The 3D renderings of New York City (shown here) and San Francisco in Google Earth and Google Maps just got more realistic looking, thanks to new cameras and algorithms. Google is updating other cities with enhanced 3D imagery in 2015.Image used with permission by copyright holderNew York City just got more realistic. In the latest update to Google Earth and Earth View mode in Google Maps, Google completely rebuilt the 3D images of NYC with higher fidelity and more realism by using new cameras and algorithms, the company says. Now, looking at the Empire State Building in Google Earth is closer to viewing it in a photo or even in person. The new high-res 3D technology has also been applied to San Francisco, and Google says more cities will be updated in 2015.
You can already view NYC and San Francisco, but with the new 3D reconstructions, buildings like the new One World Trade Center not only look incredibly detailed, but colors are more accurate, instead of the patchy and blown-out images from before. To view the new 3D images, simply head to Google Maps on your browser or view them within the Google Earth app.
Google Maps and Google Earth have always been fun tools for the armchair traveler. The latest updates should make virtual travel even more enjoyable.
Statue of Liberty with new Google 3D imagery (left) and old (right).Image used with permission by copyright holderSan Francisco City Hall with new Google 3D imagery (left) and old (right).Image used with permission by copyright holder
A comparison of draft, standard, and high-quality photos from Epson's EcoTank ET-8500. Tracey Truly / Digital Trends
If you love sharing photo prints or building physical photo albums, you might want to upgrade to a photo printer. When manufacturers optimize printers for pictures, the results can match or exceed that of the best printers available.
Crutchfield sale: Save on Canon, Sony and Nikon mirrorless cameras
Photography can be a fun and even lucrative endeavor, although it also can be exceedingly expensive, with some of the best full-frame cameras on the market easily reaching and even exceeding one or two thousand dollars, and that's without taking into account the cost of the lenses. Luckily, there is a great sale at Crutchfield right now on various cameras and camera kits, and you can actually grab yourself some excellent cameras, whether you're just starting out or want to upgrade to the next level. To that end, we've picked some of our favorite deals below, although it's well worth checking out the full Crutchfield sale that's happenning now.
What you should buy in Crutchfield's camera sale
If you're just starting out with photography and don't want to spend the thousands of dollars you do for the slightly better cameras that you'll find in the mid-range, the Canon EOS R100 is an excellent option, and this kit includes a lens as well. It has a 24.1-megapixel sensor for high-quality photography, a 3-inch screen so you can get a better sense of what you're filming, and, of course, the RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 lens that the kit comes with. It can also connect with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and all of that comes packaged at , which is $100 off the usual $599 price tag.
