It has been quite some time since the last major Google Earth update, and the Android app was really beginning to stagnate. Allaying fears of abandonment, Google today released a new version, Google Earth 8.0, that introduces a revamped rendering engine, better maps, and slight UI enhancements.
The biggest improvement by far, Google claims, is the new 3D rendering technology. Representing the first engine overhaul since Google Earth’s inception, the change should result in sharper and more fluid animations while zooming around 3D buildings, structures, and topography.
Other tweaks regard mapping data. Historically, Google Earth has not received road and places information as quickly as Google Maps, but now the two are synced. Labels should be easier to read, thanks to a few color and contrast tweaks.
For amateur cartographers, Google Earth has also gained the ability to import KML files from Google Drive.
Predictably, the update is rolling out in stages. If you have not downloaded Google Earth to your device, though, follow the link below to install it.
AWESOME!! Thank you so much Google for updating GE. Google Earth is the best offline mapping program there is and I was very concerned that they were going to abandon it…
Of course it’s not available to me yet, but the ability to add KML files is much welcomed, even if I do have to add them from Google Drive insead of directly from my device’s storage. Guess that’s yet another way to try and force me into using their cloud services.
Also, I didn’t really know until recently they had a paid version of Earth/Maps that (I’m assuming) offers a lot of the “missing” features that used to be available, in addition to all of the non-existent new functions they’ve not added to either program in years.
It was really odd that both Earth and Maps gained a ton of functionality really early on, then appeared to either stop adding features or even roll them back. Now it makes sense.
That’s an awesome pic in the article, I can almost see my office
Typically I have been the last to receive staged roll-outs often 2 days or more after DL announces an update. But, lately with Google Music and Earth the updates have been there waiting for me as soon as I read about them here. Nice. (Moto X Dev Ed & Nexus 7)
That’s not a play link !
Just got the update going to try it out now and see what has changed from the previous version.
It’s still boring. I could never see the hype with the app. It does look better tho