Earth View – Google Chrome extension

Satellite imagery can be beautiful, and as a result, a number of people have used satellite imagery as art. For example, in 2010 we showed you the USGS “Earth as Art” collection, and earlier this year we talked about Roosmarijn Pallandt, who designs carpets using satellite imagery.

If you can’t get enough of satellite imagery, and you are a user of Google Chrome, there is a nice extension called Earth View (created by Google) that shows a different satellite image from Google Maps every time you open a new tab. I have been trying it out over the last couple of weeks, and although I missed some of the features of Chrome’s default ‘New Tab’ page, I am now used to it and really love the imagery. Find the Earth View extension in the Google Play store here.

Earth View shows you a different satellite image every time you open a new tab in Chrome.

I would like to see a number of additions to the extension, including:

• The option to use it as a background to the default ‘New Tab’ page rather than replacing it altogether.
• An ‘Open in Google Earth’ button in addition to the current links to Google Maps.
• A similar product that works as either a desktop background changer, or screen saver, or both.
• Occasional 3D scenery in addition to the top down satellite imagery.

If you have tried out the extension, what additions would you like to see?

About Timothy Whitehead

Timothy has been using Google Earth since 2004 when it was still called Keyhole before it was renamed Google Earth in 2005 and has been a huge fan ever since. He is a programmer working for Red Wing Aerobatx and lives in Cape Town, South Africa.

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