I noticed the other day that there was a message on google announcing that they bought keyhole
(GOOGLE - keyhole). I wrote about this excellent software last year [inlink]paul,952[/inlink]. Keyhole

is a combination of 3D rendering, satellite imagery, and database functionality. It is one of the best 3D visualizations I have ever seen in terms of everyday usefulness. I believe the fact that google bought them beacons a new era in internet information visualization. Keyhole is used on television too, as the front page says, CNN frequently uses keyhole on the air.
There is a free trial and I suggest all of you with a capable graphics card, download it and test it out. There is nothing better than the feeling of zooming into street level flagstaff and then flying to tokoyo and zooming into street level there. You will seriously lose hours learning about the global landscape.