Implications of end of google earth

hellnbak

Google Earth is ending?? I searched for info on this but couldn't find anything.

andybot

It sounds like it's only the browser plugin, not the program itself.

panixia

it'sound like it's not the plugin but the google API and as far as i know is the very same needed for the "add location" to work
maybe thomthom or some other tech guru can explain us if this will affect sketchup or not

pilou

Even it's will true, you can't keep the last version ?

Tyler Miller

Hey guys -

Nothing to fear here in regards to SketchUp's Add Location feature. SketchUp uses the Google Maps API, not the Google Earth API. Google Earth the application is not going away.

Google's announcement that they are ending the Google Earth browser plugin ("Google Earth API") is a natural consequence of tightening browser security models. Most modern browsers are dropping support for any form of plugins over the next couple years.

Fortunately, much of the functionality of the Google Earth plugin has now been incorporated into Google Maps using more modern browser capabilities like WebGL. This is the same technology we use to do 3D views of SketchUp models on the 3D Warehouse, and it does not require a browser plugin.

So, nothing to fear here and it is all a natural progression of technology.

Thanks,
Tyler

glenn

Thanks Tyler. It would have been nice if Google clearly stated that in the article I referenced.
Glenn

panixia

@tyler miller said:

So, nothing to fear here and it is all a natural progression of technology.

god bless you

david_h

@panixia said:

@tyler miller said:

So, nothing to fear here and it is all a natural progression of technology.

god bless you

I wasnt THAT worried.

It's the end of the Google Earth as we know it. . but I feel fine.

hellnbak

@david_h said:

I wasnt THAT worried.

It's the end of the Google Earth as we know it. . but I feel fine.

Box

glenn

@tyler miller said:

Hey guys -

Nothing to fear here in regards to SketchUp's Add Location feature. SketchUp uses the Google Maps API, not the Google Earth API. Google Earth the application is not going away.

Google's announcement that they are ending the Google Earth browser plugin ("Google Earth API") is a natural consequence of tightening browser security models. Most modern browsers are dropping support for any form of plugins over the next couple years.

Fortunately, much of the functionality of the Google Earth plugin has now been incorporated into Google Maps using more modern browser capabilities like WebGL. This is the same technology we use to do 3D views of SketchUp models on the 3D Warehouse, and it does not require a browser plugin.

So, nothing to fear here and it is all a natural progression of technology.

Thanks,
Tyler

Seems that we should have been worried. You guys knew about a 5year grace period, but didn't mention that to the users until 2 months before the change.
Upcoming Change to Add Location
https://forums.sketchup.com/t/upcoming-change-to-add-location/40953
Tyler thanks for the misdirection,
Glenn

Dave R

Glenn, the discontinuation of a variety of Google-related links to SketchUp was announced when Google sold Trimble. It's Google that has decided to turn off the access. It wasn't Trimble deciding to discontinue it.

andybot

D'oh!! No aerial map will be available? Anyone know of other options that we can use after this cutoff?

slbaumgartner

Trimble is already working with other sources to provide terrain and overhead images when the Google API is discontinued. Time will tell how the coverage and quality compare with Google Earth.

andybot

@sketch3d.de said:

according to the FAQ it will be OSM for the maps and DigitalGlobe for the satellite imagery and terrain data.

Thanks! I saw the part about OSM, but it seemed they didn't have anything available for aerials. Glad to see it's in the pipeline. I will be interested to see the quality.

panixia

@glenn said:

Tyler thanks for the misdirection

+1

sketch3d.de

according to the FAQ it will be OSM for the maps and DigitalGlobe for the satellite imagery and terrain data from Trimbles own sources.

bmike

I use a relatively cheap (and easy to use) app for hiking / adventure / bike routing - is uses various servers for aerial images, as well as topo maps, etc... as far as I know access to many of these is free or relatively cheap. I know there are pros that use this for trail mapping, etc.

http://topofusion.com

Can SketchUp integrate with the maps / topo in a similar way?
Here are all the map sets / imagery that is available in TF:

http://topofusion.com/features.php#imagery

pbacot

What's really good for quick studies is the geo located aerial imagery. That way one can quickly locate new work relative to existing features, good enough for initial planning and presentation. The actual "terrain" model (that I've seen) is only so useful at the site scale. Topo maps might be better, lacking a survey.

bmike

@pbacot said:

What's really good for quick studies is the geo located aerial imagery. That way one can quickly locate new work relative to existing features, good enough for initial planning and presentation. The actual "terrain" model (that I've seen) is only so useful at the site scale. Topo maps might be better, lacking a survey.

Agreed that the usefulness of the imported 3d data isn't always as useful, but its usually close enough for early stage work, until a survey is done or can be found / imported / created.