Earlier this week the Google Earth team released a new plugin that allows users to view Google Earth tours directly from their web browsers. These tours, which were introduced in the 5.0 release of Google Earth in February, allow users to create virtual flythroughs through any location on Google Earth, which can lead to some pretty impressive results. Google has compiled a handful of the best tours in this gallery, which includes a reenactment of the historic Flight 1549 landing in the Hudson and a whirlwind tour through San Francisco.
The plugin weighs in at a hefty 30 MB (80 megabytes after installing on a Mac), so it can hardly be considered lightweight. But the functionality is impressive, and could definitely be used in a variety of innovative ways now that the tours have been freed from the Google Earth desktop client. I image news organizations could use the tours to help liven up online reports (tours can include audio voiceovers), and travel companies could use them to help showcase where their tour packages will take their customers.
Incredibly disappointing that Google hasn’t considered Linux users at all with any of their most recent software releases. It’s getting really irritating and disappointing. Google uses their own Linux distribution and open source software, so why are they being so obnoxious about this?
Well said! The 7 other Linux users agree with you.
troll
Google is still doing something that deserves a thumbs up. Why not make it mainstream with flash instead of native plugin?
to “Thumbs up”-
Google would not only have to re-make all their stuff,but,also,pay Adobe for use of thing, and cost gets passed on. Google runs on LINUX, you know? Do you want it to cost money? I do like Google even though I use a meta-engine for best results.
to “hear hear”-
the troll comment was pointed right at you. Linux users are a chunk of the market, and, your comment was only to get a rise.
Here is one more disappointed Linux user.
What’s strange is that I only see Macs and Linux boxes in the web development companies I work with. Windows has basically gone extinct, there are only some VMs and some spare desktops used only for testing with IE. And given that environment what does Google do? They alienate a growing share of their developers. Not really a smart move.
I personally use the Mac but Google should support Linux especially since like you said they depend on it.
You said: Google should spend precious engineering time supporting a niche which they enjoy the benefits of…. Remind me not to invest in any of your companies.
We all detest this attitude Mister Misery.
This is why the term “Wall Street” fills us with hate
these days. It’s greed packed in in shortsighted arrogance. You do not give a damn, you “invest”.
Our prayers are with you.
This must be one of many announcements to come before where 2.0.
Wow Didnt knew about it. Thanks for sharing
Google Earth 5, the most recent release of the Google Earth desktop client, works on Linux as well as Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OS X.
I thinh Google earth thats a fantastic instrument.
Att ,
marcelo
that’s incredible.
They didn’t announce the plugin earlier this week, they’ve release a ‘Embedded Tour Player Google gadget’. This gadget can be used to display Google Earth Tours in your browser.
The gadget needs the Google Earth Browser Plugin, this plugin has been available since last year.
Extraterrestrial lifeforms are using Google Earth to plot their first wave of attacks. I feel them watching my every move, making it more easily accessible is not good for mankind…
that’s great , it’s better than to download the whole application , but do we have all the options of the program in this plugin ?
good
Linux is dead.. keep whining… and who gives a shit… at the end of the day its windowwwws that rulez…
And that’s why Google simply just does not give a flying crap… but keep whining it is entertaining
Late reply:
windows bindows…
as stated by anonymous – most developers are moving away from microsoft… our old machine sits there to test the odd bit of **** designed for the old monopoly that was ms and ibm platforms…
quality rules – i.e. apple. the mass market has yet to be brought onboard by Mr. Jobs.
Finally – what sits under Mac OSX – Linux? What should every PC user run? Linux. Why don’t they? MS test rubbish on a mass market and Apple or Linux learn from this mass produced walmart software, in the process they make quality for the Early Adopters that cannot afford to work with failing half baked software.
I assume in the end there wont be any desktop app anymore because we can use all features directly in the browser.
If you look at Sun Microsystems Escape the Browser you will see there is still great strength in developing applications which are not browser dependent.
Two opposite forces, maybe progress will be once they really collide. Who knows what/who might provoke that, and how?
Sorry, forgot the link to Java FX in TCIT:
http://www.tech...pe-the-browser/
That’s great , it’s better than to download the whole application.
downloading the pluging… it’s not light at all.