Live data from Hacker News

Zoom Earth: Website lets you look at live satellite photos of earths surface

zoom.earth

81–85 of 85 posts

Re: Zoom Earth: Website lets you look at live satellite photos of earths surface

#81
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, that's fair. But what / who then are they trying to sell the idea of with the phrase "live"? Is any average person really interested in a "live" view of the whole Earth, such that it would be meaningfully different or changed compared to the static blue marble photo we're all familiar with? I think we all know what we're interested in when we think of "live"... things at the <<1km level.

I'm the developer of Zoom Earth. "Live" is shorthand for "near real-time". But, you're right. Most visitors simply want to see their house from space. Which is understandable, but also kinda depressing. They could look at _anywhere in the world in near realtime_, but they wanna see what their roof or garden looks like. Meteorologists love it though.

> They could look at _anywhere in the world in near realtime_, but they wanna see what their roof or garden looks like.

I'm sure, they are interested in more. They might pick their home first, as they are familiar with it and can compare the pictures you provide with their mental image. You have to gain their trust first.

Re: Zoom Earth: Website lets you look at live satellite photos of earths surface

#82

This reminds me of a story.. A friend of mine was putting in a subdial and phoned up some gov department to find out the lat and long for his property.. after being put through about 5 different departments the last guy he got said "where do you want it?" And he repeated his address, the guy rhen said " no I mean where in your back garden? Go out side and stand where you are going to install it and i will give you th…

funny, but what is a "subdial" ?

Sundial

Re: Zoom Earth: Website lets you look at live satellite photos of earths surface

#84
post #16

Planet does it better https://www.planet.com/gallery/

There’s a Planet Explorer, https://www.planet.com/explorer/ . I worked on building it a few years ago. Unfortunately you have to have a Planet account and I believe those are paid only.

So did I! Did you work with Trevor, or Alessandro?

Re: Zoom Earth: Website lets you look at live satellite photos of earths surface

#85

Planet does it better https://www.planet.com/gallery/

How is planet better? Clicking on https://zoom.earth/ takes me directly to the overall imaging of the earth. Planet seems to take you to a landing page with interesting things to look at. Not that that's bad, but interested to hear what's better about it

Planet gets new images every day.
Post reply on HN