The interface is clunky. I don't like how the format is "the farther you are away from the point you started on, the more you accelerate." I prefer to have my mouse cursor stuck to one location, which I can then move around.
Click the "M" at the bottom left of the viewer to change to a Google Maps-style drag interface. (not the most obvious of buttons to click, either, but it's there!)
Yea agreed. I think you can do what you're asking for by clicking the 'm' button on the bottom left hand corner.
Mouse over method seems to work the best and allowed me to see what I wanted to see without the camera zipping in one direction because I moved the mouse a little out of center.