Since 2017, the app has been perfectly useable through a browser, however, the professional desktop version leverages more system resources than a browser, and has more features (like the flight simulator). Can I use Google Earth without downloading it? The Dice button in the tabs to the left will take you to a random location on Earth, the layered squares button lets you select map filters (such as animated clouds and roads or country borders), and the ruler button lets you measure distances on the Earth. You can also click the Ferris Wheel icon to enable ‘Voyager’, which lets you view time-lapses of the Earth, view curated exotic locations or play games. If you want to search for a specific location, all you need to do is click the looking glass icon in the tabs to the left and type your chosen location. If you click the pedestrian icon in the bottom right, you enter Street View, bringing you down to a street level to look around. If you zoom in close enough, you can click ‘3D’ in the bottom right corner to view the world on a slant and see 3D buildings. If you zoom in, locations will become much more clear. An interactive globe will load that you can spin around and rotate. If you want to play with Google Earth, all you need to do is go to the website.

Screenshot: Gizmodo Australia How do I use Google Earth? It’s really good for if you want to scope out a location before going somewhere, but it’s also good for a bit of a giggle. Functionally, it fits into the Earth/Maps ecosystem quite well. Google Street View brings you down to a street-level view of the world, letting you trek up and down roads where a 360-degree camera has been. One of the key features of the app is Google Street View, which is technically a separate application.

Google earth live