What Happened to Google Earth?

[ekpolk]

I had begun to really see GE as one of my favorites programs. I installed it over a year ago. It even went through an update or two. And worked great.

And now, the strange part -- it seems to have mysteriously UNinstalled itself from my computer, with absolutely no action on my part. It's as if an update got pushed that was a total removal. You could come look at this computer today, and you'd see no evidence that the program was ever installed.

Anyone have any idea what's up????

 

[bkbenjy]

Happened to me too. I thought maybe I had uninstalled it awhile ago and forgot.

 

[tenderloin]

Working good here...

 

[ekpolk]

I've reinstalled it a couple of times, but it keeps vanishing. I've never seen a program do this before. I'd consider thinking I was losing my mind, but I've used the program, so I'm familiar with it -- except for why it has the pesky habit of just disappearing from my computer. Very baffling...

 

[digitalSniperX1]

The google earth destroying virus has struck?

 

[bdcardinal]

It did it on my computer too. I installed an old download I had and its stayed on for now. Are you using Vista 64bit?

 

[JHZR2]

I havent moved to any google browsers or gmail because I don't like the concept... they directly read my emails and give ads based upon that? they directly check my browsing (not cookies) and give ads based upon that?

I did recently download google earth for mac, and noted that they "bundled" their chrome browser with it. I didnt partake.

But for those who have all google stuff on their computer, I would be wary that they are "implementing" things without your concent. better read the user agreement...

Frankly, I dont anticipate google to be any better than MS or Apple.

 

[SnPb]

I noticed that Google Earth disappeared from the Start menu on my Windows Vista 64 computer for some reason, but the program was still installed. It could be launched by double clicking on the application at Program Files (x86)/Google/Google Earth/client/googleearth.exe. It may have vanished as a result of inactivity, but more likely the Google Earth application removed itself from the Start menu when the program prompted me to install a newer version and I declined.

 

[Buffman]

I noticed the same thing. I just drug a shortcut to the desktop and called it a day.

 

[CivicFan]

Big fan of Google Earth here... But haven't noticed any vanishing acts with it; maybe because I am old school still using XP on a core duo system.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I havent moved to any google browsers or gmail because I don't like the concept... they directly read my emails and give ads based upon that? they directly check my browsing (not cookies) and give ads based upon that?

I did recently download google earth for mac, and noted that they "bundled" their chrome browser with it. I didnt partake.

But for those who have all google stuff on their computer, I would be wary that they are "implementing" things without your concent. better read the user agreement...

Frankly, I dont anticipate google to be any better than MS or Apple.


One of the core values at google is "do no evil" and so far they have been obeying that value. It actually is one of their competitive advantages.

A core value at Apple is to be innovative and they have been doing it to great success. As for MS, I have no idea what their core values are. They seem not to have any customer or investor related values.

 

[JHZR2]

Do no evil is all well and good, but there still is an invasion of privacy. We are trading our privacy for a service. Some may like it, some may not. It is one thing if I go to google and use their search engine, and in return for its service they beam ads to me aligned with my search topic (or cookies on my browser).

It is another thing if they can crawl through my emails, files, bookmarks, etc. Even if google does no harm with it, I would have to imagine that it opens another backdoor to folks prone to doing evil, and I just dont like that...

 

[CivicFan]

In a digital age, privacy is something that is maintained through the judicial system. Unless you live in an analog world, privacy is difficult to maintain (make a purchase with a credit card and there is an easily accessible record of your lifestyle, or go to the doctor and there is an easily accessible record of your health status, etc.).

To tell you the truth, Google keeping the history of my searches if I do it when I am logged on, or putting text ads in Gmail based on the contents of what is on my screen at the time are the least of my concerns.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
It is another thing if they can crawl through my emails, files, bookmarks, etc. Even if google does no harm with it, I would have to imagine that it opens another backdoor to folks prone to doing evil, and I just dont like that...


Encrypt the text of the email and see if it causes their little algorithm to barf.

 

[Mystic]

One of the core values at Google is 'do no evil?' They seem to have a lot of privacy issues. And they were willing to put up with some stuff the Chinese government wanted until somebody in China invaded THEIR PRIVACY! Kind of funny in my opinion.

Goggle used to be my favorite internet search engine. But then I discovered that maybe my privacy was not safe with them. So I voted and I don't use them as my internet search engine anymore. I have a choice. I can use Bing or Yahoo or others.

Google recently decided that all of their employees had to use either Linux or Apple computers. For security issues understand. Now that is a shining example of free choice if I ever saw one. And Microsoft is called the 'Dark Empire?'

Whatever happened to Google's new operating system that was going to blow Microsoft away. Nobody uses it.

I was actually impressed with Google Earth. But on the other hand I could see where it might possibly create privacy and security issues. But Google in most ways does not impress me. They need to stick to being an internet search provider in my opinion. And maybe care about the privacy of people a little bit better.

 

[Mystic]

And I think I should add this: Worldwide some 96% of all desktop computers use Windows. So, since Google's Chrome operating system does not seem to be taking off, maybe they need to keep a few Windows computers at Google headquarters so they will know how to serve the interests and needs of 96% of their potential customers.

My guess is that they will have to make sure Google continues to be able to work well with all of those Windows computers, no matter how disgusting that may be. Unless, of course, they don't need 96% of their potential customers.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan

One of the core values at google is "do no evil" and so far they have been obeying that value. It actually is one of their competitive advantages.



Except when they collect data from unsecured wifi networks all over the world with their street view vehicles...

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: CivicFan

One of the core values at google is "do no evil" and so far they have been obeying that value. It actually is one of their competitive advantages.



Except when they collect data from unsecured wifi networks all over the world with their street view vehicles...


AFAIK that's only the base station mac address/ SSID. It's useful for fake-GPS navigating with things like iPod touches. In USA we have the right to receive unencrypted radio signals, if you set up a wifi hot spot that can be reached on the street that's your issue.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: Mystic
Whatever happened to Google's new operating system that was going to blow Microsoft away. Nobody uses it.


It's not out yet; if ChromeOS is what you're referring to. It's only a cloud-based OS made for lower-power computers and other gadgety devices and is a modified Ubuntu, as is Goobuntu, their in-house OS.

Originally Posted By: Mystic
So, since Google's Chrome operating system does not seem to be taking off, maybe they need to keep a few Windows computers at Google headquarters so...


I remember reading from more than one source that they're Windows-free.

I am not sure how keeping Windows around, though, would enable them to remain in closer contact to their customers. All of their services run on farms of Linux-based computers, and all of their internal workings are on Linux-based computers.

Originally Posted By: Mystic
Google recently decided that all of their employees had to use either Linux or Apple computers.


Don't *all* big companies specify the technologies they use internally?!

 

[Mystic]

Well of course employees will typically use whatever computers
(and operating systems) the company has. But I never heard before of some company having an internal memo (that was leaked to the news media) where it was dictated that employees would use only certain types of operating systems. Regardless which operating system is discriminated against, IT IS NOT FREEDOM. Let me repeat that: Regardless which operating system is discriminated against, it is not freedom. If Linux is discriminated against-it is not freedom. If the Mac is discriminated against-it is not freedom. Could you imagine the outcry if a Microsoft internal memo banning Linux or Mac computers (or both) to employees was leaked out to the news media? And some companies use Windows, Linux, and Mac computers, and maybe Unix servers and so forth. I know the local newspaper used both Windows and Mac computers.

And if Google is going to serve the needs of the 95% of Windows desktop users in the world they probably need to test their software on Windows computers. If 95% of your potential user base uses Windows than yes it might be wise to have a few Windows computers sitting around somewhere. Google might be able to fire any employee of theirs who uses a Windows computer but they can't fire the people of the world who use Windows computers. The people of the world could fire THEM!

Maybe you don't know the details of what happened in China? People in China can't visit just any website they want and the Google GMAIL of civil rights workers in China was not secure. The Chinese government had various demands that they made on Google if Google wanted to operate in China. Google went along until there was an attack on Google security and secret Google information was obtained by somebody in China (with likely government support). I guess the noble and wonderful people at Google are okay being loose with the privacy of other people but it is a different story when their own security and privacy is threatened. Certainly seems that way-doesn't it? Anyway, China is developing their own software and internet search engine and they will not need Google (or anybody else).

There is a lot more I could bring up but some things I am going to remain silent about. I know a few things that would probably anger some people here very deeply.

And then we are supposed to be using online Google applications and trash our Microsoft Office software? Yeah-right. I am going to trust Google online applications? I don't think so. They seem to have a hard time securing their GMAIL.

Some positive developments I have heard (you notice how I can be fair and present both or all sides?) is that Google is making it possible to encrypt GMAIL for better security. And I have heard something (but I don't know all the details) about online searches (at least using the Google Chrome web browser) being capable of being encrypted. So it is not all negative information. Perhaps Google will ultimately achieve better security than many others. But considering everything that has happened so far I will believe all of that when I see it.