A little while ago, Google announced that Google Earth Pro could be obtained for free. I am always curious for these kinds of things, so I downloaded it (here). After installing (and clicking past an anoying error) a needed a license key. But how to get it? The link on the download page referred to … the download page. After some Googleing I found this page: https://support.google.com/earth/answer/176160?hl=en. So: fill in an email address and the code GEPFREE and you’re good to go!
And in case you’re wandering what the difference is between Earth and Earth Pro, Google has the following information:
| Features | Google Earth | Google Earth Pro |
| Print resolution | 1000 pixels | 4800 pixels |
| Import GIS data | ESRI .shp, MapInfo .tab | |
| Import addresses in bulk | Manually Geo-locate each address | Automatically Geo-locate up to 2500 at a time |
| Import large image files | limited to texture size | Super Image Overlays |
| Supplemental Layers | Demographics, Parcels, Traffic Counts | |
| Create premium movies for export | HD 1920×1080 | |
| Measurement tools | Line, Path | Line, Path, Polygon, Circle, 3D Path, 3D Polygon |
(source)
The fact the Google has done this, also raised some questions with regard to the future of Google Earth, for example in the excellent blog post by Frank Taylor here.
