ArcGIS Explorer Desktop 1500

The newest version of ESRI's free virtual globe is available at http://www.ESRI.com/software/arcgis/explorer/download.html 


I love this tool for the classroom!  This virtual globe is the perfect mix as a first stop for including geospatial technologies into your content!


According to http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/whats-new.html

New capabilities of ArcGIS Explorer (build 1500) include:

• Directly use and optimize image services.
• Improved support for ArcGIS 10 layer packages and geodatabases.
• Ability to search for and add content directly from ArcGIS Online. You can also share map items immediately to your online account.
• Ability to share (export) to layer packages and to KML. You can also create notes from KML.
• Shared layer packages, notes, and KML can be saved locally, added to ArcGIS Online, or e-mailed directly from the application.
• Improved KML handling in both 2D and 3D mode; regionated KML is now supported in 2D mode.
• Ability to add data directly from Excel spreadsheets.
• Inclusion of OpenStreetMap in the basemap gallery.
• Notes can now be labeled.
• Improved query capabilities, so you can create expressions to filter data displayed on your map.
• Improved symbol appearance in 2D and 3D modes.
• SDK has been updated to support Visual Studio 2010.