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G O O G L E - E A R T H
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Google Earth - firstly, I saw video clips on Star News where they were expressing their concern over some security issues, then I read a good review from Anuj Bhatnagar. So, I decided to go for it.
What is Google Earth?
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Google Earth is a free software available at https://earth.google.com
Download and install it on your computer, run it and take a visual satellite tour of any city around the world. Apart from google earth version, another two versions are available i.e. google earth plus is available for $20 which has an additional support for GPS device, importing spreadsheets, drawing tools and printing. Second one is google earth pro is available at $400 which is for professional and commercial purpose.
Minimum System Requirements
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• Intel® Pentium® PIII 500 MHz
• Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP
• 128MB System memory
• 200MB hard-disk space
• 3D graphics card i.e.3D-capable video card with 16MB VRAM
• 1024x768, 32-bit true color screen
• Network speed: 128 kbps
My Experience
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Mumbai :- South Mumbai upto Girgaon is very clear, rest of Mumbai map is blur?(google is working hard to expand their coverage). In Nariman point, I saw Air-India building, Hotel Oberoi even their swimming pool, Wankhede Stadium, cars parked at the Flora Fountain very very clearly.
Delhi :- I could only locate Palam airport (searched for parliament area, but could not find)
New York :- Big jungle of buildings in Manhattan, (here google earth?s other features like lodging, dining, roads are very useful), 3-D dimension of the buildings (thanx to my 3d gaming card) are very clear.
Is Google Earth a security threat?
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My answer is YES, because many high security and restricted zones are now open to anyone.
Mumbai Navy Dockyard : A high security & restricted zone of Indian Navy. This zone is beyond reach of common people. Google earth showing whole navy dockyard area, 12-13 warships were standing down below in the dock, even aircraft carrier (INS Vikrant or INS Virat?), entire map of roads inside and outside the dock are clearly visible.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), Uran : Another high security and restricted zone of Indian Government?. JNPT is actually my client?If I have to visit JNPT, then I have to seek permission for pass 2 days in advance? here from the google earth, there is no need for such passes. It shows you the entire scene of JNPT, the Jetty, 17 cranes standing on the Jetty and huge containers yard very clearly.
Bombay High : An Oil Exploration Project of the Indian Government?the exploration field and platform are clearly visible from the top.
ONGC Oil fields : ONGC?s restricted oil fields could be easily seen at Uran..
My fear
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My dear friend Zuludancing(Aditya) is residing very close to me, just 2 kms. away. This man is on top of terrorist?s hit list. Terrorists don?t like his humour at all, terrorist and humour are poles apart and they can?t give ’NU’ ratings to his reviews because of their secret hideouts. Now, google earth made terrorist?s task very easy, they can easily target missile at zulu?s home. The only fear in my find is, if they miss the target by 0.1%, then that missile will blow my house.
My final Line
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I highly recommend google earth to the people other than terrorists, so grab it fast asap.