Ok, I exaggerate.

Google Earth added two very nifty features – historic imagery and the ocean layer.

Historic imagery is exactly what it states on the box: satellite imagery from the past.

Allow that sentence to sink in.

Google Earth has always been about Where. Now, it is also about When.

Brilliant! So, let’s have a look at Bishan in 2003, before Circle Line construction began.

Now, have a look at the same area in 2004, when construction was going on in full swing. Bishan Station was still relatively intact. That was about to change.

2008 image: I never noticed until now but an access road and staging area has been closed and returfed! The holes in the ground north of the interchange have been filled. Bishan Library has sprouted up, just south of Junction 8.

I’m quite happy that Google has made past satellite imagery available. No doubt they don’t have too many iterations for Singapore – notice how there’s 2003, 2004 then a big jump to 2008. Still, this feature is much appreciated. Let’s turn to Google Ocean.

This layer features a mind-boggling array of content. You have to enable the Oceans Layer (under Layers, bottom left of the Google Earth interface). Then watch the little ocean icons pop up. Hey, there’s Singapore content!

I believe there are three Marine Protected Areas icons – Labrador, Sungei Buloh and Southern Islands. Note that the information may not be correct. Clicking on the Facts tab allows you to correct it. Wiki-like functionality which I’ve not explored. You’ll note that the Labrador icon is waaaay off.

Finally, Google Earth wants to give Singaporeans a Global Warming Warning.

We don’t want our MRT stations to go under water, do we?

This is a mistake. For some reason, most of the Wikipedia icons for our MRT stations appear South-West-West of Singapore, just below Tanjung Piai of Southern Johor, Malaysia.