Thread: Google Earth for OSX

Been running on my mini since I posted this.
Of course works just the same as on the PC, all the same options.

I have it caching my entire 3600 mile trip. (limited cell phone connection where I am traveling)
So far so good, all the way from Austin to Vegas is cached and working offline so far.

There is a great thread on automating GPS and google earth on a PC here:
Google Earth GPS Tracking Solution

Anyone willing to do a mac version?

Check this out:
http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~tony/392/G...dDirector.html
It's an App that reads GPS data and allows to you use applescript to pass it to a program.
There is a beta for his OSX version.

Any good scripters who can make this program write KMZ files?

It looks like the software can output a HTML file, so it may be very easy.

/Edit:
I have found some good info, looks like it should be easy.

Google has a tutorial on KML files here:
http://www.keyhole.com/kml/kml_tut.html

But basiclly here is a sample KML file:

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0">
<Placemark>
  <name>You are here</name>
  <LookAt>
    <longitude>-97.71000561814689</longitude>
    <latitude>30.42429421692663</latitude>
    <range>278.0278314144478</range>
    <tilt>-9.659668009047623e-012</tilt>
    <heading>0.01848385803939365</heading>
  </LookAt>
  <styleUrl>root://styles#default</styleUrl>
  <Point>
    <coordinates>-97.70987727305658,30.42409456391263,0</coordinates>
  </Point>
</Placemark>
</kml>

It's XML, but as you can see inputing the GPS coordinants should be easy.
But I don't know much about programming.
I know mac's come with a powerfull scripting program that should be able to do this.

Anyone here want to help out?

This is all that is needed for google earth to track a point
This puts you dead on to Hoover Dam.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0">
<Placemark>
  <LookAt>
    <longitude>-114.738172</longitude>
    <latitude>36.016383</latitude>
    <range>360.34159687574</range>
    <tilt>60</tilt>
    <heading>0.000</heading>
  </LookAt>
</Placemark>
</kml>

/Edit:
Screw all that, I asked my co-worker here who GPS tracks his running and he said to check out:
http://www.gpsbabel.org/

It takes data from a GPS puck and outputs it directly to a Google Earth file.

Here is the google earth mac forum I stumbled across it and thought it might intrest someone
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/postlist....d/SupportGEMac

I saw somewhere that someone had created a program that makes kmz/kml files on the fly with data from a gps mouse. With a large cache of maps on your harddrive this sort of script could provide you with a decent in car mapping solution.

STI robot:
Check out the link I found and posted above:
http://www.gpsbabel.org/
My GPS mouse is on the way, I will post how it turns out.

You can cache a LOT of data.
I set my cache size to 2GB, made my route on GE, and set GE to follow the path. It travels slow enough to cache the entire route, and most of the surrounding areas along my route as it goes.
Several hours later, and 3000 virtual miles, I disconnected the mini from the net, shut down GE, and rebooted the mac.
Upon reboot GE retained all the data from the route, at least in spot checking.

I have a GPS mouse on the way and I will post how it went after my trip.

Originally Posted by zapwizard

STI robot:
Check out the link I found and posted above:
http://www.gpsbabel.org/
My GPS mouse is on the way, I will post how it turns out.

You can cache a LOT of data.
I set my cache size to 2GB, made my route on GE, and set GE to follow the path. It travels slow enough to cache the entire route, and most of the surrounding areas along my route as it goes.
Several hours later, and 3000 virtual miles, I disconnected the mini from the net, shut down GE, and rebooted the mac.
Upon reboot GE retained all the data from the route, at least in spot checking.

I have a GPS mouse on the way and I will post how it went after my trip.

Not sure which one to download?