When I was a kid, I loved all things geographical but was frustrated because globes, maps, and atlases went out of date rather quickly as borders were redrawn and countries came and went. Google Earth, which recently refreshed to version 4.3, keeps integrating new capabilities that a physical globe can't. The application, backed by data streamed from Google, lets you see almost any spot on Earth from space, then zoom in to view it—often to an amazing level of detail. Using the application provides an enjoyable, informative, and educational experience. It has plenty of practical uses, too. If you're planning a trip, for example, you can get a good feel for a place by exploring its terrain, resources, and attractions, and viewing related photos, text, and videos in Google Earth.