Google Earth 2.0 Flies Onto Honeycomb Tablets

Google has launched a new version of its Google Earth application , tailored for Android 3.0 “Honeycomb“, and designed to make use of larger tablet screens.

The free Google Earth for Android software lets users click on an icon to see photos and videos, or read about prominent places around the world. Users can also choose to display other layers, such as the Weather Layer or the “Explore the Ocean” layer. Or of course, the Royal Wedding tracker.

The fresh app, Earth for Android 2.0, offers more of the same, but optimised for the larger touchscreen real estate. The program is available from Google’s Android Market for Android 2.1 devices and later and all Honeycomb tablets.

Fly through well-known sights

Earth for Android displays 3D buildings and includes an action bar to help users search and zoom to their location. There are also Earth “layers” for Google Places, Panoramio photos, and the popular Wikipedia Website.

In Google’s example, a user can “fly around” the 3D Colosseum in Rome, Italy while browsing photos, which pop up within the satellite imagery so users can interact with them without leaving the Colosseum and its surroundings.

True to the Honeycomb design that features smooth, graphics-rich Web browsing, Google added content pop-ups appearing within Earth View to let users see more information without switching back and forth between pages.

This multitasking improves the user experience of the application as a person’s fingers dance across the 10.1-inch Motorola Xoom display or the touchscreen of the 8.9-inch LG G-Slate.

Google Earth for Android launched in February 2010 for Google’s Nexus One smartphone and later on the Motorola Droid.

Earth for Android 2.0 adds another app to the sparse lineup of Honeycomb apps. It likely won’t draw new users, but it will certainly please existing Earth for Android users. See these mini-reviews of the app on GigaOm and Droid Life.