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Spatially Adjusted asks and analyse what ESRI's answer to Google Earth will become. From the post: "If you want to know if AGX will be a Google Earth killer, then you aren’t asking the right question. The question is how will any of these digital earth applications (Google Earth, NASA World Wind or ESRI ArcGIS Explorer) help me get my tasks done better." The comments are worth reading too.

Scrappad was first to announce the major news today: the launch of ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer virtual globe and ArcGIS Online. Prepare yourself to hear a lot about it on the various geospatial blogs. From the ArcGIS Online page: "ArcGIS Online provides a series of ready-to-use online map services, globe services, and other GIS services for use with ArcGIS. These include both 2D maps and 3D digital worlds (globes) that you can use directly in ArcGIS Explorer." Read Spatially Adjusted on why ArcGIS Online is more significant than ArcGIS Explorer, but don't rush to the download site: "Looks like they are only allowing those with current maintenance to download it and those in the beta.". Here's the system requirements. Additionally, Ogle Earth shares interesting comments on AGX labels. Read this long insightful comment on why ArcGIS Explorer is not a competitor to Google Earth, Virtual Earth or World Wind. Update: 11/29 17:24 GMT by S :I forgot to link to ESRI's Bernie Szukalski podcast on ArcGIS Explorer [mp3 file] (via SP). Update #2: 11/29 22:09 GMT by S :Additional entries: ArcIMS services in ArcGIS Explorer and Christian Spanring first impressions, including: "Still, the major drawback of ArcGIS Explorer is its overall performance. Once you’ve seen how fast you can move and fly around in Google Earth, it’s hard to go back to a sluggish performance like the one you’re experiencing in ArcGIS Explorer."

To complete the previous announcement of ArcGIS Explorer and ArcGIS Online, here's recent stories about them. Spatially Adjusted discuss the rasterized labels decision in ArcGIS Explorer, along with a Google Earth vs ArcGIS Explorer debate. From that last entry: "ESRI has given GIS Professionals the tools to create their own 3D globes and serve them up to clients. We’ve been asking for these for years so now it is time to put up or shut up. ArcGIS Explorer is only as good as the datasets inside and ESRI has some starter services for us to use, but they are just starting points. Lets not lose perspective here that AGX has been out in the public for 2 or 3 days, while Google Earth has been out for years now." Read Dave Bouwman's entry on an OpenLayers connector for ArcGIS Server. Matt Priour first impressions are also informative.

Spatially Adjusted offers an interesting discussion on the importance of the user community around ArcGIS Explorer for its success. James also tells us the ArcGIS Explorer website has been updated and offers a comparison of ArcGlobe with other virtual globes. From the former entry: "As Jeff Atwood says, “It’s clear that community support can make or break a product.” I hope that ESRI will let the AGX team run with their community, rather than force it into existing community platforms that really don’t lend themselves to community at all (though astute readers will point out that the big GE community is just a forum)."

The It is what it is blog and Spatially Adjusted covers the release a new build of ArcGIS Explorer. From SA's summary: "# New Navigator - the old AGX navigation has been replaced with a nice streamlined navigator that is over the map rather than on a dock. Much more of what to expect with a digital globe. # Printing - AGX has basic printing capabilities (without having to pay ESRI) # File Import “Wizard” - Bring in text files of address and such. No Excel support yet, but given ESRI’s track record with Excel files I’d assume its coming. [...] # Improved WMS Support - You can now choose single or multiple layers instead of the groups from before. Much, much better! # KML Contents - Slowly ArcGIS is beginning to get KML support. [...]" Additional entries over Spatially Adjusted, including updated imagery for ArcGIS Online.

Spatially Adjusted informs us that ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer is now available to anyone. From the press release: "This unique lightweight application lets you not only connect directly to a variety of ready-to-use globes hosted by ESRI but also provides tasks that allow you to do more than just visualize a simple map. You can use ArcGIS Explorer to leverage data, services, and applications on the Web by easily connecting to your own ArcGIS services or those published by others. This application helps you extend the power of these Web-based services by fusing them with your local data." SA also tells us ESRI started a new blog: the ESRI Mapping Center blog. See numerous previous posts about AGX below.

Spatially Adjusted informs us ESRI as released ArcGIS Explorer build 440. Here's the What's new webpage. From the official announcement: "At the top of our list are ArcIMS improvements, including the ability to access sub-layers, and the addition of new point symbols and the ability to add your own custom point symbols. We'll be covering these in more detail here on the blog. Feel free to send us your feedback, and let us know what you think. We'll also be monitoring the Explorer support forum to help you with any questions that you may have."