first published week of: 05/13/2013
Even if you're familiar with Google Maps and Google Earth, you might not realize how much these free mapping services offer. Here are 10 useful features you should know about.
Google Maps isn’t Google’s only mapping product. Google Earth isn’t as popular but if offers many features you won’t find in Google Maps. Although Google Earth accesses online data, you first need to download the Google Earth application from earth.google.co.uk.
2. Because it uses software on your own PC, Google Earth offers a more polished interface than Google Maps as you’ll quickly discover (you can, however switch to Goole Earth in your browser by clicking the Earth button at the top-right corner in Google Maps). The emphasis is on satellite imagery, as opposed to road maps but, unlike Google Maps, it allows you to explore the Earth’s polar regions, and even the Moon and Mars.
3. No doubt you’ve used Google Maps Street View feature but did you know it works in 3D? To turn on 3D, press 3 or T. Red and cyan fringes will appear on the image but if you put on a pair of red-cyan glasses (e.g. from www.assistpoint.co.uk), you’ll the scene in 3D. Note that you can't enable 3D if you're using the MapsGL mode. continued…