Google Earth 101

i use "street view" in google maps all the time; is there a button or icon to click on to switch over to "earth" view?

not finding such, i tried coming in directly via google.com/earth (as instructions dictate). it switches to earth.google.com/index and then just HANGS. i mean, forever. have a splash screen up for 10+ mins now.

i see discussions online about using a google earth "app" (needing download) vs the google earth "site" (as i'm trying). what's the deal? am i NOT supposed to be able to just surf to the URL and see something?

 

i have *not* downloaded anything, as i stated. various discussions indicate u can use it interactively on its site -- is this not the case?

and is the "street view" in it the SAME as the "street view" in google maps? that was my initial question -- can i hop from the LATTER's "street view", which i use all the time, to google EARTH's "street view" (and thence bird's-eye view, etc).

in other words, are google maps and google earth inherently connected, or are they totally separate, unrelated apps, with absolutely no interface?