LizardTech releases free GeoViewer app for Android.

LizardTech has had a free image viewer for desktops (GeoViewer) for some time now.  Now they have released a free version of their viewer on the Android platform through the Google Play Store.  GeoViewer is a simple viewer that can handle MrSID and JPEG 2000 images.  Users can pan and zoom to navigate the images.  You can also add vector layers like Esri Shape files and KML Files.

The app lets users measure distance between points, between a point and your current location (if your device’s GPS is enabled) or along a path of points.  GeoViewer can see geocoordinates of any location by touching that place on the screen.  Users can look at layer properties, the coordinate reference system being used, the layer’s geo bounding box, dimensions, colors pace, data type and resolution.  Users can also search locations by geographic coordinates in WGS84 (Lat/Long) or in the images native coordinate system.

Lizard tech has previously released a version of GeoViewer for iOS.  These two apps are essentially the same with one exception.  The iOS version can except that it can not pull layers from WMS servers.  LizardTech states that this functionality will eventually be added to the Android version.

GeoViewer for Android requires the device to be running Android version 2.3.3 or later.  The app is free on the Google Play Store.

I downloaded the app to my phone and my Nexus 7.  It worked very smoothly.  I added several MrSID files to the device and it worked just like viewer should.  The images were clear and taking measurements was simple enough.  This viewer is great for viewing high quality MrSID files off line.  My first thought was why would I ever use this when I have access to Google Maps?  What if I’m offline?  Google Maps has the ability to go “off line” but it takes a lot forethought and pre planning.  But GeoViewer gives me access to my MrSID files.  That means I can get the latest aerials on my device.  Google’s images aren’t always the latest.  Opening those files was easy enough.  I emailed a smaller MrSID file to myself and I loaded others to my Dropbox account.  When access the MrSID files either way the option to open them in GeoViewer popped right up.

LizardTech’s GeoViewer for Android is a good, simple, easy to use MrSID (and JPEG 2000) viewer at the right price!  Go check it out.