Submitted by ggarron on Sat, 02/23/2008 - 11:07
Google earth according to wikipedia is: "... virtual globe program that was originally called Earth Viewer and was created by Keyhole, Inc. It maps the earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe. It is available under three different licenses: Google Earth, a free version with limited functionality; Google Earth Plus ($20 per year), which includes additional features; and Google Earth Pro ($400 per year), which is intended for commercial use"
So, how could we install it on our Debian or Ubuntu system?, it is really easy now.
First we need to Google Earth package, to be able to create the .deb file.
Let's start.
sudo aptitude install googleearth-package
Then create the .deb file.
sudo make-googleearth-package
Now install you recently created .deb file.
sudo dpkg -i googleearth_4.2.205.5730+0.5.2-1_i386.deb
Your .deb file name could be different depending on your architecture and the version of Google Earth available by the time of your installation.
btw, I found those working instructions here:
http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2007/11/28/how-to-install-google-earth-in-...
Seriously, if the Linux community want to successfully win over Windows users they really need to implement a standardised installation method, be it a Debian package or otherwise. I've been playing with computers since 1977 but am only a recent Linux convert (though I did try older versions of Redhat and Suse some years ago) and I find it frustrating that, whilst Linux now has many friendly GUIs, we are left to the dark ages with a DOS style terminal box and hints as to what may have been a method of installing a previous version on somebody else's machine that invariably doesn't work even if you have a guess at what it might have to be modified to(thanks anyway to the person posting up the original solution). And don't get me started on having to compile drivers or figuring out workarounds for seeing Windows shares - aggh!
Penguin people: get your act together and make life a bit more friendly for less capable users and you'll get a bigger audience that stays with you and doesn't give up after banging their heads on their keyboards for hours trying to achieve the most simple of tasks.
and I did get Google Earth working after a fashion (though not with this method - see below) but now I have to struggle with fixing the drivers
Method used:
Download to desktop:
cd ~/Desktop
chmod +x GoogleEarthLinux.bin
sudo ./GoogleEarthLinux.bin
The method is successful except I had to use the force option.I use linuxMint on a system having amd64x2 processor on jetway690gdg chipset and have 2gig ram.The application is listed on the start menu but cannot be launched.
Why dont these idiots present a ready to use deb.package!?
This page http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2007/11/28/how-to-install-google-earth-in-... really made it easier.
Hi,
Yes that method is easier thanks!
Guillermo Garron
hello :)
so the first two commands worked fine for me though i'm a little confused on the last
i have a newer version of google earth so it went from:
sudo dpkg -i googleearth_4.2.205.5730+0.5.2-1_i386.deb
to
sudo dpkg -i googleearth_4.3.7204.836+0.5.2-1_i386.deb
still no good so i need to ask like the newb that i am, what is the "+0.5.2-1_i386" part and where is the debian file being put on my hard drive?
thanks so much for the help :)
Working, but not the latest version. ?
Actually I haven't realize that, thanks
Guillermo Garron
The first part worked fine but when trying to execute the "make" got this:
rick@rick-desktop:~$ sudo make-googleearth-package
sudo: make-googleearth-package: command not found
rick@rick-desktop:~$
What am I missing?
A newb to be sure.
Here is a link to a Google Earth deb file already made.
Hope this help make it easy.
http://packages.medibuntu.org/pool/non-free/g/googleearth/googleearth_4....
You are using Ubuntu right?
It happened the same to me with Ubuntu today, worked with Debian the day before yesterday, maybe something broke at the repository?
Guillermo Garron
Same thing happened here except here is what I saw, any help?
fred@scratch-desktop:~$ sudo make-googleearth-package
--23:52:11-- http://dl.google.com/earth/GE4/GoogleEarthLinux.bin
=> `GoogleEarthLinux.bin'
Resolving dl.google.com... 209.85.133.91
Connecting to dl.google.com|209.85.133.91|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found
23:52:11 ERROR 404: Not Found.
Could not download Google Earth! (You may need to use --file)
fred@scratch-desktop:~$
I already have an open network and I can get to the link fine in firefox (any help)