Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS
Has anyone seen this !!! Its awesome!!! Has anyone seen this !!! Its awesome!!!
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS How to find your way - traditional map, compass and road signs, or GPS and more
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 7 Jul 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Madrid , Spain
Posts: 239
Has anyone seen this !!! Its awesome!!!
http://earth.google.com/

Its a moveable 3d map of the earth .. but done with the highest available satellite pictures.

Some areas (Mainly Europe and the States) are so detailed that I can see my own cars parked on my house !!! Its about 1m/pixel

Even Africa.. Its done at a fairly resolution of around 10m/pixel .. i.e. in Nouaddibou you can SEE ! the track for the train !!

IT lets you record your own database of points .. and It surprisingly's got already a good amount of tracks (i.e. the parc' route its already there ,marked as a route).

Even better , Its got also some GPS support , which -supossedly- lets you update in real time the satellite picture overhead you.

The only drawback I see is that earth data can not be cached (i.e. It need to hava full-time Internet connection to work ) But surely that will be fixed also .

Enjoy.

Javier Carrion
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 7 Jul 2005
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Posts: 27
I have to agree. It's remarkable stuff. I don't think they'll be moving away from the streaming media though. One of their products that they're selling is the database server, if you could just download all the data then there's no incentive to buy.

It's absolutely fantastic for visualising your route and seeing what an area's like. I can't recommend highly enough.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 7 Jul 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 108
Agree! Fantastic piece of software! Only downside you need to be a Microsoft user (Windows) and you need a broadband internet connection.

Here's a few examles what you can do/see:

Brunny Island, Tasmania:
http://www.ryd.ch/images/BrunnyIsland.jpg

Tamanrasset, looking north:
http://www.ryd.ch/images/Tamanrasset.jpg

Ulanbaatar, looking at the airport from the hills south of the city:
http://www.ryd.ch/images/Ulaanbaatar.jpg

Hires pics of Gibraltar and La Linea from the north:
http://www.ryd.ch/images/Gibraltar.jpg

Maybe also worth mentioning that the software is not an invitation of Google but they bought it from Keyhole Corp. What I love the most is that you can save views (global position and camera postion/view) and share that with other users, there is even a whole community: http://bbs.keyhole.com

But be carefull, it's addictive

Cheers, Kudi

------------------
Ride Your Dreams
__________________
Ride Your Dreams
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 7 Jul 2005
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Posts: 27
Any one paid up for Earth Plus and used it with their GPS? At the moment payments are suspended but fully intend to try this when available.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 7 Jul 2005
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 108
IMHO it's pretty useless to use Google Earth with your GPS, the only thing this would do is to show your current postion in the application - Javier, it does not show realtime pictures - and that is useless because you would need a broadband connection to the internet while on the road.

As Javier already mentioned, the cache size is limited to 512MB and there is no option to cache certain areas of the world for your journey. I do not think this will be fixed, pretty shure that is an intention, at the end Google is only a commercial company having the intersset to bind their customers.

Another very simillar software is NASA Worldwind (http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov), it's in a very early stage but has simillar capatibilities as Google Earth, it offers the capatibility to have you data localy stored and, most important, it is opensource. I'm shure there will be loads of activity in the opensource community in the near future. For now, Google Earth is the better sollution because it has better quality pictures (Landsat 7 in best quality and the hires pics) and has a few killer features Worldwind does not offer - yet...

Even so, still a brilliant piece of software!

Cheers, Kudi
__________________
Ride Your Dreams
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:21.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top