Things are a bit slow at DestinSharks this week while we attend the MIT Sponsored ‘Mashup Camp’. Mashup camp brings together a diverse set of today’s best ‘Web 2.0′ developers to share ideas on how to build better websites and services. It also includes a onsite mashup competition in which we’re frantically completing prior to Thursday’s deadline.

While we’re a bit occupied, we thought we’d point out some of the great reviews others have written recently about their experiences with the EarthNC Marine Charts for Google Earth. If you haven’t tried these yourself yet, please read our latest update announcement and register for the free beta.

EarthNC Reviews (more…)

We’re happy to announce a dynamic Google Earth data layer for the NOAA Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) Program position/weather reports. The VOS feed contains ship weather observations from around the world updated hourly. This is our 1st true dynamic layer to coincide with the EarthNC Marine Charts for Google Earth. (more…)

It’s official, Google Earth Version 4 is no longer a beta. Frank, at gearthblog.com has a good overview of the new features and had updated his Google Earth tutorials for the new release. If you’re still using Version 3 - it’s way past time to upgrade and see what you’ve been missing.

Use the button below to get the current version of Google Earth: (more…)

Start off your New Year right with free EarthNC marine charts for Google Earth! This morning, we uploaded the complete set of ‘Approach’ charts for the lower 48 states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico / Virgin Islands. This brings the EarthNC Beta chart total to 468 out of an eventual 650 to 700 NOAA and Army Corps charts.

Try out the Maps!

To try out the maps, please visit our new website at EarthNC.com. You’ll need Google Earth 4, an internet connection, and a willingness to provide feedback. If you’ve already downloaded the EarthNC index file, it should update coverage automatically next time you load it in Google Earth.

If you’re not sure if you want to register, you can try out the West Bay to Santa Rosa Sound Chart without registration - if you like what you see, join the forum for access to the rest. You’ll need Google Earth 4 to view it. Depending on your web browser, make sure that the file either opens in Google Earth or is saved as a .KMZ file and not a .ZIP file.

Coming Soon!

Next up is finishing the ‘Coastal’ detail charts for the lower 48 and then we will finish out with the remaining Alaska charts and the Inland ENC river charts. Once the full set is released in beta, we anticipate about a 2 week ‘refinement’ period based on user feedback and then the Version 1 release and chart DVD option.

As reported at Cnn.com and Foxnews.com an avalanche buried cars along US Highway 40 on the route from Denver to Winter Park Colorado. Fortunately, there are no reports of fatalities. We hope this continues. We’ve put together a simple KML file for Google Earth which marks the pass. This is a rugged area and has been subject to avalanches in the past.

If you don’t have Google Earth, you can download it free.

We’re big fans of Google Earth here at DestinSharks.com and it is unsurpassed for arm-chair global exploration, but what about its use as a real-time mobile mapping solution? To use Google Earth in a mobile setting you need 4 things - a portable PC, Google Earth (preferably cached with imagery from the area of interest), a GPS which supports NMEA serial or USB output, and software which translates the GPS output into KML for Google Earth (or the latest release of Google Earth 4 Plus, Pro, or Enterprise). Read on as we review 4 ways turn Google Earth into a powerful moving map and find out which application might be best for you - at the end of the review we have a video showing each in action. If you’re looking for a good PC GPS, read our companion Garmin 18 review. (more…)

In a companion article, we reviewed 4 software options for turning Google Earth into a powerful moving map application using realtime GPS tracking. If you don’t own a GPS with compatible serial or USB interfaces, Garmin has two low-cost options that work not only with Google Earth, but also with most other PC-based mapping programs. (more…)

The FreeNav - Electronic Navigation Blog has posted a video tutorial showing the basics of downloading the beta EarthNC Marine Charts for Google Earth. It’s a well-made screen video and we look forward to the next installment. (more…)

As covered by Frank at Gearthblog.com and Stefan at the Ogleearth.com Google Earth Blog, an Intel Development team released a ‘prototype’ game for Google Earth called ‘Mars Sucks’. It is essentially a geography quiz with alien blasting fun. One of their design criteria was to build the user interface internal to Google Earth. They’ve released the art and source code so read on for our review and a chance to play it yourself via the Destinsharks.com server. (more…)

In conjunction with our EarthNC Marine Charts for Google Earth we are pleased to announce our 1st Nautical Points-of-Interest layer - West Marine and Boat US store locations.

Find your nearest local store, or those convenient to your next boating trip. Simply download the KMZ file and open it in Google Earth. Hover over a store icon to see the name, click for address, phone number, and even have Google Earth generate driving directions for you.