Google has sent press invitations announcing a first look at the “brand new” Google Earth on April 18. Just in time for Earth Day (which is April 22). Anyone reading this blog, which has been a fan blog about Google Earth since its inception in 2005, knows we have been waiting anxiously for a new version of Google Earth. It’s been five years since the last major release for Google Earth. We have been worried about the future of one of the world’s most popular applications during the past decade. But, Google has been promising us a new version is coming. They talked about it two years ago for Earth Day 2015, as the 10th anniversary of Google Earth approached. We can’t wait to see it.
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.
It’s probably something to do with VR
They may also announce something about VR. But, I’m pretty confident we’ll see a new version of the desktop/mobile versions of Google Earth at this event.
They’ve had the VR version out for several months now. I’ve used it quite a bit. It is incredible and probably the best app I’ve got for the HTC Vive. If you ever have a chance to try it, make sure you do. And it’s free!
Hopefully this means more imagery updates!
Appart from a lot of Gimmiks this will certainly not be the focus 🙁
I hope the new version comes with full support for Linux desktops. May be something that is browser based! Fingers crossed.
with Google Earth for VR, the belief in a globe will be re-enforced.
¿x86?
Fingers crossed it doesn’t introduce a swathe of new bugs or significantly shift the exact locs of my hundreds of fave placemarks (wasn’t fun spending days adjusting most of them after a previous major “update”)!!
Can you give more detail? Placemarks should not shift. Was that a shift in imagery or a shift in altitudes?
The imagery had shifted after a major update for a lot of my Australian placemarks. Some around 30m – which was enough to cause confusion in metropolitan areas (placemark ends up on next property etc). It was quite a while back.
I hope they at least update their map data, which is a couple of years out of date compared with maps. Interstate 41 from the Illinois line to Green Bay, WI was marked in 2015. and still doesn’t show on GE.
Sooooooo? Official website still gives me an old version