Google Earth Plus to be canned - Costs increase of 1900% for OziExplorer users.

Gees Mark,
That is one weird looking dog you have there. Don't let him see what I wrote, he looks a bit angry.
Willie

PS I emailed Google , but it will have no affect.

Yes - I think the only advantage (?) of GE Plus was the ability to download/upload waypoint/tracks direct from your GPS to GE. If you already have OziExplorer then the lack of this function is no big deal, just download GPS to OziExplorer and then export direct to GE using OziExplorer as kml or gpx (OziExplorer can import and export kml and gpx files). I had GE plus for a while but didt bother renewing because couldnt see any real use for it. Google Earth Pro has higher resolution images and a few other functions..so thats what your paying for there - more aimed at companies than individuals as cost is hard to justify. A few people Boycotting GE would not be noticed given the number of users - only one that would notice would be the former user, it is very handy.

Cheers
Greg

Thanks Greg,

I will have to try doing it that way. I may have to seek further advice from you, as you know what a techno cretin I am.

To me it is still a dumb move by Google. They were getting $20 from plenty of people at no cost to themselves, so why ditch it ? Why not just leave it there ?

" Google Earth Pro has higher resolution images " - Greg H.
Greg, I think that is not when you are viewing, only if you print something.
"The imagery in both Google Earth and Google Earth Pro is exactly the same as the imagery in Google Earth Plus" - Google website

Am I getting confuses again Greg !!

Willie

No - dont think your getting confused - I think you are right re image quality being only for printing.

My mate has pro version - havent really bother to see what it actaully does but for $400 it would want to be pretty good.

Cheers
Greg

Dont think it falls into this category. GE is still free and can be used for the same purpose as GE plus if you have oziExplorer (or any other program that links to gps and exports kml/gpx files). Just guessing but think that GE Plus was a superfulous product given the current crop of GPS units available. Magellan Tritons can not be use with any software (for waypoint/track upload download) except there own VantagePoint (which you can then use to export GPX files) and there is a trend in new Garmin gps units (Colorado, Oregion, Nuvi) to save data direct as gpx format within the GPS itself i.e GE plus offered no beneifit to the user if you have these type of gps units as the standard GE will use GPX.

cheers
Greg

It was very handy for me with my Magellan Greg.
Willie.

No worries Willie - suppose all we are saying is that there is an easy workaround so situation is not as bad as it seems. I always manage my waypoints and tracks in OziExplorer first anyway as its easier to edit/add etc...and then export to GE...but can understand how it would have been handy for others such as yourself.

Cant you just keep on using GE plus anyway? As long as you dont delete it or "downgrade/upgrade" wont it just keep working as is?

Hope all is well

Cheers
Greg

Greg,

I do it more often the other way. I find places I want to go on Google Earth, and I transfer the waypoints to OziExplorer or I transfer Waypoints from my handheld Magellan onto Google Earth.

GE Plus will keep working for three months after my annual $20 time runs out - then it's finished.

I can get a free 3 month trial of Google Pro, but I could not waste US$400 on a toy like that, so why bother.

I bought your Pilbarra CD. What is your next project ?

Thanks for your help,

Willie.

Currently doing 100k topo Maps of West Coast of WA (Cape Leeuwin to Exmouth) and South Coast of WA (Cape Leeuwin to Eucla). Detail is not as good as 50K maps but there is no coverage at 50k over significant portion of these areas so best you can get. Coverage goes inland a fair bit.

About 120 to 160 maps on each disc (ecw and ozf3 format). Will be availble from Perth Map Centre late in December hopefully (and later in the exploroz shop)

Dont tell anyone as its a secret.

Cheers
Greg

Hi Greg, a question about your topo map datums if I may ask please.
I have the SW of WA, the Pilbara and the Kimberleys topo maps.
On a recent trip from Perth to the Kimberleys we drove up on the coast road and found the maps (Pilbara & Kimberley) extremely accurate, checking on the laptop while driving along.
On the way back we came down inland, via Newman, ran out of 50K maps for a while getting closer to Perth but near Gingin the 50K SW of WA maps must have had coverage as Ozi Explorer shower the greater detail again but, unfortunately, the road was consistently shown offset to where it should be on the screen. And not just a recent road re routing either, we apparently drove through the lake at Gingin! As if these maps had a different datum. But which? I have no info on the topo map DVD about datums.

I have not been driving further south of Perth with my laptop rigged on the passenger side to check if the offset affects all the SW areas covered or just the map that covers Gingin.

Thanks, Klaus

Hello Klaus, firstly apologies to Willie for going off topic. I believe you raised this same question a while back - not sure if I answered it then but believe I know the issue you are having after thinking about it for a while. The first edition of the 50K SW DVD/CD came with two sets of the same maps, one set is in OZF format and the other ECW format. The OZF format maps come with OziExplorer calibration files (i.e. *.map files). If you use the ozf files, the calibration should be fine.

The ecw image files didnt come with OziExplorer calibration files (I think ..cant remember) but have calibration data included as part of their file structure. It is however only approximate as I didn’t have ability at that stage to geo-rectify images, a process required to ensure accurate coordinate data is incorparated (now I do..see below).

So what I think you have done is import the ecw images into OziExplorer using the import image function and created a set of inaccurate OziExplorer calibration files. As mentioned if you use the OZF files and associated calibration files all should be sweet. Is there a specific reason why you are using the ecw files?

Version 2 of the SWWA 50K and 25K maps includes geo-rectified and cropped ecw images (as does the Kimberley and Pilbara 50K maps) and these will work with OziExplorer (and GIS programs such as Arcview and Mapinfo) with no problems. The maps can also be used with Trackranger which required rectified images. If you have a specific requirement to use the ecw images and would like a copy of the geo-rectified set please contact me offline and I will send you a copy..otherwise, as suggested, just use the OZF files. If you still have an issue with these let me know as well.

Cheers
Greg