millions of stars and galaxies.

Note: Google Earth is a broadband, 3D application that not all computers can run. Windows-based desktop PCs older than four years may not be able to run Google Earth and Windows-based notebook PCs older than two years may not be able to run it.

Editor's review of Google Earth 4.2

• 5.0 stars

• "Google the planet"

The latest version of Google Earth makes it, indubitably, the only free mapping app worth considering. Accessible enough for casual users, Google has been added features that make it a necessity for those whose topographic desires are more serious.

Most of the interface's real estate displays a rendering of the globe, which slowly zooms in on a satellite image of your destination once you've keyed it in. The control panel has changed and is now translucent and sits unobtrusively in a corner of the map. The new diagonal movement control and flexible north anchor, so you can re-orient the map, are useful additions.

The Layers, Places and Search panes are now a left-side navigation bar, and have more options for determining what information appears on the map. Everything from roads and restaurants to crime statistics can be displayed; subcategories and individual items can be unchecked to show only what you need. Google's driving directions are incorporated, and the user community has produced several nifty mods, including historical maps. There's also integration with Google's 3-D rendering program SketchUp, so you can design a building and see it in a real-life setting.

The only downside to the program is that it can consume a large amount of RAM, so as the developer notes, older machines might experience performance issues. But everyone else is bound to love Google Earth, both as an entertaining novelty and an informational tool.

User reviews of Google Earth 4.2

• Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 1004 votes
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 5 of 190 user reviewsSee all 190 user reviews
  This software version | All versions

• 5 stars

  1 out of 6 people found this review helpful

  Version: Google Earth 4.2

  "view the world"

  by barakat_khaled on September 14, 2007

  Pros: view the world from your desktop

  Cons: good computer and fast connection is a must

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• 4 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  Version: Google Earth 4.2

  "great mapping information"

  by Fred Brychta on April 4, 2008

  Pros: one can see almost any part of the world. It would be nice if date of the view were provided.

  Cons: Still a lot of fuzzy areas but that should change as they get more views there is a lot of data still to get.

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• 5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  Version: Google Earth 4.2

  "Thank GOD for Download.com!!"

  by Jim Harmon on April 15, 2008

  Pros: I have used this before, and it's the best map program I've seen - and that includes ones you pay for.

  Cons: I've tried NUMEROUS times to download this from the "official" website, and I don't even get a download window. If it weren't for Download.com, I'd have to live without it since Google.com doesn't offer any assistance that I can find.

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• 4 stars

  0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

  Version: Google Earth 4.2

  "There's a newer version...."

  by UKposter on January 8, 2008

  Pros: .... available from google, http :// earth.google. com/download-earth .html

  Cnet slacking again!

  Improving all the time in many parts of the developed 'western' world, but many of the less populous areas in those parts of the world are still not that clear, places that are fun to see where you've hiked or whatever, these places are less likely to be invasive of people's privacy too, wonder why they're ignored more by google earth?! Getting more updated photos on a more regular basis here, can see how the numerous housing developments around my home in inner London are progressing!

  Cons: I'd hate to be one of those people who's privacy is ignored by google, so many of the rest of us able to pry into their homes/lives! Many parts of the globe are such fuzzy quality still

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• 5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

  Version: Google Earth 4.2

  "Excellent program and it's free......"

  by edcal4121 on November 27, 2007

  Pros: The best of it's kind.

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