electron zoo

Yeah, I have a history of trying whatever new thing Google is doing. Sometimes it’s just a coincidence — like when I started using Picasa, Google bought the company a few months later.

This time I stumbled upon Keyhole, a program that provides satellite maps of the world to its users, when I read some business news discussing the acquisition. I figured that if Google bought the company, they must be doing something right.

So I checked out the website. It turns out that Keyhole is not free — it costs about $30/year for consumers and much more for business users. Its website explains that the program costs because it is a service which spends large amounts of resources sending geographic data to your computer. There is software involved, but the software is only an interface between you and the Keyhole service.

However, Keyhole offers a free one-week trial. So I downloaded the application and checked it out. I was definitely impressed — I could see familiar places in enough satellite detail to say, “dude, there’s my car!” But how big a deal is that?

Then I tried checking out other places. I realized it is somewhat limited when it comes to non-urban areas and locations outside of North America, but quickly realized how much fun it is to “fly” to other parts of the world and just zoom in and look around. I went to Tokyo (where I’ve never been) and found some random hot pink building. I went to China (looking for the Great Wall) and flew over Being. I went to Las Vegas and saw the big sphinx in front of the Luxor. I flew over Niagra Falls. Suddenly it was way past my bedtime. My findings: Keyhole is total crack!

The following night, I opened Keyhole again. This time, I found even more crack — the Keyhole user forums. Here I could actually click on links that would open in Keyhole to transport me to crazy new locations: Paris, Hawaii, Disneyworld, and even Mars.

The bulletin boards actually do more than contribute a “wow” factor to the program. Like a lot of map software, Keyhole has integrated city guides so that you can use the application to find things from restaurants to hospitals by checking off what you’re looking for on a category list. One category you can check off shows you bookmarks that have been added by the Keyhole community, which adds to the programs usefulness and cool factor, because the comments range from expanded details (”MGM Casino”) to useful information (”good campground”) to fun trivia (”guess which TV show was shot here?”). I think that Keyhole’s ability to attract a community is what attracted Google to purchase the company — hopefully a smart move.

Needless, to say, I will not be purchasing Keyhole when my trial has expired. I can’t afford it. No, I don’t mean I am too cheap to spend the $30 — the program’s just too addictive, and I can’t spare the time!