Microsoft Unveils “Virtual Earth”
Microsoft just launched a beta version of their new mapping software, called Virtual Earth. Clearly designed to complete with Google Earth, their software combines yellow pages data, satellite imagery, and maps. Virtual Earth isn’t a download like Google Earth, just a website. However, Microsoft does offer a download called "Locate Me" which will, well, locate you, based on either Wi-Fi access points or your IP address.
The first thing I noticed about the website is that it comes up displaying just a basic map of the U.S. with no aerial imagery. It’s a far cry from the awing Google Earth software, that spins the globe then zooms in the U.S., satellite images all the way. I decided to download the "Locate Me" software…after clicking "Locate Me" in the toolbar several times and not realizing that the annoying pop-up box was actually giving me instructions on how to download the software. Oops. I finished the download and Firefox promptly crashed. I restarted Firefox and revisited the website. A bit later, I got the Locate Me feature working. It was close, but it didn’t zoom in on my exact address…or county. That’s okay - at least I was seeing satellite photos instead of just the boring start-up map. There is this other feature called the "scratchpad", whose purpose is to store favorite addresses, I guess. Funny, because I think Google Earth just remembered the addresses I had keyed in. (Clicking Scratchpad in the Toolbar, of course, brings up another pop-up box with instructions on how to use that feature.)
I suppose it’s handy to have this functionality via the web, but if you have the CPU power to run Google Earth, it’s worth it to get the download. In the end, I uninstalled the "Locate Me" software. There was something a little creepy about a tool called "Microsoft Location Finder" on my PC that looks up my IP address and zooms in on my town.
In a related story, there is much buzz on the net about how Virtual Earth shows an empty field where Apple’s headquarters are supposed to be. I guess Virtual Earth really is Bill’s world.
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I think it’s best you stick with Google Earth
I like Google Earth a lot but it doesn’t have satellite images of everywhere yet. When I try to locate myself it is one of those areas in the green and fuzzy. Still, sounds like its a lot better than Virtual Earth.
I much prefer google earth… Google just does it all better.
I’ve travelled to Fort Myers this week, closer to your neck of the woods than Atlanta, eh?
The images on Virtual Earth are *ancient*! I wonder if the reason that the Apple HQ shows up as a blank field is because it actually *was* a blank field back when those pictures were shot?
Take a look at Manhattan - VE still shows the Twin Towers standing. Pretty creepy.