Google Chrome Embeds Google Earth Technology
Discovered that if you use Google Chrome to access Google Maps, then almost all Google Earth features are there. No need for special plug-ins. Quite amazing.
Note that this works in E9, too, but not Firefox, Opera, Safari. (all latest public version as of 2011-03-15.) To test, just go to [ http://maps.google.com/ ], then hover mouse over the Satellite square. If it supports Google Earth, it'll also pop up a “Earth” square.
See also: Google Earth Geography 101 • Google Earth Mouse Navigation and Keys .