At some point while using Google Earth, you'll probably wonder how Google can offer so much functionality free of charge. While Google is typically tight-lipped about how it monetises free offers, it's fairly easy to see how Google Earth could generate plentiful revenue streams. First, there are options in the program that allow you to display information such as coffee shops, restaurants, lodging and rental car locations in particular locations; advertisers will pay to get their information displayed in a program destined to receive the amount of attention that Google Earth will.
Also, Google Earth is currently available in three versions. In addition to the basic Google Earth, there are two retail editions: Google Earth Plus and Google Earth Pro. The Plus edition, available for US$20, includes GPS integration, allowing you to read and track locations from your GPS, high-resolution printing, customer support, and annotation capabilities.
The Pro version, which costs US$400, includes multiple terabytes' worth of imagery and 3D data depictions of the entire Earth, more than you get with the other two versions. A host of other features is available in the Pro version as well.
Google Earth will run on most PCs sold during the past two years. It does require a PC or notebook with 3D graphics capabilities for rendering the detailed topographies it provides. Full system requirements can be found at http://earth.google.com.
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