Google Sky is the major new feature in the just released Google Earth 4.2. The proper way to install new applications on Debian-based linux distros (including Ubuntu) is using the package manager. However, Google does not provide a .deb package, so we will have to build one ourselves. Fortunately, it's very easy:
First, download and install the latest version of googleearth-package:
wget http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/contrib/g/googleearth-package/googleearth-package_0.3.2_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i googleearth-package_0.3.2_all.deb
sudo apt-get install -f
Now use googleearth-package to automatically create a .deb package for the latest Google Earth:
make-googleearth-package
Finally, install the resulting package:
sudo dpkg -i googleearth_4.2.180.1134+0.3.2-1_i386.deb
sudo apt-get install -f
That's all. Start it from Applications -> Internet -> Google Earth. Press the Sky button and enjoy.
Note 1: Tested on Ubuntu Feisty 7.04 32-bit, but should work on any Debian / Ubuntu version. On 64-bit architectures, you may have to use the --force option with make-googleearth-package.
Note 2: If this how-to was useful to you, please digg it.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
HOWTO: Google Sky on Ubuntu/Debian
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2 comments:
the recommened googleearth-package_0.3.0_all.deb doesn't exist on the ftp server, it should be the latest version. another tricky point appears to be the video drivers. otherwise, thanks a lot!
Thanks for pointing this. I have updated the URL and the package name (the changes in the new version are cosmetic, no new functionality).
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