14 DAY TRIAL // Having a mobile phone powered by Google's Android operating system offers access to a wide range of applications and services, and a new capability has been just added into the mix with the launch of Google Earth 1.1 for Android, namely ocean diving.
To be more precise, the new feature enables users to explore the ocean through downloading it from the Android Market on any handset running under Android 2.1 or later.
“With the release of this feature, escape the hustle and bustle of life on land and discover the marine world using Google Earth on your mobile device,” a recent post on Google Mobile Blog reads.
Whether it is about the landscape and terrain in Monterery Bay Canyon, or about having a closer look at the Grand Canyon, users can zooming in on Google Earth and dive below the ocean's surface just off the coast.
“Once underwater, we can use the “look around” button to tilt the view and see the extent of this great undersea canyon,” the aforementioned blog post reads.
Another interesting addition to the application is the “Explore the Ocean” layer, which includes hundreds of photos and videos from more than 100 contributors.
“Plan your next vacation during your daily commute by clicking on any of the little blue icons. The gold highlighted icons represent content from the Mission Blue Hope Spot initiative,” Google says.
Android 2.2 users should benefit from a few more features, including support for Flash in balloons, so that one can watch videos in balloons in case Flash Player 10.1 is installed on the handset.
The program should prove much easier to navigate now, Google notes: “for most devices, you can now use two fingers to “look around” and change your viewpoint, as an alternate to using the on-screen button.”
Users can tilt their view much easier now, so as to see underwater canyons or other landscapes. The view can be rotated through the simple twist of one's fingers.
Most devices based on the Android 2.1 or later operating system support Google Earth for Android 1.1, which was made available for download from the Android Market.
