The new browser plug-in for Google Earth “brings the full power of Google Earth to the web, embeddable within your own web site,” says Google Lat Long blog.  Instead of the Google Earth application, you need only install a plug-in that works in Firefox and Internet Explorer 6/7 on Windows.

Google also launched a JavaScript API that lets you interact with the globe and integrate with Google Maps.  The extensive API  allows you to control the camera, create lines, markers and plygons, import 3D models from the web, overlay your content on the planet or in the in the galaxies by toggling Sky mode.

The Google Earth Browser Plugin can be downloaded here.   Before downloading the plugin, says Google Operating System blog, be aware that Google installs it in Firefox and Internet Explorer, along with a system service called “Google Update Service.”  The plug-in uses a lot of memory (around 100 MB just for loading the initial view) and, for each embedded object, you’re running an instance of the Google Earth application.

Google Maps
I mostly use, and have written about, Google Maps. 

I like all the search options, layers, and enhancements with photos, Wikipedia articles, traffic information, transportation routes, and so on, that are available in addition to the choices of views. 

The image here shows a hybrid map/sattelite view of Seattle’s Experience Music Project.

Microsoft Live Search Maps
But I noticed a posting at LISNews about Microsoft’s Live Search Maps, which I haven’t used before. 

They told of the “bird’s eye views” offered and I found them even more interesting and useful than sattelite views.

You can drag the picture around to change locations or search for a particular place. 

I input my address and found that the bird’s eye view gave a much better look at the place than the sattelite view. 

So, of course, the same holds true for another place you may be looking for but don’t already know what it looks like.  Looking for your cruise ship?

Yahoo Maps
While I was comparing map search sites, I also took a look at Yahoo Maps which has just released an expansion of real-time traffic, increasing both coverage and comprehensiveness. 

They have added new markets and expanded beyond freeways to major thoroughfares.  They claim you can use drag and drop routing to avoid traffic hotspots.

Yahoo Maps has the customary map, sattelite, or hybrid views available. 

While the major map search sites have much in common, there are obviously some differences to be aware of and take advantage of, depending on your particular map needs and interests. 

At a minimum, I suggest you take a look at each site to examine the options they offer, many of which I have not mentioned here.

Microsoft has released visualization software called WorldWide Telescope (WWT), that “enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope—bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe.” 

It is primarily an educational tool.  You see the same images that scientists at NASA use for their research or perform your own research with those images.  You can see the Earth from the same perspective that astronauts see as they descend to Earth.

“WWT is a single rich application portal that blends terabytes of images, information, and stories from multiple sources over the Internet into a seamless, immersive, rich media experience.  Kids of all ages will feel empowered to explore and understand the universe with its simple and powerful user interface.”

Once you have downloaded the software — which only runs on Windows XP or Vista (on both PCs and Macs), you can search the large database for existing images and tours created by experts, or use the images to create your own slide-based show.

It will be interesting to see how WWT competes Google Sky which is viewable in Google Earth or in a standard web browser.

Here are the download instructions and specs for PCs or Macs.  Once you have downloaded the software, take a tour.

The Website also includes instructions on how you can create your own slide-based tour. 

Google video redesign
Google Video redesigned its homepage which now only includes a list of “hot” videos, while the video watch page has also been redesigned to be more flexible.  You can hide the right sidebar, minimize the list of related videos and use pagination to read a long list of comments.

The search page has been upgraded with more options.  One allows you to display results either in a grid or in TV view which lets you watch videos while also being able to see the list of results.  On the advanced search page you can search for only those videos that are closed captioned.  And you can now watch videos inline for some new video sites: DailyMotion, Revver, Guba, and Crackle, in addition to YouTube and Google Video.

“The updates make Google Video more user-friendly and easier to use, even if mixing a video search engine with a video hosting site makes the user experience confusing,” says Google Operating System blog.

Best free software
PC Magazine lays out a smorgasbord of 157 free software tools.  They say that if you had to buy them you would be out more than $5,000. 

There’s the “Hall of Fame,” Operating Systems, Antivirus, Firewalls, Security, Finance, Office, Calendars/PIMs, Backup, App Launchers, Utilities, Downloads, and the list goes on.

Farecast acquired by Microsoft
The Farecast Blog has confirmed the acquisition of the travel search site by Microsoft, reportedly for $115 million.  Farecast is an online travel search engine that attempts to predict whether airfares will rise or fall on specific routes.

Microsoft was a good fit since the two companies had worked together in the past and had a similar vision for online search. The proximity of the two companies (Seattle area) also played a part, said Matt McIlwain of Madrona Venture Group, an early investor.

Offline Google Docs
 Google Docs is slowly rolling out an option to view and edit documents offline using Google Gears.

“Unlike the Google Reader implementation, Google Gears will automatically detect when you’re offline and will take care of constantly downloading the changes so that your documents are available locally,” says the Google Operating System blog.

Robin Good shows a video tutorial for Google Docs offline and has detailed instructions.  You can also check out the Google Docs Offline help page.

Microsoft updates smart phone software
Microsoft Corp. showed off an update Tuesday to its Windows Mobile software for smart phones, according to an Associated Press article in the Seattle P-I.

The new version is aimed at making the software easier to use and more competitive with the Blackberry and iPhone.

The system should be simpler to set up and will display text messages as “threads,”  much like the iPhone.  Later this year, the Windows Mobile Web browser is expected to be upgraded to look more like the desktop version of Internet Explorer.

AT&T to use Microsoft’s Surface computer at retail sites
In addition to the original Microsoft Surface customers – Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Harrah’s Entertainment and T-Mobile — AT&T says it will start using Microsoft Corp.’s Surface computers in select retail stores later this month, becoming the first to roll out the tabletop machines.

The timeline for rollout of the original customers is up in the air since some want to connect the Surface to existing infrastructure.

AT&T’s retail customers will be able to place specific mobile phones on Surface’s 30-inch screen to learn about features, accessories and rate plans.  They also will be able to compare two phones at a time, and use their hands to navigate a high-tech wireless coverage map.  See the article for more information.

Google Spreadsheets gadgets
I just decided to use Google Spreadsheets for the first time so I was interested to hear about some new features and improvements, including autocompletes, email notification among collaborators, and a directory of gadgets that can be added.

To add a gadget, click on the “Insert” dropdown and select “Gadget,”  Each gadget can be embedded into web pages or added to iGoogle,

Smartphones will have Flash and Reader
Microsoft will license Adobe Systems’ Flash Lite and Reader LE software for use in future versions of Windows Mobile-based phones the companies announced earlier this week.

Budget-conscious tech gadgets
PC Magazine recommends some favorite “cheapskate” gadgets — fun for $200 or less.  They range from Apple’s wireless keyboard and mouse to a Plantronics Bluetooth handset.

MySpace Chief Technology Officer Aber Whitcomb calls Seattle “a hotbed for innovation and disruptive ideas,” and expansion of MySpace’s office there a natural next step as the company grows.  MySpace chose to locate downtown, instead of the eastside suburbs where Microsoft’s large campuses are, in order to appeal to developers who don’t want to commute across Lake Washington.

Seattle developers work on core parts of the social networking site — ranging from messaging to sign up.  They also have been instrumental in creating the MySpace Developer Platform which allows third parties to create applications for the larger community.  The Developer Platform — similar to Facebook’s open platform initiative — was turned on for the larger MySpace community Thursday. 

Both Yahoo and Google have established large and growing branch offices in Seattle.

One of my frustrations - and those of many others - has been the inability to sync Outlook and Google Calendar.  Now there is a small utility that does the job.

First download and install the executable.  In settings, enter your email and password and select your choices from the options and hit Save.  There will be an icon in the Windows system tray which will show two green arrows when syncing is happening.

The utility supports Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007 only.  Syncing Google Calendar with your Blackberry was already possible.

Dubbing Microsoft’s World Wide Telescope demo “pretty remarkable… worth a look” and a product “likely to be one of historic proportions,” Read/WriteWeb has embedded the demo video on their site.

The desktop app shows a tiled tour of high resolution and zoomable images of the night sky from a number of different telescopes and satellites.  The program, which should be available soon, scales huge images down to something that users can watch and navigate on a laptop.  “User generated tours should produce some fascinating education,” notes R/WW.

The new update to Zoho Writer includes DocX support, thesaurus (in 10 languages), sharing with groups, enhanced endnotes/footnotes, and enhanced headers/footers.

Previous updates include pagination, headers & footers, headnotes & footnores, and offline support.   Check the Zoho Writer blog for more information.

TechCrunch reports that Writer users have increased 30 percent since last November, with 2 million user sessions per month although usage still trails Google Docs, and of course, Microsoft Word.