earth.google.com

USA, September 29, 2005: It’s rare that our high-tech Hinduism Today and HPI offices get bowled over by a new web service. But you have to see Google Earth (“source”) to believe it. It’s rather difficult even to describe what this satellite photo-based digital globe can do. Like to visit Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas? Take your cursor, fly across the US, Europe and the Middle East to zoom right over it to see the sacred mountain and Lake Manasarovar besides it. Like to see Delhi’s parliament building in stunning detail? No problem. We didn’t spend enough time on it yet to locate temples, but one should get never-before-seen views of major Hindu temples. For Europe and the USA, you can zoom into city blocks, count the cars and trees in detail. The web site says, “The idea is simple. It’s a globe that sits inside your PC (and they mean PC, there is no Mac version). You point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Tap into Google search to show local points of interest and facts. Zoom to a specific address to check out an apartment or hotel (in major Western cities). View driving directions and even fly along your route.”

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