Google Earth, Now With Browser Goodness 143
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.'"
Web or Linux 3D SketchUp? (Score:3, Interesting)
Or even better, when will there be a simple way to use existing (and good) Linux 3D studio tools to make standard-format datasets that are easily and completely importable into Google Earth (whether desktop or Web)?
Hell, at this point I'd even settle for a way to import the paths in a 2D PostScript (or PDF) file into something that makes them 2D lines/areas on a 3D canvas that I can put into Google Earth, rotated and positioned for at least an idea of what a fully 3D model would look like. But to do anything like that right now, I need a Mac or a Windows machine.
Gap between this plugin w/ Virtual Earth 3D? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Web or Linux 3D SketchUp? (Score:3, Interesting)
IF you can tolerate blender's handicapped interface, you might be able to export into a form google earth can handle (or, as the forums will tell you "write it yourself").
Re:Not compatible with: (Score:3, Interesting)
Firefox (Macintosh)
Safari (all platforms)
Firefox 3 (all platforms)
Opera (all platforms)...
Re:Not compatible with: (Score:3, Interesting)
maps.google.com? (Score:1, Interesting)
Of course it's also been years since I've tried Google Earth, so maybe they've added quite a bit extra functionality over maps.google.com.
Re:Already done in Google Maps (Score:3, Interesting)