GE Plugin

Plugin Links: Singapore Tour, Tagzania, PhotoFlyr, EveryTrail,

June 1, 2008

Here are some more interesting applications of the Google Earth Plugin API. If you are using a supported browser/OS, then check out some of these new implementations:

Singapore F1 3D – This is an excellent example for using the Earth plugin for a 3D application. Earth@sg had developed 3D models for the area where the Singapore F1 Race will be held later this year. Now, they are able to use the API to show the 3D models and provide a simple click interface to tour key parts of the race scenery. The only caveat is that the models are high fidelity and may slow things down while viewing the collection. But, I really like the interface. Thanks to Shinwe who developed the models and whom I met at Where 2.0 this year.
Tagzania Googleplex – Tagzania is still one of the best sites I’ve seen for tagging the planet and cleverly using Google Maps and GE. They have quickly adopted the use of the GE Plugin API and enabled you to view tagged locations with the 3D plugin. The example here of the Googleplex is pretty cool since the plex is modeled in 3D. See here for the Googleplex in the normal 2D interface – the link to the 3D version appears below the map. Notice there is only a slight difference to the URL between the 2D and 3D versions. They’ve implemented this for all the individual tagged locations so far.
PhotoFlyr – This is an application which lets you see the latest posted geo-tagged Flickr photos. Virgil Zetterlind (of EarthNC) and I developed this application last year after Twittervision was released. At the time, there was no official plugin for Google Earth, so we used a tool from GoogleEarthAirlines which let you embed the Google Earth client itself as a plugin in a browser. It was a simple matter for Virgil to make the tool he had developed the last time run within the new API.
EveryTrail – Biking Example – EveryTrail has also broadly implemented the Earth Plugin API. When you view a trail , you can select from the Maps option in the upper right “Google Earth (3D)” and it will load the plugin. A mountain bike trail is a particularly good example to use with the plugin since the Earth view lets you see the 3D terrain of the trail.

I haven’t checked, but hopefully some of these sites are checking to see if your browser/OS supports the plugin, and doesn’t bother to offer you the option if you can’t use the plugin. I just had the thought that maybe I should use a different colored GE icon for links that go to the API (at least until all the main browsers/OSes are supported)…

More on Google Earth Plugin API, GE License Changes

June 1, 2008

It’s now been a few days since the Google Earth Plugin API was released during the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. I can tell you that I witnessed many KML developers get very excited about the possible applications of the new API and plugin. Several enthusiastic developers developed both demonstrations and actual tools within 24 hours of the announcement. An important note: Google made it plain they were releasing this new API and plugin without a full and rigorous testing. They wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to release it into the hands of developers at the Google I/O. This is part of the reason they didn’t wait until they had Mac OS X, and Linux versions of the plugin and API ready. Personally, I’m glad they are willing to get it into developer’s hands quickly even if there may be some flaws initially.
The new API provides access to many of the more popular features of Google Earth in a web browser. Quick implementations which take existing content viewed in Google Maps and show it with the power of Google Earth’s 3D rendering and rich data are just the low hanging fruit. What I’m more excited about is that the API will enable new kinds of applications not practical, or not possible, with the regular Google Earth client. Here are just a few ideas I’ve had which could be implemented with the new API: more sophisticated games as implied by the Monster Milktruck example; custom flight simulators (or even combat flight games); guided tours with audio annotations; scientific visualizations with multiple layers of information; many kinds of 3D model animations will now be possible; geographic quizes/games; educational lessons; etc., etc. For a long time many of us have wished for scripting capabilities for Google Earth. But, the API is more than that. In fact, someone could program a scripting language now and publishes it through an application using the API.
Some problems with the new plugin exist. Some of the problems are due to the 4.3 engine still being under beta test. I’ve noticed several navigational glitches (also present in 4.3). And, it’s a real bummer that the SpaceNavigator doesn’t work with the plugin (I understand from Google that part of this is due to the ability to have several instances of the plugin running simultaneously – hopefully someone will figure a way around this). Speaking of which, being able to open several instances at once is a nice feature. Microsoft’s Virtual Earth can only open one instance of their 3D plug-in at a time. One other thing – the current implementation is limited to only showing the following built in layers: Terrain, Borders, 3D Buildings, and Roads. Hopefully other global layers will also be added to those supported by the API – like Panoramio, Weather, Wikipedia, and places of interest layers. I can understand not supporting external sourced layers such as: NASA, National Geographic, etc.
On the legal side – some developers were wondering how the new API would be effected from a legal/licensing perspective. Michael T. Jones, CTO of Google Earth, just left this comment on GEB:

Two weeks ago the Google Earth free license was changed to allow broader use–especially in governments. Last week we launched the Google Earth API under the same liberal Terms of Service as the Google Maps API (essentially, free use for public-facing sites and inexpensive for inward-facing sites.) If you think there are legal barriers to your making good use of either, please have your attorneys review the latest agreements.

Next up, a post with some more interesting applications of the API/plugin.

Google Earth Plugin Adopted Quickly

May 29, 2008

The new Google Earth Plugin API has been adopted quickly by both Google Maps mashup developers and Google Earth developers. Given that Google Maps has long had limitations on the number of placemarks or other KML features it can show, the Earth plugin immediately enables more KML data to be viewed. That’s just one of many reasons why developers would want to quickly adopt the new plugin (besides the “show off” factor). I think this new plugin will be a huge hit and will be quickly adopted by many applications – especially once Google pushes out broader support on Mac and Linux as well. Right now, since the plugin is only working on Windows, developers should check what operating system people are using before presenting them with the plugin. No need to cause a plugin load error if a person is using Mac OS X. (See Gmap-Track below for the first example I’ve seen which addresses this.) In the 24 hours or so since it was released, at least 2 dozen apps have been released using the new API (probably many more than that just haven’t reached my attention yet). Below are just a few examples I’ve noticed, and there are links to more in other posts listed at the bottom. (NOTE: if you aren’t on Windows or using a browser supported by the new plugin – you won’t get to try all the links without a load error):

Takitwithme – this site lets you try any KML or Google Maps map with the new API, and lets you generate the code so you can embed the plugin on a web page (or blog post). It was developed by Virgil Zetterlind. See the post on this from yesterday.
GMap-Track – this handy tool lets you embed a map showing a location on your web page. Stefan Geens is using it on his blog OgleEarth. According to Stefan, GMAP-Track is now letting users choose to present the Earth plugin instead of Maps, and is smart enough to check operating systems before trying to show Earth.
GearthHacks – GearthHacks was one of the earliest web sites to aggregate content for Google Earth, and has evolved its site many times to take advantage of new Google mapping technologies. So, its no surprise that Mickey Mellen has quickly adopted some tests using the new plugin. Mickey has also developed another plugin example for another site he has developed called GolfNation.
Magnalox – Magnalox has long been one of my favorite sites which allow for GPS track visualizations (and more). They have very quickly adopted the new plugin by simply adding the Earth button to the familiar Google Maps control buttons. But, what is cool is that you can now show tracks with animations over time in Maps or Earth.
Housing Maps – The original Google Maps mashup – before there was an API from Google – was done by Paul Rademacher. Paul now works at Google, and in fact was the key designer behind the new Google Earth API and plugin. He gave a talk yesterday and showed how he updated his original mashup with the new 3D interface with just three lines of javascript.

Other examples can be found at OgleEarth here. Naturally, since this blog has been writing about innovative applications of Google Earth for nearly three years, expect many more posts of examples of Google Earth plugin and its API as adoption continues to grow.

Monster Milk Truck Game for Google Earth Plugin

May 28, 2008

During the sessions here the Google I/O developers conference they have discussed how applications can be developed to take advantage of the new Google Earth Plugin API. One of the examples provided is a little game that I think just begins to show the possibilities of Google Earth plugin mashups – the game is called Monster Milktruck (NOTE: the GE Plugin is currently limited to Windows – and you have to install the plugin the first time you’ve used it). Once its loaded simply use the cursor keys to drive the little 3D truck around. Look at the bottom of the page for alternate locations where you can place the truck.

Google Earth Plugin in a Blog Post

May 28, 2008

In just a few hours since the new Google Earth plug API was released, Virgil Zetterlind of EarthNC has managed to quickly modify an application he had previously developed to generate an embeddable Google Maps to one that will produce an embeddable Google Earth plug-in. Here’s the application if you want to try it. So, here’s an example (if you’re on Windows) showing the collection of dinosaurs on Earth loaded into the Google Earth plug-in: