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Once seen as a funky gimmick from the popular search engine, Google Earth has now found its niche with both Internet users and businesses alike. Offering a 3D photographic view of Earth (the name kinda gives it away), it’s continued to evolve since its initial launch in 2005. However, early versions were criticised for not allowing anything more than pretty aerial views. Now, thanks to the latest version Google Earth 4.3, these gripes are fixed - and how!

Incorporating some of the best features from Google’s other services, including Google Maps amongst others, Google Earth 4.3 allows users to get down and dirty on the ground level. Thanks to their new photo compression techniques and a cool new addition called 3D Buildings, you can now zoom straight to the street you live on and take an on-the-wire flyby of your home, from sidewalk to rooftop. And because the compression is in a higher resolution than the old Google Earth maps, buildings and landscapes remain clear throughout. Using this new feature you can even attempt your own Spiderman fantasy and travel seamlessly from building to building, using the Look joystick feature. This allows you to have a starting point and look in any direction and then travel in it - simply plot your map.

Yet that’s not all. There are a host of other features that make Google Earth 4.3 such a fun and useful addition to your web-browsing activities.  One of the cooler new features is the ability to switch between Earth and Sky modes. Trust me when I say that the first time you try this you’ll be awestruck, as your computer screen’s display changes from the standard map of Earth to a multi-galaxy map that wouldn’t look out of place on the Xbox360 game Mass Effect. Once you’re in Sky mode, you can explore the entire universe, thanks to the Hubble telescope and NASA. This is something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of!

There’s also a funky Day and Night mode, so you can see what some of your favourite cities or places are like at a certain time, even if you’re on the other side of the world in a completely different time zone. Just these new features alone make Google Earth 4.3 worth taking the time to check out. Add in mouse and keyboard scrolling compatibility, as well as availability for both Mac and PC, and the only question is why are you still here? Go check it out now!

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