Google Earth Professional Version

[Jon R. Haskell]

I am curious if anyone has used the professional version of this software, specifically the .mov function? Trying to determine if it is worth the $400 annual fee.

thanks,
jon

[Marco Wagner]

I had it before the government or DOD made google pull back on the images or whatever you want to call it. One used to be able to see with great detail in PRO, then one day, all of the sudden, I couldn't zoom in as far as I used to. Not sure if it is still the same, if so, I'd say "no" it's not worth it.

[Jon R. Haskell]

sorry to hear that. A high resolution picture is not a requisite for my application. I thought about using it in a promotion video to help the viewer visualize four locations in Jamaica, by "zooming" to the specific regions. Doing it via a .mov seemed like a nice method versus a static shot.

Do you recall how the dynamic zooming or "traveling" from a wide view to a closer up view worked and looked in your final product?

I have noticed a number of the international locations in which I could use this function, has sections with different color and sometimes resolution, which is not very attractive.I assume shot on different dates, thus the difference in color.

thanks for your observations

jon

[Marco Wagner]

The traveling is quite nice, you can customize the speed for an even smoother "ride". It also can take advantage of powerful 3D cards to render better and faster. The 3D view is great as well, you turn on buildings and flip the screen so it's flat and fly through the cities. The 3D Grand Canyon "flight" is pretty decent.

I could only assume with the newer versions that high res. is still there for non security risk locations. But don't try to get a shot of Fort Knox, lol, all blurry.