jman
02-03-2015, 09:20 AM
Just saw this on Cnet.com - http://www.cnet.com/news/get-google-earth-pro-for-free/, but apparently you can get the Pro Version of Google Earth now for free! It use to be $399/year. Crazy.
Here is a copy and paste of the article highlights:
First, what you maybe didn't know is that Google has long offered a Pro version of Earth as well, one that cost a hefty $399 per year. Now, however, you can get Google Earth Pro absolutely free (https://geoauth.google.com/gev0/free_trial.html).
First things first: The words "free trial" still appear in that URL, but as you'll see when you click through to the sign-up page, "Sign up is no longer required for Google Earth Pro." All you have to do is download the installer (http://earth.google.com/intl/en/download-earth-pro.html), run it, then sign in using your e-mail address (as your username) and license code GEPFREE.
Second things second: Do you really need this? Probably not, as Pro was created with business/enterprise users in mind -- but it does afford some pretty cool extras not found in the free version, including:
Advanced measurements: Measure parking lots and land developments with polygon area measure, or determine affected radius with circle measure.
High-resolution printing: Print images up to 4,800 x 3,200 pixel resolution.
Exclusive pro data layers: Demographics, parcels, and traffic count.
Spreadsheet import: Ingest up to 2,500 addresses at a time, assigning place marks and style templates in bulk.
Movie-Maker: Export Windows Media and QuickTime HD movies, up to 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution.
So, yeah, you could print ultra-high-resolution images of, say, your neighborhood. (The free version tops out at 1,000 pixels.) Or add high-def fly-over videos to your movies. Pretty sweet stuff.
Enjoy!
Here is a copy and paste of the article highlights:
First, what you maybe didn't know is that Google has long offered a Pro version of Earth as well, one that cost a hefty $399 per year. Now, however, you can get Google Earth Pro absolutely free (https://geoauth.google.com/gev0/free_trial.html).
First things first: The words "free trial" still appear in that URL, but as you'll see when you click through to the sign-up page, "Sign up is no longer required for Google Earth Pro." All you have to do is download the installer (http://earth.google.com/intl/en/download-earth-pro.html), run it, then sign in using your e-mail address (as your username) and license code GEPFREE.
Second things second: Do you really need this? Probably not, as Pro was created with business/enterprise users in mind -- but it does afford some pretty cool extras not found in the free version, including:
Advanced measurements: Measure parking lots and land developments with polygon area measure, or determine affected radius with circle measure.
High-resolution printing: Print images up to 4,800 x 3,200 pixel resolution.
Exclusive pro data layers: Demographics, parcels, and traffic count.
Spreadsheet import: Ingest up to 2,500 addresses at a time, assigning place marks and style templates in bulk.
Movie-Maker: Export Windows Media and QuickTime HD movies, up to 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution.
So, yeah, you could print ultra-high-resolution images of, say, your neighborhood. (The free version tops out at 1,000 pixels.) Or add high-def fly-over videos to your movies. Pretty sweet stuff.
Enjoy!