Google releases Google Earth 6 beta for Mac, introduces 3D trees

Google released Google Earth 6 beta for Mac, PC and Linux today. Google Earth 6 includes several beefed up features, including a better integration of Street View with Google Earth's 3D environment that lets users seamlessly navigate streets across the world.

And speaking of 3D environments, perhaps the biggest (and most unexpected) feature of Google Earth 6 is the introduction of 3D trees. Yes, trees. The 3D trees (over 50 different species) are included in several parks, forests and neighborhoods from around the globe. According to the Google Earth blog, Google Earth 6 includes 80 million trees worldwide. No word yet on how Google has accurately placed the trees inside Earth, but if they can make a car that drives on its own, I'm betting they've adapted the GPS-enabled cameras from Street View cars to fit on squirrels' heads.

Google Earth 6 beta is available now as a free download and requires Mac OS X 10.5.0 or later.