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This is huge news. Nobody comes close to having the 3d coverage that Google has there have been no viable competitors on the horizon. Until now there was just n

This is huge news. Nobody comes close to having the 3d coverage that Google has there have been no viable competitors on the horizon. Until now there was just no way to use that gorgeous data. From a more personal point of view - Google Earth in VR is one of the most stunning experiences I'm aware of and it's been on life support since Google lost interest in VR. Now it looks fairly simple to build something similar on top of the same data source.

fouronnes3 3y ago
Agreed, google earth VR is the most incredible experience I've had with my VR headset.
- andybak 3y ago
  And I just made a crude clone of it in Unity in about 30 minutes! (and most of that was spent trying to add billing to my Google API account)
  - IIAOPSW 3y ago
    One day you'll be able to add your billing...IN VR
- actuator 3y ago
  Which VR headsets are you guys using?
  - andybak 3y ago
    Currently Quest via Link cable. Previously at various times Vive, Rift and Windows MR.
  - kroltan 3y ago
    Still on my trusty Vive due to third-world-itis, but would upgrade to another PC-tethered device like the Index or some other SteamVR-compatible (since I'm on Linux), as to be less at the mercy of the manufacturer. Stern look at requiring a FB account to enable developer mode on the Quest
    - hutzlibu 3y ago
      "Stern look at requiring a FB account to enable developer mode on the Quest" That is annoying out of principle to me as well, but on the other hand, why care as you don't have to use it?
      - deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
      - kroltan 3y ago
        I am a game developer :) But principle would be enough for me, I don't like that the Quest is a brick without phoning home (you have to install and log into the Oculus software at least once to be able to use the desktop computer link), plus the whole UX nightmare of being forced software updates when you want to use the darned thing. My friends with a Quest are often delayed from joining VR play sessions due to some silly business requirement like an expired login or system update. Also, the Oculus desktop software is some 10 gigabytes due to a non-optional very detailed home menu environment, even if you use a third party launcher like SteamVR Home. And it must be up-to-date before running any actual applications.
        crashingintoyou 3y ago
        > My friends with a Quest are often delayed from joining VR play sessions due to some silly business requirement like an expired login or system update. Finally in the v53 Quest firmware release notes BTW: "When you shutdown your headset, you will now have the option to update apps before the headset powers off. This will help minimize the number of app updates that you have to complete the next time you want to jump into a VR app or game." (I think the Quest has some big firmware issues - I'm personally most annoyed about my Quest rebooting instead of shutting down if connected to my desktop when I've explicitly selected the option in the Quest menu to power down. Sounds like one of the ones annoying you may be getting partially resolved though).
      - kroltan 3y ago
        Semi related, but you also need to agree to Facebook using your camera feed if you enable the hand tracking feature. They probably use it to train the tracking models further, and to be fair it is a cool feature, but it costs a video feed of your home to use, which to me is not worth it.
- andrewstuart2 3y ago
  I accidentally discovered that not zooming in quite as much, but getting down on your hands and knees is a really fun and unique experience in Earth VR. You get a closer view of the dollhouse effect that goes away when you zoom in to ground level. Probably looks particularly strange to the outside observer though.
boppo1 3y ago
What about MS flight sim X?
- andybak 3y ago
  Haven't tried it.
- kroltan 3y ago
  Very pretty, but not accurate. Most of the world is not authored, but a best-guess by an AI with procedural models. (They do have legitimate 3D-scanned areas, and even hand-authored content for specific landmarks and well-known cities, though)
  - bparsons 3y ago
    It is not far off from Google Earth. Most of the cities have handscaped 3D models, while the rest of the planet is procedurally generated.
    - kroltan 3y ago
      They are continually improving coverage, a 3D artist friend of mine worked with an agency that was providing 3D models for them (wasn't the best workplace though, very factory-floor-panopticon-y). Though last time I tried it, about a year ago, my hometown (a capital of one of Brazil's states) and all the surrounding areas was still very much procedurally generated. (FLN airport district is next to a mangrove swamp but was represented in-game as grasslands, as well as some very out-of-place building styles)
- zymhan 3y ago
  Do you mean MS Flight sim 2020?
- Rebelgecko 3y ago
  Assuming you mean 2020, it's impressive for a game but not Google earth. Flying through a desert (even a desert city with photogrammetry!) and the interpolated trees that get added in would make you think you're flying over a lush forest in the pacific northwest. It also struggles a lot with non-solid 3d objects like bridges, freeway overpasses, etc.
crashingintoyou 3y ago
> since Google lost interest in VR It seems like there are some really simple things that it could do to improve some of its other VR stuff with an incredibly tiny amount of effort, which is one thing I find really depressing about Google here. e.g. in Youtube VR, just give me a tab to find VR180 videos (which I find can be nicer than flat screen as long as they're high res) as opposed to only showcasing VR360 videos there (which I usually find annoying as I'd rather watch sitting down and for such would then need a swivel chair). Showcasing VR360 in Youtube VR but making it fairly difficult to find VR180 films (though filtering search results is at least an option) sometimes makes me wonder if any of the Youtube VR dev team were/are actually real-world VR enthusiasts.

fouronnes3 3y ago

Agreed, google earth VR is the most incredible experience I've had with my VR headset.

andybak 3y ago
And I just made a crude clone of it in Unity in about 30 minutes! (and most of that was spent trying to add billing to my Google API account)
- IIAOPSW 3y ago
  One day you'll be able to add your billing...IN VR
actuator 3y ago
Which VR headsets are you guys using?
- andybak 3y ago
  Currently Quest via Link cable. Previously at various times Vive, Rift and Windows MR.
- kroltan 3y ago
  Still on my trusty Vive due to third-world-itis, but would upgrade to another PC-tethered device like the Index or some other SteamVR-compatible (since I'm on Linux), as to be less at the mercy of the manufacturer. Stern look at requiring a FB account to enable developer mode on the Quest
  - hutzlibu 3y ago
    "Stern look at requiring a FB account to enable developer mode on the Quest" That is annoying out of principle to me as well, but on the other hand, why care as you don't have to use it?
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
    - kroltan 3y ago
      I am a game developer :) But principle would be enough for me, I don't like that the Quest is a brick without phoning home (you have to install and log into the Oculus software at least once to be able to use the desktop computer link), plus the whole UX nightmare of being forced software updates when you want to use the darned thing. My friends with a Quest are often delayed from joining VR play sessions due to some silly business requirement like an expired login or system update. Also, the Oculus desktop software is some 10 gigabytes due to a non-optional very detailed home menu environment, even if you use a third party launcher like SteamVR Home. And it must be up-to-date before running any actual applications.
      - crashingintoyou 3y ago
        > My friends with a Quest are often delayed from joining VR play sessions due to some silly business requirement like an expired login or system update. Finally in the v53 Quest firmware release notes BTW: "When you shutdown your headset, you will now have the option to update apps before the headset powers off. This will help minimize the number of app updates that you have to complete the next time you want to jump into a VR app or game." (I think the Quest has some big firmware issues - I'm personally most annoyed about my Quest rebooting instead of shutting down if connected to my desktop when I've explicitly selected the option in the Quest menu to power down. Sounds like one of the ones annoying you may be getting partially resolved though).
    - kroltan 3y ago
      Semi related, but you also need to agree to Facebook using your camera feed if you enable the hand tracking feature. They probably use it to train the tracking models further, and to be fair it is a cool feature, but it costs a video feed of your home to use, which to me is not worth it.
andrewstuart2 3y ago
I accidentally discovered that not zooming in quite as much, but getting down on your hands and knees is a really fun and unique experience in Earth VR. You get a closer view of the dollhouse effect that goes away when you zoom in to ground level. Probably looks particularly strange to the outside observer though.

boppo1 3y ago

What about MS flight sim X?

andybak 3y ago
Haven't tried it.
kroltan 3y ago
Very pretty, but not accurate. Most of the world is not authored, but a best-guess by an AI with procedural models. (They do have legitimate 3D-scanned areas, and even hand-authored content for specific landmarks and well-known cities, though)
- bparsons 3y ago
  It is not far off from Google Earth. Most of the cities have handscaped 3D models, while the rest of the planet is procedurally generated.
  - kroltan 3y ago
    They are continually improving coverage, a 3D artist friend of mine worked with an agency that was providing 3D models for them (wasn't the best workplace though, very factory-floor-panopticon-y). Though last time I tried it, about a year ago, my hometown (a capital of one of Brazil's states) and all the surrounding areas was still very much procedurally generated. (FLN airport district is next to a mangrove swamp but was represented in-game as grasslands, as well as some very out-of-place building styles)
zymhan 3y ago
Do you mean MS Flight sim 2020?
Rebelgecko 3y ago
Assuming you mean 2020, it's impressive for a game but not Google earth. Flying through a desert (even a desert city with photogrammetry!) and the interpolated trees that get added in would make you think you're flying over a lush forest in the pacific northwest. It also struggles a lot with non-solid 3d objects like bridges, freeway overpasses, etc.

crashingintoyou 3y ago

> since Google lost interest in VR It seems like there are some really simple things that it could do to improve some of its other VR stuff with an incredibly tiny amount of effort, which is one thing I find really depressing about Google here. e.g. in Youtube VR, just give me a tab to find VR180 videos (which I find can be nicer than flat screen as long as they're high res) as opposed to only showcasing VR360 videos there (which I usually find annoying as I'd rather watch sitting down and for such would then need a swivel chair). Showcasing VR360 in Youtube VR but making it fairly difficult to find VR180 films (though filtering search results is at least an option) sometimes makes me wonder if any of the Youtube VR dev team were/are actually real-world VR enthusiasts.