Redesigned Google Earth comes to Android, Chrome browser; includes 3D view, guided tours and more

Google today announced it revamped version of Google Earth. The service is now available only for Chrome browsers and Android, but will soon arrive on iOS and other browsers in the future.

So what’s new? Well, there’s plenty.

Firstly, there’s the new voice search. The voice search accepts voice commands, that can either be directly asked by query or using natural language. Google Earth responds directly with the answer or what is it thinks is the correct answer to your voice-based search query.

The new Google Earth adds 3D maps of some locations, will help you learn about random places around the globe and give you some curated guided tours by the best in the business as well, right from the comfort of your home on your Chrome browser or Android smartphone

The tours are not like the stuff we have seen before. Google has gone to great lengths to pull this curated list of guided tours the total that now stands at 50. Google approached a number of scientists, documentarians, and other experts to basically bring the world closer to Earth users and basically easier to explore.

All of these guided tours come under the new Voyager section and includes a number of tours including one of the Tanzanian Gombe National Park led by none other than Jane Goodall. BBC Earth has contributed to the mix as well with video journeys to the six different habitats.

Also added to Google Earth is an I’m Feeling Lucky button, that will help users explore and find new and unseen places around the globe.

Something new out here are the “knowledge cards” that appear at the bottom of the app or on the left of the browser window. They pick up descriptions from Wikipedia and also present interesting fact about the the place.

Next up is the 3D view feature that will basically present you with a bird’s eye (read drone’s eye) view of the city you are exploring, provided it is available.

While the new Google Earth app works with any Android smartphone, the web version that runs on Chrome will need a webGL graphics acceleration.