Not to be left behind, Linux users can now extend their reach
to planet earth. While Linux users are often accused of not living on
this planet, in this case, the new development comes with the ability to
browse the planet using the cool Google application Google Earth.
With
the current beta 4 version, Google includes support for Linux. You can
now browse the planet in all its glory. Download the Linux, Windows, or
Mac OS X version at http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html. The
requirements for Linux are similar to those for other operating systems.
Google recommends at least 512MB of RAM and at least 2GB free of disk
space. Google also recommends your system sport a 3D-capable graphics
card with at least 32MB of video RAM. The minimal requirements ask for
much less, with 128MB of RAM, 400MB free of disk space, and a graphics
resolution of at least 1024 by 768 pixels with 16-bit color. Most PCs
purchased within the last three to four years should work just
fine.
Furthermore, I credit Google with ensuring their application
works on the main Linux distributions. Google lists support for Debian
3.1, Fedora Core 5, Gentoo 2006.0, Linspire 5.1, Red Hat 9, Suse 10.1,
and Ubuntu 5.10. Testing on distributions such as Gentoo goes beyond
what most software developers do and is appreciated.
Google Earth
allows you to see just how much Google knows about, well, everything on
this planet. You can fly to an address, view the terrain and even pan
and zoom around 3D renderings of famous structures. Most of the
high-resolution data, though, come from North America, Europe, and
Australia. A few additional places, sometimes surprising, that are
covered include much of Thailand, Taiwan, and a good bit of Iraq. In the
US, Missouri and Indiana sport the most complete coverage.
Version
4 adds some improvements, especially in handling the KML, the XML-based
data language Google Earth uses to describe earth features. In addition,
version 4 makes the user interface controls for navigating in
three-dimensional space smaller, and more unobtrusive.
One part
missing, though, is that SketchUp, the Google 3D
design application, does not yet support Linux. To add more 3D
buildings, you need to use SketchUp (or create your own KML-based
application). Currently, Google only provides Windows and Mac OS X
versions of SketchUp.
In addition to Google Earth, Google has been
porting other applications to Linux, including Picasa, a digital
photo tool. This represents a clear acknowledgment that Linux has
arrived. Of course, coming from Google, which may have more Linux
systems than any other organization, this is not saying too much. But,
Google has invested significant resources in creating Linux
applications.
After reading the Picasa frequently-asked questions
list, it's clear that Google gets it when it comes to Linux. The text of
this page shows a high level of Linux experience. Picasa becomes more
interesting when you realize that Picasa is a Windows application that
runs under WINE, a
support layer to run Windows applications on Linux. Google contracted
with CodeWeavers to enhance
WINE so that it could run Picasa properly. These enhancements are now
part of WINE. You can see the list of changes here.
Companies devoting resources to Linux include more than just Google. In
fact, most major players in the software market, with the notable
exception of Microsoft, support Linux in some form or another. --Eric
Foster-Johnson
