Exploring the New Google Earth
On April 18, 2017, Google officially unveiled the new Google Earth for Chrome and Android. This top-to-bottom redesign completely reimagines how people interact with and explore the Earth. Here are a few of the notable improvements:
The Interface
The interface has been simplified, with tools down the left side to access the Main Menu, Search, Voyages (described below), Feeling Lucky (also described below), Saved Locations, and Sharing Options. The familiar zoom, compass, street view, and locate buttons remain in the bottom right hand corner, also redesigned to be easier to use. The 3D function has been rebuilt to available to view locations at any angle.
Voyages
Google has teamed up with scientists, nonprofit agencies, and storytellers from around the world to create Voyages. The rich, interactive tours of the world offer videos, photos, and text, alongside zooming looks at locations on Earth’s surface. Upon launch, Google Earth offers more than 50 Voyages with topics ranging from Following Charles Dickens to Exploring Penguin Colonies.
Sharing Your Postcards
Zoom in on amazing features of Earth’s surface, then use the improved 3D button to view the feature from any angle. Once you’ve gotten the view you want, you can click on the share button to copy a link right to that very spot.
Additional Features and Settings
In the new Google Earth, you can control the level of detail shown by selecting the menu icon and “Map Style.” Additionally, you can tap on the “I’m Feeling Lucky” icon to be taken to a random spot on the planet. Google Earth works beautifully in Chrome, making it an excellent tool for use in the classroom. The Android version is available now, with the updated iOS app expected in the coming weeks.
