Google Earth

Augmented · 13 Jun 2006 at 10:24

In case you haven't caught the news, Google have finally got round to releasing Google Earth for Linux (and Mac OSX) :cool:

. Seems like a nice piece of work so far, and very comparable to the Windows release.

Augmented · 13 Jun 2006 at 11:40

Beansprout said:
It's all native too, none of that Wine trickery they've pulled in the past

Might encourage a push for a Linux release of Worldwind? Any news on that happening?

Augmented · 14 Jun 2006 at 09:17

Beansprout said:
There's been some independent coders creating a WW-clone in Java and so on. WW2D+1 (homepage.)

Sun have also offered up some Java developers, and NASA are working with the wider GIS community to make WW 1.5 a kick-ass cross-platform program with far, far better GIS support than GE, and for Joe Public now that World Wind has the Microsoft local.live.com imagery it:

a) surprasses GE's imagery in the US/UK
b) provides the road overlays (hybrid)

Nice, although I'm often somewhat wary of Java GUI applications, that does sounds promising and a good idea for making it cross-platform .

I think we do pretty well considering we're a small group with really limited funding. And NATO/NSA/US DoD use WW (seeing World Wind on a wicked multi-plasma-screen setup being used by top-level military guys is really, really, really cool)

Augmented · 14 Jun 2006 at 20:03

Hades said:
Out of interest why are you wary of Java GUI apps? Is it the non-Open Source aspect or other reasons?

Simply cosmetics.

It comes from having used Java apps that don't make of use the native environment's chrome/controls, and instead use Java's. A seemingly shallow gripe but, for me, the difference greatly affects the application's usability. Style's not the issue, it is the difference to the surrounding environment. I'm quite happy using Windows as I am Gnome or OSX, but when something within any of those sticks out like a sore thumb I find it breaks my workflow. It's like websites that pop-up fake alert prompts and windows with Windows XP styling.

I'm aware that Java can make use of the environment's controls in some manner, hence why I'm not completely against it.

Augmented · 16 Jun 2006 at 10:50

That's good to know. I wasn't quite sure of the details, but had seen SWT mentioned before. Thanks for the explanation

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