Google Earth, Now With Browser Goodness

Google announced this week that their Google Earth application can now be used from the browser, instead of having to download and install the desktop application. "Google also launched an JavaScript API that lets you interact with the globe, draw markers, add layers or integrate with Google Maps. 'The Google Earth Plug-in and its APIs let you embed the full power of Google Earth and its 3D rendering capabilities into your web pages.' Google LatLong blog announced that each Google Maps mashup can take advantage of the new 3D view by adding a single line of code. 'Our goal is to open up the entire core of Google Earth to developers in the hopes that you'll build the next great geo-based 3D application, and change how we view the world.'"

Why, why, why

[sakdoctor]

So now it can run substantially on a (huge) plug-in inside my browser. How is this different or more convenient just because the window is wrapped in the browser.

Seems everything must run inside the browser these days. When can I get windows vista for firefox?

Re:Why, why, why

[Anonymous Coward]

But then it would no longer be a web page.

exe?

[Thelasko]

Who makes a Firefox plugin that's an .exe file? Seriously, Google needs to read the how to page [mozilla.org] and follow the standards.

What is a web page?

[tepples]

You could theoretically embed this in a web page

But then it would no longer be a web page.

By your standards, YouTube is not a web page because it contains FLV video, nor is Slashdot because it contains SWF advertisements. If I have an HTML page that uses the object element to embed rich media, what makes it a "web page" or not a "web page"?

Re:exe?

[BitZtream]

Well, using an out of process plugin is useful for ensuring that the browser remains reliable when the plugin experiences problems and crashes. Its also useful for sharing resources between applications via the out of process process (the exe).

Those are just 2 reasons to do it, and its likely developers at Google know slightly more about making Mozilla plugins than you seem to think considering A) they pretty much had to read that page to make the plugin anyway, B) Google contributes to the Mozilla code base and has Mozilla developers on staff, and finally C) having delt with many Google engineers, I've yet to run into a twit who has made it past the God knows how many interviews it takes to get a job there, I.E. they tend to have more than a little clue.

Perhaps you just aren't fully aware of their goals/plans/reasoning.

Re:exe?

[pembo13]

I think he was referring to the use of XPIs

Re:What is a web page?

[Qzukk]

By your standards, YouTube is not a web page because it contains FLV video

If I turn off plugins and go to this website, what do I get? The example screenshot shows Google Earth taking up the entire browser, so my guess is "a blank page" (or one begging me to install their plugin).

I use YouTube on a fairly regular basis on my x86-64 system without the crashtastic 32-bit flash wrapper. I can see the title of the movie, links to related movies, and download the flv to watch in mplayer.

Re:Not compatible with:

[Jason Earl]

But it's still compatible with over 80% of the browsers out there ;)

Sure, once the end user downloads a plugin.

This new software runs on almost precisely the same number of computers as the old one, but now it has the added advantage that Microsoft can break it every time they rev their browser.

Oh yeah, that's progress.

Re:Web or Linux 3D SketchUp?

[dotancohen]

When will Google finally release a Linux SketchUp, or at least include its main modeling features into the Web version?

Write to them and ask them. You cannot expect them to guess that Linux users exist if you don't contact them, can you?

While this might not really be the case at google, you really should write to Adobe (photoshop), Intuit (quicken) and other software houses to let them know that we want their products. I make it a point to write to one every week.

Re:Why, why, why

[MobyDisk]

I wonder what kinds of interesting and useful things one could do with that ability.
- See recent places you've searched?
- Find out where you and your friends live?
- Access files on your hard drive?

Sorry to sound overly skeptical, but I remember when Microsoft thought that browser plug-ins were a great idea so they made Office embeddable inside a browser. Then came 10 years of security hell.

Re:Not compatible with:

[TheGratefulNet]

people consider google one of THE web companies.

yet they have LOST the notion of platform independance, at least in this case.

the start of the true downfall of google? (nah, that was when they rated on that guy and let the chinese take that poor dissident away).

I just can't understand why you'd write a 'web program' and also have WINDOWS CODE in it. boggle!

the shine is wearing off the google, it seems.

Re:Why, why, why

[mungmaster2000]

When can I get Bonzai Buddy for Firefox?