D
dbrtemp1203
Awhile back, we were discussing "Google Earth" (
http://earth.google.com/ ), a very impressive beta from the good folks
at Google.
But of course, "Google Earth" requires software on the local machine.
Enter "Google Maps"!!
http://maps.google.com/
If you're in the US, simply type your zip code into the search box and
click "Search"; or, city and state abbreviations of this kind work
well:
berkeley, ca
You will be shown a fairly large map of the area. NOW, click the
SATELLITE button in the upper right corner. You should be shown a
satellite image of the same region!
FINALLY, click the HYBRID button. Major roads should be placed on the
satellite image!
Zoom from side to side and in or out using the arrows in the upper left
corner. More details should appear as you zoom in.
Should you suddenly wish to use this system as you would the Yellow
Pages (to find a business) for the region shown, click LOCAL SEARCH
above the search box, and enter the name of the business.
Nicely implemented! Obviously draws on the same image database as
http://earth.google.com/ , but it requires no special hardware on the
local machine.
(I just did a non-US search for "brussels, belgium", and I found that
the satellite image worked, but the map & hybrid did not. Hopefully,
Google will come up to speed on non-US maps soon. There is also a help
file that might disclose some secrets I don't know about international
searches. Simply click "Help" next to the "Search" button.)
http://earth.google.com/ ), a very impressive beta from the good folks
at Google.
But of course, "Google Earth" requires software on the local machine.
Enter "Google Maps"!!
http://maps.google.com/
If you're in the US, simply type your zip code into the search box and
click "Search"; or, city and state abbreviations of this kind work
well:
berkeley, ca
You will be shown a fairly large map of the area. NOW, click the
SATELLITE button in the upper right corner. You should be shown a
satellite image of the same region!
FINALLY, click the HYBRID button. Major roads should be placed on the
satellite image!
Zoom from side to side and in or out using the arrows in the upper left
corner. More details should appear as you zoom in.
Should you suddenly wish to use this system as you would the Yellow
Pages (to find a business) for the region shown, click LOCAL SEARCH
above the search box, and enter the name of the business.
Nicely implemented! Obviously draws on the same image database as
http://earth.google.com/ , but it requires no special hardware on the
local machine.
(I just did a non-US search for "brussels, belgium", and I found that
the satellite image worked, but the map & hybrid did not. Hopefully,
Google will come up to speed on non-US maps soon. There is also a help
file that might disclose some secrets I don't know about international
searches. Simply click "Help" next to the "Search" button.)