The Google Earth team has announced yesterday (May 28, 2008) that it has ported the Google Earth desktop client’s 3D mapping technology into the browser. Paul Rademacher, Technical Lead, Google Earth Browser Plug-in stated on his release blog post—

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, embedable within your own web site. 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.

This new browser plug-in allows a direct access to the Google Earth program from inside a web page. The plug-in features a similar Application Programming Interface (API) to Google Maps which permits developers to easily incorporate Google Earth into their applications. How this will give the developer edge over other existing web embedable mapping technology? Through this plug-in developers are now able to embed 3D maps, which can be modified using Google’s JavaScript API to add KML data, draw 3D buildings, attach callbacks and dozens more cool stuffs. Hack you can even overlay your content over different planets, stars, and galaxies by toggling Sky mode, letting you build 3D Google Sky mashups. Perhaps! Google should rename Google earth to Google Galaxy?

Well Google is not the first one to port 3D mapping to browser, arch rival Microsoft’s Virtual earth has been 3D mapping within browser over 1 year. But off course as you can guess, Virtual earth’s 3D mapping only works with Internet explorer and windows. Microsoft is so predictable

So what are your options if you are already one of the user of Google map API, wants to give your maps some #D makeover? Google did think out that possibility. Just add a single line of JavaScript G_SATELLITE_3D_MAP map type to your MapsAPI initialisations code, and you are ready to support Google Earth.

Google Earth API is a remarkable hook that web developers will appreciate. Unfortunately when it comes to searching map, we still have to go to Google Maps 2D interface, don’t you think we should see a 3D button beside all those —Map, Satellite, Terrain, Traffic, Street View?