Google Earth 5: Brief Tutorial and Review - Installing and Using Google Earth 5

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If you have not installed Google Earth 5, download it from the official Google 5 download page. When you are done downloading it to your desktop, double click GoogleEarthSetup.exe and follow the installation procedure. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it will take around 5 to 10 minutes to complete the installation.

This short tutorial focuses on Windows operating systems. Currently this system works superbly; it was tested with this hardware configuration:

• Pentium 2.4 GHz
  
• 1 MB RAM
  
• 80 GB hard disk space
  
• 128 MB NVIDIA FX5200 Video Card 
  
• 328 kbps Internet connection
  
• Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 3)

If you have a better system, Google Earth 5 will give you a much better and faster rendition of satellite images.

When you are done with the installation, you can launch the program by going to Start --> All programs –> Google Earth  and then selecting the Google Earth icon.

By default, Google Earth selects OpenGL, but you can change to DirectX by going into Tools -> Options -> Graphics Mode. Graphics look better with OpenGL if your computer graphics card is capable. If you have some problems, try switching to DirectX.

The most basic method of navigating the images and maps in Google Earth is to use the mouse scroll to zoom in and zoom out. If you want to move the map in a direction (right, left, top or bottom), you only need to left click on the mouse and hold. 

To navigate and to enable features, you must know how to use “Layers.” By default these “Layers” are found in the left side menu. See screen shot below:

In Google Earth 5, “Layers” can be used to enable and disable features

For example, if you want to see where those shipwrecks are on the ocean floor, follow this simple procedure:

• In Layers, click “Ocean,” and under “Ocean” click “Shipwrecks.”
  
• Zoom in over the seas; you will find user-friendly icons there.
  
• Match the icon used by shipwrecks in the layer section and find it in any ocean in which you have an interest in exploring.

Next: Finding Useful Content with Google Earth >>
 

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