14 DAY TRIAL // The "new Google Earth" will be unveiled next week, Google says, refraining from sharing any more details regarding the upcoming event.
Appropriately, according to the invites Google is sending out, the event will take place on April 18, four days before Earth Day, which is held internationally on April 22.
Google Earth used to be one of the coolest things to play around with online, providing users with a way to move around the earth and explore new locations; but not before checking out the street their house is on. In the past few years, however, Earth has been largely swallowed up by Maps, which became an impressively powerful tool to have.
It's unclear at this point what Google has planned for the day, but it wouldn't hold a dedicated event for Google Earth just to remind you that it exists. The most likely scenario involves a completely redesigned tool, perhaps speedier engines, so the images load faster, or maybe even more updated imagery via the company's myriad of satellites.
Cool features, maybe more VR
Google Earth has always been a cool tool to have, allowing you to do a lot of things that Maps never could, like use a flight simulator, view the effects of global warming over time, go back in time and view historical pictures, or dive beneath the ocean waves.
Another thing that Google may be announcing in its Earth event next week is the integration of more VR elements. Given the company's announcement a few months back regarding Google Earth VR, which allows people to put on a VR headset and fly to various destinations around the world like some kind of Superman, we might see more of this too. At the time, however, Google Earth VR only featured a few preset destinations, like the Amazon River, Manhattan or the Swiss Alps.
Sadly, this is all just speculation at this point, no matter how good it sounds. Thankfully, however, the event is just days away, so we don't have to wait too long.