Last week Google released their really great photo tool Picasa for Linux. They did this by making refinements to the open source Windows API software called WINE. A recent story in the WINE newsletter about the port mentions that Google is doing the same thing for Google Earth. Google Open Source Program Manager Chris DiBona has revealed that Google Earth will be the next application ported according to a LinuxToday story.
For those of you who think Google should port Google Earth natively, the Google Operating System blog has this to say:
Many Linux users think Google should build native versions for their software, instead of using Wine, but if Wine becomes powerful enough to run (almost) any Windows software everyone will gain: more people will adopt Linux because they can use their favorite applications and companies will have a wider audience for their software.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
WINE means WINE IS NOT AN EMULATOR, it a recursive acronym. So, by the name you get it’s not and emulator, but a WIN32 API clone. They made a API that does just the same as WIN32 API. It’s not perfect, but it works very well and in some cases can be faster than Windows.
Check it out in http://winehq.org/ .
Do people even read stories that they point to anu more? From the Linux Today article:
“When asked if the additions to WINE would bootstrap Google Earth’s porting progress, DiBona answered in the negative, explaining that Google Earth relied on Qt and GL libraries and code, so additional WINE support would not help. No timeline for that application’s release was revealed at this time.”
Remember – Reading is fundamental. 🙂
Adam, actually I read the articles in great detail. And, your remark made me realize I had forgotten to include the link to the Newsletter article. It points out that little detail in the article, so I assumed people would see it (if I had included the link!). Anyway, I’m not sure how far along they are with fixing the problem. But, I’m sure Google has continued working on it.
Right on Google! (I can’t wait) They run their search engine infrastructure on Linux servers and so porting these apps should be beeze for them. I’m not sure if Mac is supported yet but since Mactel’s have the ability to run wine I don’t see why not. Google apps for everyone! Maybe Google will take over the world?
Google now has a Linux version of Google Earth.