While not entirely perfect, having the chance to fly through our universe via Microsoft’s new Worldwide Telescope and the more established Google Sky in a simulated way is beyond all amazement. Microsoft has just launched their free software that can pretty much zap every drop of memory on your computer, but take you into realms of space only visible in the world’s greatest telescopes. And thanks to their contributions of clear images taken over the last 120 years, both the Worldwide Telescope and Google Sky have created a patchwork of the universe that we can view at will and be able to zoom in on any planet or supernova that interests us. But what’s interesting is that Google isn’t concerned that Microsoft is competing with them when we all know they’re two of the biggest competitors in internet technology today.
Despite there being an apparent call by Google for a peaceful competition on these programs that lets us view space, is there still a business Star Wars bubbling under here? Apparently Google and Microsoft are telling us we should make up our own minds. In comparing the features on each program, though, some might think that Microsoft has just gone one step closer to dominating over Google and designing their Death Star. The Luke Skywalkers of Google are banking on some features for their Sky program that might make it much more convenient than downloading Worldwide Telescope.
The ultimate difference between the two is in the memory power you’ll need and deciding if the slightly more advanced features on Microsoft is worth extra time to you and whether you want your computer to run nothing but Worldwide Telescope or face a computer running at snail’s pace as you’d get with a spyware-riddled computer. My guess is that people will ultimately get a little frustrated with Worldwide Telescope and expect to maneuver and see things instantly. In reality, it’s sometimes a little complicated and not always easy to maneuver unless you study it carefully and have some deep knowledge of astronomy so you can go to particular constellations. Through their “Visual Experience Engine”, they attempt to steer you through the galaxy with various controls similar to navigating a spaceship yourself. You also get well-done pop-up facts along the way that a spaceship wouldn’t provide.
Worldwide Telescope’s images, however, are really superior–especially when you start zooming in on planets captured (and colored) by Hubble Telescope. Yes, if Hubble was Ted Turner, they’d get into the colorization business. Yet it seems to work a lot better with the colorless environment of space rather than it does on something like “Citizen Kane.” Zooming in on something such as Saturn and viewing its rings up close and its moons in their rendered colors is just jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. Worldwide Telescope’s website has a video proving just how awe-inspiring it is in grade school kids shown reacting to what they’re seeing (yet you, the viewer, don’t see what they’re reacting to).
The caveat, of course, is that you probably had to remove Google Earth off your computer (plus several other things) in order to accommodate the memory for Worldwide Telescope. That’s just what Microsoft wanted you to do…and Google knows it.
Benefits in keeping Google Sky on your computer…
Most of you reading this probably know that Google Sky is actually part of the 4.3 upgrade to the free Google Earth. GE, too, is such an amazing program without having to zap every ounce of memory on your computer’s hard drive. It also gives you a unique view of not only space but the Earth in various creative ways that can’t really be beat considering it’s free (at least for the basic program) and doesn’t hijack your computer. I know a lot of people would prefer to have the whole package of exploring the Earth and our universe in a convenient software package. However, the images of space on Google Sky aren’t quite as goosebump-inducing as Microsoft’s due to image clarity issues.
All of the images you see on Google Sky, nonetheless, are supplied from Hubble. And they plan to add more as time goes on, so Google Sky is always in flux as is Google Earth and the other controversial subprogram, Google Street View. While the images might still be in evolution on Google’s Sky, they also provide easier charts that can teach you a lot about astronomy rather than assuming you know where to go once the navigation tools are up on your screen. Some of their astronomical graphical charts are extremely helpful to determine the position of stars and planets at a certain time of the year. You can also track the position of certain satellites and get real-time information on the latest astronomical events happening that day.
Google ultimately wins in ease of use (and slightly more educational tools) over Microsoft’s expectation that everybody is an astronomical genius and only have one program on their computer. With that frame of mind, you’d think that they’d both be at each other’s throats about it and touting everywhere about how they’re better than the other. I guess there’s something calming about traversing space…
Microsoft and Google in a galaxy right now and close by…
Google is probably taking an openly peaceful stance on Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope because they know WT takes a lot of memory and that people don’t have the patience to deal with having to remove programs from their computer to make room for it. On the other hand, they may be surprised at what lengths people will go to in order to see something this this on their computer. It’s too revolutionary not to at least give it a try.
At least Google was reported to openly say recently that they’re happy to see space being shared on the internet. This might be the greatest peace offering in the cutthroat business world ever. You can’t underestimate Google and Microsoft, though, and what they’re thinking when saying such benign things. I mean right now, they’re probably not only ten steps ahead making their telescope programs even better with HD images, but likely have 50-year outlines and blueprints all ready drawn up to help us fly to Mars and take our own digital pictures…
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