Google Earth also available on Firefox, Opera and Edge. The Safari appeal is missing.
Google’s ultra-high definition ” world map ” has also arrived on other browsers, besides Chrome, thanks to WebAssembly. We will have to wait for a little longer for support on Safari.
Google Earth is now available on browsers such as Firefox, Edge, and Opera. Previously accessible only via a dedicated app, Earth has supported browser playback from 2017, with Google progressively eliminating desktop apps (not mobile apps). Until a few hours ago, Earth was only functional on Chrome since some implemented technologies were only available on the Google browser.
Specifically, Google Earth used NaCl (Native Client), a feature that allows you to use the application’s native C++ code within the browser without depriving the service of any functionality. The company has always stood out for the use of open web standards, and in the past three years, it has tried to collaborate on projects such as WebAssembly, to ensure the execution of native code on the web in general.
In the last six months, the company has tested a switching procedure between the proprietary NaCl implementation at WebAssmbly, to guarantee the functioning of previously ” Chrome-only ” services also on other web browsers. The work led to Thursday’s announcement, with Google Earth finally being launched on competing browsers as well. The Safari appeal is missing, but in that case, Apple’s support will be needed.
” We still have some work to do, ” said the Google Earth team in the presentation post. ” We need to refine our experience on all these browsers and add support for Safari. ” For the latter goal, Google specified in the past; we must wait for Apple to add ” better support to WebGL2 ” on its browser.
Anyone interested in trying Google Earth on Firefox, Edge or Opera, can do so simply by addressing one of the three browsers indicated on the official Google Earth page.
