Google Inc., the Internet search giant, recently released its updates for its satellite imagery and map products. The update comes a year after the launch of its popular mapping tool "Google Earth".

The company announced that about 100 million people have downloaded Google Earth software since it was offered a year ago and more than 30,000 websites integrate their own items of information into Google Maps.

New tools for Google Maps are designed to fashion buildings as 3-D structures by the user.

Whereas the previous Version 3 was only available for Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X from Version 10.3.9 upwards, the new Version 4 Beta also comes in a Linux guise.

Being offered in French, Italian, German and Spanish, Google Maps, the update of the software will quadruple the use of land than its predecessor, enabling about one-third of the world's population to obtain an aerial view of their homes and neighborhood.

The company also announced that it will license usage of its online maps to businesses that want to customize the service.

By People's Daily Online