Google improves image stitching on its Earth

New mosaic stitching in Google Earth removes the old "tile" effect.

Google says its “taking bird’s eye view to a whole new level” with the latest edition of its Google Earth world viewer.

Version 6.2 is “the most beautiful yet,” the company says, “with more seamless imagery and a new search interface.” The Google Earth globe is made from a mosaic of satellite and aerial photographs taken on different dates and under different lighting and weather conditions. Because of this variance, Google says, views of the Earth from high altitude can sometimes appear patchy.

A new way of rendering imagery “smoothes out this quilt of images,” the company says. “The end result is a beautiful new Earth-viewing experience that preserves the unique textures of the world’s most defining geographic landscapes—without the quilt effect.”

The update also adds the option to share a screenshot of your current view in Google Earth through Google+, as well as images of the places you’ve virtually traveled to with your Circles, such as family, friends or your local hiking club.

The Grand Canyon, before and after the new mosaic in Google Earth.