Wondering about Google Earth

[Skybird]

It does not raise problems here, i am just wondering.

Every day the Windows Zuverlässigkeitsverlauf (? reliability index?) records an info message that says

Das Produkt wurde durch Windows Installer neu konfiguriert. Produktname: Google Earth. Produktversion: 6.2.2.6613. Produktsprache: 1031. Hersteller: Google. Erfolg- bzw. Fehlerstatus der neuen Konfiguration: 0.

It is always the same version number, and sometime even two such messages get logged per day. GE works normal over here, and also does not raise any troubles. Connection to the update server however when hitting the update button gets billed with a message saying that no connection could be established. I have the latest version (two weeks old system new installation).

Is it normal that Windows Installer reconfigures the GE installation every time Windows is booted?

I also noted in my Firewall setting (Avira Internet Security 2012) that Google Earth is listed with zero conection when not called up. But when I open GE, it immediately opens 19 (!) connections. Is that normal?

[Pisces]

I think it is normal to open a number of connections. Since it needs to download new data for the maps. Stuff that is in your cache might be outdated. Or it is overwritten with different data from other places at your last voyage on this marble.

I can't imagine why it would reinstall every bootup though. I never notice that on my end. But I'm still using Google Earth ver 6.1.0.5001. No need to change, imho.

[Skybird]

I have just deactivated Google auto-updater in task manmager, both of them. Let's see what that does in coming days. I also threw it out via msconfig and Services.

[CCIP]

Google is very persistent about its updaters, and seems to re-enable them rather keenly and regularly. I don't have google earth, but I've had to do that for their other software on my system repeatedly...

[Skybird]

Well, at no cost I would ever lock a Google account or use Chrome, due to their datakrakenism and their penetrative attitude that you just mentioned. However, GE runs without an account, and I note today that having switched of those two updaters yesterday, today at booting Windows they remained switched off. The message in the reliability history is missing, too.

[the_tyrant]

My friends in the open source community will probably kill me for this, but I find Bing maps highly excellent

I was a long time user of Nokia maps, but now Bing maps use Nokia for its backend. It is a pretty good mapping solution, and I highly recommend it. (no street view though)

[Skybird]

Yes, Bing Maps works nice as well. Nice photo coverage from 90°-rotating birds view.

What I just don'T understand is this serious andvery typical Microsoft issue of making the text bars and cosmetic stuff so hilariously big and wide and the default map screen so small, like in their softwares like office and word nd windows they make selection screens and option boxes as small as possible so that unnecessary sliders are needed to scroll text lines. Microsoft designers know not much about visual working ergonomy, they are a total fail in that regard. Their new menu ideology - ribbon menues or however they are called - also is a fail in my book. It sends people seeking for the options they want time and again.

It seems it becomes even worse with the Metro interface. They even rip out code from W8 that would allow people to find workarounds to reinstall a start-button or to directly boot to the familiar desktop bypassing Metro on booting. In other words they do not try to deliver what the customers want - they want to force customers to accept what they want to enforce on them. I did not like that with Apple and so never will buy Apple. I do not support Microsoft over this as well. Will stay with W7 for years to come, and if then I cannot chnage to an OS that is more what I want and less than what they want, I will finally make the great leap towards Linux or something like that. I hope that this tablet-W8-hype is exploding right into their faces. Tablets probably can be good supplements to your primary working or PC station that you use for real work, or gaming, but they cannot replace them, like Microsoft wants to make the world believe. And I think they will need to learn that the hard way - once again (history shows they are immune to learning this lesson).

[the_tyrant]

Yes, Bing Maps works nice as well. Nice photo coverage from 90°-rotating birds view.

What I just don'T understand is this serious andvery typical Microsoft issue of making the text bars and cosmetic stuff so hilariously big and wide and the default map screen so small, like in their softwares like office and word nd windows they make selection screens and option boxes as small as possible so that unnecessary sliders are needed to scroll text lines. Microsoft designers know not much about visual working ergonomy, they are a total fail in that regard. Their new menu ideology - ribbon menues or however they are called - also is a fail in my book. It sends people seeking for the options they want time and again.

It seems it becomes even worse with the Metro interface. They even rip out code from W8 that would allow people to find workarounds to reinstall a start-button or to directly boot to the familiar desktop bypassing Metro on booting. In other words they do not try to deliver what the customers want - they want to force customers to accept what they want to enforce on them. I did not like that with Apple and so never will buy Apple. I do not support Microsoft over this as well. Will stay with W7 for years to come, and if then I cannot chnage to an OS that is more what I want and less than what they want, I will finally make the great leap towards Linux or something like that. I hope that this tablet-W8-hype is exploding right into their faces. Tablets probably can be good supplements to your primary working or PC station that you use for real work, or gaming, but they cannot replace them, like Microsoft wants to make the world believe. And I think they will need to learn that the hard way - once again (history shows they are immune to learning this lesson).


I actually like it to be honest.
Metro is content first, make the features you use 90% of the time big, and noticeable (pretty much how ribbon works), and make the other 10% available within one swipe or click.
http://technocreed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Windows-8-Sightseeing-app-powered-by-Bing-Maps.jpg

I much prefer metro over s60. I used to be a Symbian die-hard. I put my Nokia N8 next to my LG Quantum. Metro just allows me to do the same things with less clicks. I also prefer metro over aero on my HTPC, big, easy to click targets allows me to stay on my couch, and not move up in front of my tv.

If you switch to Linux, KDE welcomes you! Use the Chinese version and see my translations!