Google Earth Hits Android 2.1 Devices Via Market

Users of the Google Nexus One may notice that Google Earth recently became available in the Android Market. Google Earth supports devices running Android 2.1 and up, and offers some really nifty features.During the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Google CEO Eric Schmidt showed off Google Earth running on a Nexus One. Even though Google didn't make any sort of official announcement, Schmidt's demo was enough to confirm that Earth is headed to the Android platform for the first time.

Today, Google Earth for Android 2.1 went live in the Android Market.

Google Earth is Google Maps as realized on 3D steroids. It lets users spin themselves around the globe and offers rich tools for finding places and gathering more information about them.

For example, it lets users find specific places or businesses, see terrain maps, borders and labels, and link to Wikipedia entries for more information on any given spot. It allows people to use the Panoramio layer to see user-submitted photos of locations, but does not support accelerometers nor account sign-in.

Google Earth for Android only supports Android 2.1 for now. That means only the Nexus One gets it to start. Not even the Motorola Droid, which runs Android 2.0.1 can use Google Earth. Devices stuck on Android versions 1.5 and 1.6 will not be able to find or download Google Earth, either. Motorola has promised that the Droid will receive the 2.1 update "soon", and other Android devices (CLIQ, ERIS, etc.) are slotted to update to 2.1 later this year.

Previously, Google Earth was only available to the iPhone. It is a free download.

[Via Google]