Yesterday, TechCrunch writer Duncan Riley got soundly slapped by his readers for posting a story with the headline “Google Earth Heading Towards Extinction?“. He said because Google has recently announced some new features for Google Maps, this must mean Google Earth is on “borrowed time”. Anyone who actually uses Google Earth and compares it to Google Maps, knows that the beauty and richness of Google Earth is not going to go away any time soon. The 3D capability for looking at the Earth, the abilities to overlay information, and the simple and powerful interface of Google Earth is here to stay. All you have to do is read some of the stories on this blog to see there are many powerful ways to use Google Earth that even Google didn’t imagine.
I believe Google will continue to borrow capabilities from Google Earth and incorporate them within the web-based product (Google Maps). In fact, someday I believe the two will merge in some ways. However, as several people pointed out in the comments to the TechCrunch article, it will still require at least a separate plug-in application to run real 3D from within a browser. At least until browsers become 3D. Google Earth’s performance in 3D (as amply demonstrated by the Flight Simulator mode), is a big part of the reason why it is a separate application. But, the other important reason is that the interface for browsing information in GE is a different paradigm from the normal web browser. It wasn’t long ago that Firefox had fewer downloads than the 250+ million people who have installed Google Earth. A few more killer applications of data for Google Earth could make it so indispensable everyone will have it installed (maybe Mac OSX will start shipping it by default?).
Google Earth will evolve as well. It has already changed dramatically in the several years since it was created. Like any other popular software, it too will continue to change and grow new, and hopfully better, features. Yes, I write about Google Earth every day. But, check out Mount Saint Helens 
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.