The Google Earth representation of Earth is put together using satellite and aerial photos taken on different dates, under different lighting and weather conditions, which creates the quilt effect on views of the Earth from high altitude. The images appear patchy unless you zoom in to see a patch represented in a single image.
Google’s new rendering engine smoothes out the quilt of images. “The end result is a beautiful new Earth-viewing experience that preserves the unique textures of the world’s most defining geographic landscapes,” explained in a blog post Peter Birch, Google Earth Product Manager. Version 6.2 of the desktop software is recommended for best viewing, he said.
Search and sharing improvements
The Google Earth 6.2 update also borrowed the same autocomplete feature available in Google Maps, which makes it faster and easier to find the spot you are looking for. You can search by layers now, and biking, transit and walking directions are now available as well.
There’s something new for Google+ users in the latest update too. There’s a quick option to share a screenshot of the current view on with your circles on the social network.
Also see: 15 Google Earth and Street View Mysteries and Best of Google Maps and Google Earth 2011
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