Google Earth Pro is Now Free (was $399.00)

Google has just announced that Google Earth Pro, formerly $399.00 per license, is now free. Google Earth allows users to "View satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, galaxies far in space, and the deepest depths of the ocean." The Pro version takes these capabilities up a big notch.

From Google:

Google Earth Pro includes the same easy-to-use features and imagery as the free version of Google Earth, but with additional professional tools designed specifically for business users. [And I suspect for some photographers]

• Utilize data layers to locate your target demographic
• Compute distances and areas using measurement tools
• Use Movie Maker to produce media collateral
• Print high-resolution images for presentations and reports
• Import large vector image files to quickly map GIS data
• Map addresses with the Spreadsheet Importer

Learn more about Google Earth Pro, including comparison charts with the standard version, here.

Getting Google Earth Pro for Free, Step-by-Step:

• Sign up for the free license.
• Wait for the license confirmation email to show up in your inbox.
• Use the provided URL to download the latest version of Google Earth Pro for Windows or Mac.
• Install the software.
• Launch Google Earth Pro, enter the license information provided and click "Log In".