New User Questions

[blendmik]

Hi, I am downloading the free version of Google Earth. I have Vista and have a few questions before I do so. First, when it is dowloading, where is the best place to keep it, my desktop, "C" drive/doc..or where is best? Second, when it is downloaded, what is the first things to learn to begin using it. Third, besides just looking at still images and graphics, I have heard you can actually view ships in the ocean, traffic on highways and things like that, like live updates. Is this true and if so, how often is the image updated? Any help is greatly appreciated by this new user to Google Earth, thanks folks!!:spin:

[Appletom]

I would download the installation package to the desktop. It will install in your C:\Program Files\Google folder. Then you can delete the installation package from your desktop.

The first thing most people do is find their own house. There's no "recommended" way of starting, but I'll bet you look up your house first:spin:

Then go to the GEH File Library and find some files that look interesting to you. Download the files and double click on them to open them in Google Earth.

Then wander the globe. See if you can find:

Red Square
The Vatican
Grand Canyon
The Las Vegas Strip
Eiffel Tower
Wrigley Field
The White House
Chico's Tacos in El Paso, Texas! You can view ships and cars, but not in real time. Most images are 1-3 years old but Google updates things on a regular basis.

Welcome to GEH blendmik.

[blendmik]

thanks appletom. i had heard of people using GE to view loch ness in "real time" to look for large submerged objects, or people using it to search for weather conditions and road conditons, so that's why i wondered about real time....or better said, how anyone could do that using GE.

[Munden]

thanks appletom. i had heard of people using GE to view loch ness in "real time" to look for large submerged objects, or people using it to search for weather conditions and road conditons, so that's why i wondered about real time....or better said, how anyone could do that using GE.

The 'real time' aspect for the images is not at all realistic, sadly. That just comes from people who either don't understand or are willfully pulling legs.

You CAN use it to look up some things 'live' however. These things require network feeds to information which someone then creates scripts to translate into Google Earth placemarks and overlays. These are referred to as Dynamic Data Layers. They're not imagery from aircraft or satellites, but instead are fairly simple graphics overlaid on top of the imagery. Weather and Traffic are both ones that can be done.

I'm sure people on here might have some examples, but you can also find some at the Google Earth Community in the forum below:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/EarthExternalData

[Mickey]

For real-time weather and traffic, just look under the "Layers" panel on the left side of your screen. You'll see options for both "Traffic" and "Weather".

As others have said, the imagery will still be old, but they'll drop radar data and traffic speed lines (green/yellow/red) onto the globe to help give you the current information.

[blendmik]

Excellent tips and advice from you folks. I will check out your suggestions as I proceed to enjoy GE, thx!!