title: Google Earth - Rich Client or Rich Internet Architecture?
body: <p>Is <a href="http://earth.google.com" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google Earth</a> a Thick Client (Rich Client) application or a Rich Internet Application? If you read the <a href="http://www.codeplex.com/AppArchGuide" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Microsoft Architecture Guide 2.0</a>, they seem to thing GE is a Thick Client, along with any application which is not rendered in a web browser, or on a mobile device?</p>
  
  <p>I think GE is a perfect example of a RIA, together with <a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Microsoft's Virtual Earth (VE)</a> (Now Bing Maps). The fact that GE is not rendered in a browser shouldn't be the defining characteristic for not making it an RIA. Otherwise the Thick Client Architecture just has to sweep up too much.</p>
  
  <p>Give me your opinions and tell me why you say so.</p>
  
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  <p><em>See also: <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1345677/should-rich-client-arch-be-used-in-multi-tier-enterprise-systems">Should Rich Client Arch be used in Multi Tier Enterprise Systems</a></em></p>