Always apparently looking for ways to suitably bolster its positioning in terms of open access, Internet titan Google Inc. has announced the expansion of its popular Google Earth tool; a move that sees the emergence of the Google Earth API (application programming interface) browser plug-in.
Google Earth API opened to Web developers via browser plug-in. Image: Google Inc.
With the arrival of the Google Earth plug-in, web-based developers will be able to easily incorporate the 3D mapping tool into their web pages, allowing them to apply their specific creative ideas across it in order to bring Google Earth to many more diverse online destinations.
“Today, I’m happy to announce the release of the new Google Earth Browser Plug-in, which brings the full power of Google Earth to the web, embeddable within your own web site,” wrote Paul Rademacher, Technical Lead on the Google Earth browser plug-in, via Google’s LatLong blog. “Driven by an extensive JavaScript API, you can control the camera; create lines, markers, and polygons; import 3D models from the web and overlay them anywhere on the planet.”
“In fact, you can even overlay your content over different planets, stars, and galaxies by toggling Sky mode, letting you build 3D Google Sky mashups. You can also enable 3D buildings with a single line of JavaScript, attach JavaScript callbacks to mouse events, fetch KML data from the web, and more,” added Rademacher. “Our goal is to open up the entire core of Google Earth to developers in the hopes that you’ll build the next great geo-based 3D application, and change (yet again) how we view the world.”
In opening Google Earth to more widespread usage, the California-based search specialist has intimated that its decision to do so is perhaps based on the rise of the “Geoweb,” a collection of user-created multimedia content dedicated to specific real-world locations that shows a growing interest in viewing world information in a more defined geographical context.
Some of the related features opened to web developers by the plug-in include: swift Google Earth embedding thanks to only a few lines of inputted code; JavaScript compatibility for rich Earth-based applications; KML manipulation; simple 3D conversion access; and Google Sky mode for high-res images of the stars, planets and galaxies.
Developers interested in getting their creative paws on the Google Earth browser plug-in can do so by clicking right HERE.
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