Google Earth, as it has since the first time I saw it, still gets my vote for the Best Program Ever. The new version is stunning. Really. Find where you are on the globe, then clilck a button and it converts to a view of the night sky above you. (Oops, I may miss that EVDO afterall, but fortunately, my wifi covers the backyard.) Not quite so significant, but really cool, the new version has a hidden feature, not publicized by Google: An F16 flight simulator, as described by a student in South Africa. It was discovered by someone who — and hats off to you people who do such things — held down the keys, Ctrl+Alt+A (or, if you’re running OS X it’s Command+Option+A). I’m sure, if you’ve grown up playing videogames or coding software, or whatever, you may think to click Ctrl+Alt+A when you’re trying out software, but I’m always impressed when I hear about the games developers play and the users who ask themselves, “I wonder what will happen if I do this…?”
Technorati Tags: google earth
September 1st, 2007 at 12:01 am
Check out this YouTube video on the Google Earth Flight Sim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7z6Yxs69rQ
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I had a program on CD that came with my college astronomy text book (A great class taught by a great professor - David Weintraub) that did this, and while it wasn’t nearly as cool or graphically slick, it could map out the night sky based on your current location and date just the same. I found myself using it over and over as a reference, and wishing I had it handy when I was camping. Maybe with this it’s time to dig up that text book again.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Lewis, for camping, I suggest you leave your laptop at home.
September 3rd, 2007 at 11:43 pm
[...] I was wondering when Google or some third party would find a way to incorporate a flight simulator in Earth. It may be the “best software program ever,” but to date the cramped viewing options (side to side and level to down) were a real limitation of the product. The simulator interface is a much nicer way of taking in all Google Earth has to offer. I’ve been stealing a few minutes here and there this weekend to explore Earth in a totally different dimension. The other night I managed to fly my F-16 under the Golden Gate Bridge. Tonight, I explored the Hawaiian archipelago in about 20 minutes, jumping from island to island at 1100 knots. [...]
September 5th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Yeah, but can it do this? http://www.stuff.co.nz/4191216a28.html