Google unveils Search Globe: A visualized map

BANGALORE, INDIA: Search engine giant Google has announced a new visualization tool for search queries, Search Globe.

Built by Google Data Arts Team at Google using WebGL, a new technology for modern browsers that uses computer’s hardware to generate fast, 3D graphics, the new tool enable users to find the real time search through visualizing the search results from around the world using its search engine.

In a blog post, Valdean Klump from Google Data Arts Team posted, "The Search Globe visualizes searches from one day, and shows the language of the majority of queries in an area in different colors."

The company claims that, to access the new tool, one needs a WebGL-enabled browser, like Google Chrome, to see the Globe.

"We’ve also open sourced this platform so that developers can build their own globes using their own data, and we look forward to seeing other globes orbiting around the web," added Klump.

Google Earth service launched on Honeycomb

A 3D mapping software has especially been optimised for Honeycomb, which means for the first time buildings could be viewed in three dimensions on Android tablets as well.

Google Earth, the popular mapping service, has been optimised for Android Honeycomb devices. A 3D mapping software has especially been optimised for Honeycomb, which means for the first time buildings could be viewed in three dimensions on Android tablets as well.

Peter Birch, a Google product manager, wrote in a blog post, "When we launched Google Earth in 2005, most of us were still using flip phones. At the time, the thought of being able to cart around 197 million square miles of Earth in your pocket was still a distant dream. Last year, that dream came to fruition for Android users when we released Google Earth for Android."

He added, "We've added support for fully textured 3-D buildings, so your tour through the streets of Manhattan will look more realistic than ever. There's also a new action bar up top, enabling easier access to search, the option to 'fly to your location' and layers such as Places, Panoramio photos, Wikipedia and 3-D buildings."

The blog post likens the movement from smartphone to the tablets to watching a movie in theatre to IMAX theatre.

Surprisingly, the iPad version of Google Earth was available for the users earlier whereas the Honeycomb version has been launched now.