Rating: 5
Flashearth is a web application that displays interactive satellite images and maps from a number of different online mapping sources, including Google, Yahoo, MSN, NASA, and others (without official consent).
I always get philosophical whenever I play around with online mapping/satellite imaging services. I always think “wow, look at how far humanity has come even from the time when I was growing up; who would thought that any random joe would be able to browse satellite images of the entire earth at will, searching by address for the neighborhood of even the house they want to look at, zooming in and out and rotating the earth at will!”.
I get even more philosophical and it reminds me of Socrates (or was it Plato?) who said something like: the more I know, the more I know how much it is still that I dont know. In this case what I don’t know is why anyone would want 8 different sources for these satellite images, since they all look and function pretty much exactly the same. If you have any thoughts or ideas about this please leave a comment and let us know 
.
I should also mention that Flashearth is a very slick app that scores high on the coolness scale (zooming in and out with the mouse scroll wheel is particularly pleasing). Be sure to check it out.
Go to the Flashearth wesbsite.
Why more than one map source? Because some are several years behind in their mapping. I looked up my house on Microsoft’s map service last week and found that the images were almost 5 years old. Google’s were only 2 years old.
ITS A NICE TOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
The review should compare Google&Arm product with this one.And please mention file size clearly on top as all other sites do in all your reviews.
Danny: There’s no file size this is a web service.
Hey Samer, you are a real geek buddy. Hats off to you bro. I have seen all the good programs here. Of all Flash-Earth has always been a delight to see.
I think wat danny ment was to add file size of the app. beside post so that we get to know the weight of the files. Anyways Thanks
i think it is kool that you can see your own house from birds i view
Grrrr… just what I need, something else to waste my time doing. =OP
i think its good to see your home country without any expense its really good i love google
ok
OK IWANT DOWNLOAD FLASH ERTH FREE NOW PLESSE
i want to download flash earth.
*sighs at the last few posts* Flash Earth is a WEB SERVICE, people!
You do not download and install any software, therefore a file size cannot be provided.
It is a URL – http://www.flashearth.com. All you need is Flash Player installed.
Also, I believe the reason for multiple map sources is clarity. I find that some sources give a clearer image in some locations than others.
Hi Samer,
I am unable to download the flash earth and the dynamic earth desktop wallpaper generator. I am getting 404 error. please guide me what to do.
It’s really good………..
Why 5? All alike, more or less? How one rates them all depends on whether, or not, you have a purpose in mind. That is, as with all technology, software especially, does it allow you to do only what it wants to do or what you want to do? For example, if you’re geographically minded (and all these supposedly lay claim to some “educational value”), there is a huge difference between the labeling of natural features and artificial features in G.E. and F.E w/MS V.E.(labels). Just try to find the names of rivers, mountains etc (even major ones) in G.E. and you will be frustrated to death. You have to rely on the very spotty and undisciplined, redundant and cluttered “galleries” of volunteer contributors to pick your way around. F.E. w/MS V.E. (labels), on the other hand, starts with much better discipline from the top down and labels most everything in view. Although G.E. started out as a great piece of basic software and has some incredibly good features, they have left the details to the user-community with little visible monitoring and it’s slowly turning into a junk yard. Still love it and use it though, and like you, am amazed every time I use either one of them.