Oops ! Developers making 3D mapping applications now have to look for another APIs source as as Google is withdrawing support for Google Earth API.
Google has introduced Google Earth API over six year ago, enabling developers to build rich 3D mapping applications in the browser, using JavaScript.
Google Maps API product manager Ken Hoetmer posted on Google Developers Blog that the current Google Earth API is built on a technology called the NPAPI plug-in framework, and recently, for security reasons, both Chrome and Firefox have announced they’re removing support for this framework. These security reasons, combined with dwindling cross-platform support (particularly on mobile devices), had made building applications that leverage the Earth API untenable for developers.
Therefore, after careful consideration, we have decided to retire the Google Earth API. Per our deprecation policy, the API will be supported until one year from today and will be turned off on December 12, 2015.
For the duration of the deprecation period, the set of supported browsers is as follows. Because of the recent Chrome and Firefox announcements, support on those browsers extends only to the latest browser version that supports NPAPI.
Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7, and 8)
- Google Chrome 5.0-39.0 (32-bit)
- Internet Explorer 7-9, and 10-11 with Compatibility View (32-bit) (Note that the Windows 8 browsing mode with Internet Explorer does not support plug-ins.)
- Firefox 11.0-34.0
Apple Mac OS X 10.6 or later (any Intel Mac)
- Google Chrome 5.0-39.0 (32-bit)
- Safari 3.1+
- Firefox 11.0-34
Google Earth has a proud legacy, which continues with the new Google Earth for Android, powered by a brand new renderer.
