Google earth plugin stopped working with Chrome v39 for Mac (64-bit)?

[Sergio Llobet]

Hi,

I just updated Google Chrome to the latest version (39.0.2171.65 (64-bit)) which introduce the 64-bit architecture and it seems that because of that the Earth plugin is not recognised anymore. 

• When I go to the https://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/plugin.html page it says that I need to download the plugin
  
• I download it and install it
• Then it seems like nothing happens. It still say that I need to install it.

This was working just fine until the previous Chrome version (v38) for Mac.

Earth plugin is working fine for Google Chrome (v39) for Windows

Unfortunately I'm working with the Earth API for a University class so this is a really bad surprise to me.

Following the guidelines I post this here before submitting as issue to be sure I didn't miss anything.

Regards

-Sergio

[Berwyn]

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/6083313?hl=en

Chrome 64-bit supports only 64-bit NPAPI plugins

The 64-bit version of Chrome supports only 64-bit NPAPI plugins.

We have tested the following 64-bit NPAPI plugins and confirmed that they work with Chrome 64-bit:

• Oracle Java (64-bit)
• Microsoft Silverlight (64-bit)

The following Google NPAPI plugins will not work with Chrome 64-bit:

• Google Voice Plugin
• Google Earth Plugin

Note: Google Hangouts works fully on Chrome 64-bit.

If you want to use these or other NPAPI plugins, you should use the 32-bit Chrome channel. To switch channels visit theChrome download page.

[Berwyn]

I am an enterprise customer and I have posted support ticket on this

It seams that Google has unofficially decided to depreciate the Earth API without officially telling anyone, the advice given so far has been to have users revert to an older version of chrome.

Windows Chrome 64-bit user will have the same issue. 

For Windows users using Google Chrome 32-bit, the Earth API is only supported up to Chrome rev-35  

https://developers.google.com/earth/documentation/index#installing_the_google_earth_plugin

The response so far on my ticket was that chrome support officially ended for Chrome rev 37  for both Windows and Mac

[Sergio Llobet]

Thanks Berwyn, it seems I'll have to use Firefox for the moment (which is not a bad option).

[Sachelis]

Really? Google Chrome (64 bit v39) doesn't support Google Earth? Google Chrome won't work on the Google Earth page (https://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/plugin.html)? 

That seems mind boggling. Has anyone received a response from Google on this?

Thanks.

[rezn8d]

It boggles the mind:

https://productforums.google.com/d/msg/maps/ULPH1VxnbbA/hlgSs4u_xc4J

The Final Countdown for NPAPI

http://blog.chromium.org/2014/11/the-final-countdown-for-npapi.html

[rezn8d]

Meanwhile, is that a WebGL version of Google Earth on the maps.google.com site?

Why isn't a WebGL version of GEarth plugin at least in the works?

SMH

[barryhunter (KML Guru)]

Well the final date for the API has been been announced now. 

http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/announcing-deprecation-of-google-earth.html

.. but it will probably become unusable before then. 

[paul b]

I'm new to Google Earth EC.  Can you let me know if my understanding is right. The EC customers can run the GE plugin on there systems just if they are using older browsers. The systems EC customers use are servers separate from Google's servers which will allow the plugin to work even after Google stops support for the commercial users?

[iscollar]

Will it still be possible to open an KML/KMZ file in stand-alone Google Earth as before without a browser either on the command line when GE starts or from within GE?