Google Earth

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Kids tour the world with a swipe of the finger.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this remarkable mapping app is a great learning tool for kids. They will be fascinated by seeing where they live, or finding the Pyramids. There are geo-located Wikipedia articles which may not always be accurate or contain age-appropriate information. Our review is based on the iPhone app; the Android app may have some differences in functionality.

  • Occasionally the app chokes on data, making the screen jerk or completely freeze. Resolution varies widely. We were disappointed that large objects in our back yard were recognizable, but we couldn't get close enough to see animal herds on the Serengeti.
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  • Over the years this app has caught flak for catching rooftop sunbathers unawares and showing "sensitive" sites in the U.S. and other countries. Those concerns have evaporated in part because the resolution is not good enough to identify people or details of homes or parked vehicles. The app does need to access your location to map your house, but this info isn't available to other users.

Is it any good?

 

Google Earth is one of the most exciting apps there is for the iPhone. Using satellite images and the iPhone's accelerometer, it lets you visit any corner of the planet with a few swipes of the finger. View world-class cities, famous landmarks or your own neighborhood from as close as 100 feet. Tilt the phone to skim over oceans and mountain ranges.


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This review was written by Carla Thornton
Teen, 18 years old
May 30, 2010
 
Fun and Educational
See the Earth, moon, and mars with amazing detail considering the moon hasn't been visited in many decades and mars remains lifeless as it has for many years (believe what you will about its origins). It's easy to use and it tells you information from history to restaurants and tourist sites on every part of the world. While the cities can be dull even in 3d (because most of them are just white), there are a number of places to see just for the fun of it, such as the icy western coast of Russia and the surrounding islands, or the craters on Mars and the Moon.

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Kid, 12 years old
July 8, 2010
 
google is not for kids, and csm is the worst.
confirm that ur 16+.

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Kid, 12 years old
May 12, 2010
 
The good stuff
good techknology!

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Teen, 14 years old
May 12, 2010
 
The good stuff
good techknology!

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Kid, 11 years old
May 12, 2010
 
The good stuff
good techknology!

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Kid, 12 years old
April 13, 2011
 
Brilliant!
Google Earth, let me say, is a shining example of how fun education can be. Whether just gazing at your house from the sky or exploring the icy peaks of the French Alps, you are guaranteed to spend countless hours exploring different places. As well as this, there is an endless plethora of quality user-generated content; for example, you can take pictures of certain places and assign them to the places. It gives you a fulfilling sense of contributing to something huge... and best of all, open-source. The world of open-source software is a shining role-model for children, as when they are older they may code an app that will make millions smile. Finally, the desktop software includes even more better features, including 3D buildings, maps, Street View, the capability to explore the Moon, Mars, and Sky, and even a relatively easy-to-use flight simulator! All at the price of free.

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Kid, 13 years old
November 18, 2010
 
GREAT APP
It's fun!

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Teen, 15 years old
January 2, 2011
 
here are how many circles each category is: BAD STUFF: violence: 0 grenades sex: 1 kiss; sometimes the camera can accidentally take shots of innocent and unaware sunbathers (rarely) language: 0 exclamation points / number signs consumerism: 2 dollar signs; you can see any store in sight in street view. drinking, drugs, and smoking: 0 glasses safety: 0 locks inappropriate user content: 0 mice GOOD STUFF: educational: 5 A+s; kids can tour the whole globe easily ease of play: 5 game controllers; you just slide your finger; thats all

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Teen, 15 years old
May 3, 2012
 
Learning1
Good Tool
You could explore the whole of the world, but not everything is accurate (since it is not updated). Google Earth generally succeeds as a good tool to use.

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This review was written by Carla Thornton
Category:Education
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
Price:Free
Publisher:Google
Version:2.0.1
Release date:December 9, 2009

This review was written by Carla Thornton

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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