Google Earth, the desktop brother of web-based Google Maps (make that 'workspace-based sibling', for our American friends) now runs on Linux! Following the recent release of Picasa for Linux, I too can look into people's cars from across the planet.

The download includes its own QT libraries, and unlike Picasa (and previous reports), it looks like 100% native linux code.

For the more technophobic of Linux users (there might be one in India!), don't worry. The package you download from Google is an installer which will take care of everything, leaving you to look for undiscovered craters, the autograph of Jesus in sand dunes or perhaps something useless.

Software requirements consist of glibc 2.3.2+ (with NPTL), XFree86-4+ or X.Org 6.7+, 500MHz processor and 128MB of RAM. Although a 3D-capable (and supported) graphics card is not required, you'll probably want one - unless you enjoy saying hello to each pixel as it's being drawn.

The new version also brings changes to the user interface along with support for textured 3D objects (buildings, giant hamsters).

Here it is, for your downloading pleasure.