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Microsoft's 'Telescope' to compete with Google 'Sky'

By Jacqueline Emigh, BetaNews

May 12, 2008, 6:40 PM

Download Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope Spring Beta!

Not wasting any time in rebounding from its failed attempt to buy Yahoo, Microsoft is now readying its own response to Google Sky -- a tool known as Worldwide Telescope, which is set to launch at the end of the month.

The free software form Microsoft will be aimed at letting users view the night sky through data gathered by NASA's Hubble Space telescope and other telescopes throughout the globe, according to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

The software will also make use of Web-based astronomy databases. Users will be able to build their own "tours" of stars and galaxies.

"This is taking data that's very complex, gathered over many years from many telescopes, and making it accessible," said Gates, during a speech in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.

Also according to Gates, the data collection methods in Worldwide Telescope can be adapted for many other subjects, such as genomics, or the science of genes.

But Gates didn't mention whether Microsoft is involved with any other projects utilizing similar approaches to gathering data.

The Redmond company's new service will be competing with Google Sky, rolled out in August of last year, which also uses data from the Hubble Space telescope and other telescopes worldwide.

As part of Google Earth, Google Sky leverages Google Maps. In addition to a 3D looks at stars and galaxies, Google Sky offers infrared, microwave, and historical views of the sky.

Google's historical view, for example, shows a hand drawn map of the sky originally published in 1792, with the constellations in their classical forms from the collections of David Rumsey.

Also in Jakarta last week, Microsoft used the platform of the Government Leaders Forum - Asia to announce the establishment of Microsoft Innovation Centers (MICs) in Indonesia and Pakistan.

Microsoft is launching five MICs in Indonesia. The first of these MICs opened on Friday, in conjunction with Gates' appearance in Jakarta.

Download Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope Spring Beta!

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By pasbec

edited Jul 8, 2008 - 8:38 AM

We have received this message (edited slightly), from an insider source who has sent us over 60 e-mails on various subjects since October 2007. We first reported from this person on 24 April, when we wrote to us about the manipulation of the metals markets, and earlier about chemtrails. He has been communicating to us for several months about an impending "massive hurricane" of events - in his words, set to occur before October/November this year. The message below (dated 1 July) is the most stark we have received. Some paraphrasing with all identifying details removed.

I am going to talk with you about survival. My report is not based on spiritual data. It is hard survival information derived from my sources who are adamant about preparing and getting out of harm's way now.

This report from Alex Wallenwein is most important in understanding what is happening. Alex is one of the few left who are tipping the scales ever so slightly. Note that even though the timing is currently not exactly synchronized, the sequence is to be noted:

1) The provocation by non-compliance in Iran
2) The upcoming attack on Iran
3) Intense repercussions on the USA
4) The IMF 'overtly' intervening in US financial matters via the Federal Reserve
5) The coming collapse of the dollar
6) A Wall Street breakdown to unbelievable lows.

All this will happen very soon, most likely by November if not before. My informers are leaving the building. The refuge is in sight.

So much is about to happen that safety is now an urgent element to prioritize. January will be too late to proceed successfully.

I recommend a small parcel of land in the relatively higher elevation wooded hills, somewhere the masses will avoid in the beginning. Perhaps very remote between hills, with a natural stream, and wildlife, and an area cleared for some agricultural work, i.e. garden, and of course communication equipment to be used off the grid, fans and water bottles, food, generators, fuel, oil, bicycles, but mostly battery operated equipment, and some kind of EMF copper wiring protection around your perimeter, and perhaps some defense equipment, monitor/camera surveillance equipment, and warning devices, satellite dishes.

Sounds extreme, but the hungry masses will not care much about spiritual values and brotherly love and respect - sad to say.

People just will not believe what is about to happen to society over the next few years. I find it all very hard to believe even myself. But I know the game plan, and it does not include even us. We are at war with an unseen enemy who has been practicing on us for a good while. We are all considered to be useless consuming animals.

Then a day later, our friend sent us this:

This will probably be my last contact with you, as I plan to move shortly. The only reason I will contact you again, if contact is even possible, is to provide exact details of anything I can learn if at all possible.

I enjoyed the last report with Michael St.Clair.

He is basically on target. His work has been followed very closely. I do not believe he is in any direct danger at this point.

Most people just have no real clue as to what is ahead. Many do not even want to know, or would even believe it. The programming has been most efficient and reinforced to the point that people will swear that they have not been programmed, when in fact they are heavily programmed.

Michael St.Clair is a good person. His advice to you is more than notable. Not to echo the sentiment carelessly or light heartedly, but the most important thing each person facing the next few years, and whatever future there evolves, is to learn self-reliance. This is beyond imperative if one wishes to survive.

Of course you really have no idea who I am. However, I am who I say, and have worked with the people who make things happen, and control most anything of major import. I have experienced that which movies cannot portray. This is my statement of fact for you now.

I know the importance of my messages. You have already seen the results of many of them. I want to say more, but cannot now, perhaps never.

I want to tell you in a most sincere fashion, that, those whom the reporters refer to as "Zionist" are nothing more than the Rothschilds' henchmen. These people, an army in effect all over the world, many concentrated in the USA right now, many whom are absolutely programmed from birth, are cold-blooded, ruthless killers. They are trained in every aspect of militarization and control. Some are trained to be subtle and can draw into their confidence people from various walks of life, and then do a 180 on them without notice... very frightening folks, I can tell you.

They read all our emails, and know who is doing what, especially of folks like me. You cannot escape the tracing techniques they have in place, which are absolutely mind boggling. I have already been warned in the past about some of my emails.

My immediate source of protection and I have a basic appreciation and respect. What he tells me remains basically confidential, although I do spit out some important data here and there. Also, the fact that the Roths are so close to accomplishing their objectives, Absolute World Control, they are becoming really indifferent to what anyone does or says, as the game is basically finished.

I keep hearing that there is a rather urgent, well-orchestrated multi-faceted situation approaching by fall. I hear about October, but the exact date I have not been able to learn: a worldwide problem that will also include the financial community, at the very least a rapidly escalating world financial collapse on a magnitude never seen before.

Tell your readership that preparation for world changes need to be considered, not out of fear, but something like, let's just say, a massive hurricane in the Gulf. It's coming our way, but we just do not know quite when it will hit, so we intelligently prepare for the eventuality.

Self-reliance is the key to our future.

Score: 0

By gaffer.wiles

edited May 20, 2008 - 4:37 AM

The joke of it all is that you cannot even go to the http://www.worldwidetelescope.org site with any browser other than MSIE 6.0 or better!

Firefox 2 and 3 (Up to RC1) loads the preliminary Flash intro page up to 99% and then just sits there. M$ are basically locking all non-IE browsers out of the site.

If you run Linux or Mac on your computer, forget it. It is Windows-only and even so, you need .NET 2.0 framework bloatware to run the software. I ran it on a virtual Windows machine and it behaved itself OK, but honestly I cannot see what all the fuss is about...

Stellarium [http://www.stellarium.org] and Celestia [http://www.shatters.net/celestia/] do what WWT are doing - mostly, and these programs are far more accessible to non-Wintel machines.

Close but no cigar M$! The line between innovation and just plain copying someone else's idea and adding some .NET eyecandy is pretty blurred at Redmond, WA it seems!

Score: 0

By _Kieran_

edited May 13, 2008 - 11:52 AM

Umm

Am I missing something here?.... You're all on about Google Earth/Sky and how Microsoft has copied them. BUT, "Q. When did Microsoft first starting looking at the sky?
A. For 16 years, Microsoft has invested, and will continue to invest, in long-term, broad-based research through Microsoft Research. WorldWide Telescope is built on work that started with Jim Gray’s SkyServer and his contributions to Sloan Digital Sky Survey.", therefore was Microsoft not doing this first?

I don't understand why people feel the need to compare everything done by one company to another, take everything on its own merits rather than stating how it compares to every other piece of software out there that has *slight* resemblance.

ref: http://www.worldwidetele...e.org/buzz/FAQ.aspx#roy

Score: 0

By lucianct

edited May 13, 2008 - 7:09 AM

It crashes on windows xp sp3

later edit: you have to install some directx components to work

Score: 0

By dono1216

posted May 12, 2008 - 9:54 PM

I haven't used Google Sky, but I did see part of Gates' presentation on Worldwide Telescope, and it looks cool. Hey, if it can get more kids into science, like Mythbusters, I say go for it. Marketing WT in a big way only opens it up to bashers, though, for better or worse.

I actually think Microsoft Research has come out with some interesting projects over the years, although perhaps only a handful become actual useful products. My favorite is probably Snarf. The software is very rudimentary, but that's not what research is about, I guess.

http://research.microsof...layArticle.aspx?id=1365

Score: 0

By shydoc

posted May 12, 2008 - 8:17 PM

Great, Microsoft now competing, finally. Its going to be a great time for end users.

Score: 0

By Phred

edited May 12, 2008 - 7:33 PM

Is it just me or do any of you also think that Microsoft should stop copying others ideas and come up with something of their own...?

Score: 0

By jeffreybt

posted May 13, 2008 - 10:47 AM

THIS JUST IN!!!!!

Google was the First Search Engine site
Google Maps was the First Online Map site
Google Mail was the first web e-mail site

I could go on.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted May 13, 2008 - 11:41 AM

I could be wrong but have a feeling Hotmail (which was an acquisition) is around longer as a feature than Google as a company...

Score: 0

By jeffreybt

posted May 13, 2008 - 11:59 AM

I'm not going to lie, I'm not sure if you got the sarcasm in my post or not.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

edited May 13, 2008 - 3:13 PM

No, I didn't! You have to try a LOT HARDER with folks like Dumbo setting the standard for non-sarcasm on this board... :)

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted May 13, 2008 - 1:37 AM

Not really. When I think of Microsoft in that context, I usually think of BASF...

"We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better." :)

Score: 0

By Michael.Hatamoto

posted May 12, 2008 - 8:49 PM

In all honesty, I believe Microsoft will continue to do whatever it takes to stay successful - if that means copying a service to have it compete with one from Google or another company, then I think big Bill should do whatever it takes.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted May 12, 2008 - 8:49 PM

Oh I think they should come up with something of their own for once but lets not expect too much from the softies.

Score: 0

By rseiler

posted May 12, 2008 - 10:26 PM

An idea for someone: a site/blog post which lists Google projects that MS has baldly copied. It's a long and increasingly incredible list.

Score: 0

By Maestr0

posted May 13, 2008 - 9:18 AM

You mean like google earth which google bought from some other company and had nothing to do with creating?

Score: 0

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