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Virtual Earth Now Windows Live Local

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

December 7, 2005, 5:04 PM

Windows Live LocalOn Thursday, Microsoft plans to retire MSN Virtual Earth after just five months of providing maps and satellite imagery. Its replacement will be Windows Live Local, a service that brings together local search, mapping and business listings under the new Live.com brand.

Microsoft had originally aimed to make the 45-degree satellite views that will be a hallmark of Windows Live Local as part of the original Virtual Earth debut. However, when the service launched in July, the feature was notably absent.

The close-up imagery will come from Microsoft partner Pictometry and is expected to be initially available across ten U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Las Vegas.

Users will be able to zoom in and pan 360 degrees, giving the impression of flying over the cities. Pictometry chartered planes that flew at a low altitude to take the images used in the service.

"The combination of immersive aerial imagery, customizable map annotations, innovative driving directions and the ability to share local search information with others gives users an incredibly powerful and easy way to find what they want and get where they want to go," said MSN Search corporate vice president Christopher Payne.

Social features will play a major role in Windows Live Local. Customized maps can be created and annotated for sharing with others. Users can also click on buildings to get information on the location, as well as driving directions and business listings.

Furthermore, the service is expected to be integrated into MSN Messenger to allow people in a conversation to see and annotate the same map.

Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox notes that Microsoft's foray into local mapping focuses on the social interaction, which he says is even bigger news than the angled views Windows Live Local will offer.

"As Local and other Windows Live services launch and mature, connectedness with friends or family will be, I predict, the most important benefits," Wilcox told BetaNews Wednesday. "Take this for example: sending real maps, rather than links to maps, in IM; or looking for local restaurants and seeing where buddies went to eat."

Starting Thursday, the beta of Windows Live Local can be found at local.live.com.

Add a Comment (15 Comments)

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By moslem

posted Jan 26, 2006 - 6:35 AM

i want to take a satellite image from my town
how can i do that with google earth.
thank you.

Score: 0

By mancub

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 5:22 PM

both have long way to go

Score: 0

By xoineg

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 11:05 AM

Nice.... but the bird's eye pictures are from the side and i cannot see much if there is a big building in the way. Looks good though, but google earth still better and for those who want something browser based maps.google.com is also very good. I think microsoft did a good job, but needs a little more like being able to click and drag the map.

Score: 0

By Ryokurin

posted Dec 9, 2005 - 3:43 AM

Hit the compass in the corner while in the side view and you can flip the view in the opposite direction in most places. Its actually is a new picture, not just a flipped picture.

Score: 0

By bertanaygun

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 11:25 AM

It already has it, it is actually Google Maps that doesn't use the mouse fully. You can drag the map in Google but you can't zoom using the wheel as in Windows Live Local.

Score: 0

By maniakmx3

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 11:01 AM

Today on CNN, The war of the conglomerates!

Microsoft pounded Google today with the release of Virtual earth on their new live.com network. Google is still unaware of the nuclear attack that just struck them. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said this.

Bill: pwned!!!!

That is all for this CNN News update

Score: 0

By mancub

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 5:23 PM

you got to be kidding

Score: 0

By thilfil

edited Dec 8, 2005 - 8:56 AM

This is the fifth Microsoft press release in a row you guys have posted..

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 11:08 AM

Might as well get used to it.

Score: 0

By Veign

edited Dec 8, 2005 - 1:10 AM

Seems very similiar to what is being offer by A9 - http://www.veign.com/blo...ure-of-online-maps.html

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted Dec 7, 2005 - 7:27 PM

WOW pretty narrow minded!

Score: 0

By heat_fan1

posted Dec 7, 2005 - 5:22 PM

Sorry Google Earth, but it SEEMS like you've been blown out of the water. This looks very impressive, especially the IM features. It'll definitely be neat to work on the same map as a buddy. And I think the best part about this is that it's browser-based, unlike Earth. Good work MS (well, I hope when I see tomorrow that it's good work).

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Dec 7, 2005 - 11:27 PM

Wish I could comment on this, but I can't get the site to come up right now. I guess the servers are overloaded.

"And I think the best part about this is that it's browser-based, unlike Earth."

You do know about http://maps.google.com don't you?

Those are the same maps you get with Google Earth.

Score: 0

By heat_fan1

posted Dec 8, 2005 - 12:13 AM

Yeah, I shouldn't haven't commented either. I was more or less commenting on the article. The service won't go live (no pun intended) until sometime Thursday.

Yeah, I know about Google Maps. Google Maps is somewhat less functional than Virtual Earth, but much less functional than Google Earth and Local Live. Google Maps just isn't quite as easy to use as Earth, the MS offerings, or even Yahoo! Maps (although Yahoo! lacks satellite images). Yahoo! Maps Beta is actually a surprise entry, with a very good Flash interface that's easy to use.

Score: 0

By Pdj79

edited Dec 8, 2005 - 9:50 AM

Google Maps isn't as easy to use as Yahoo! Maps? Please tell me you're joking. Is it because its too simplistic and doesn't guide the user on how to use it from the beginning. I personally like the uncluttered, clean look of Google Maps. If I want to find my location, I type it in the search bar...not hard. If I want directions to it, I either click on the hovering bubble on the map that says 'Directions To' and then type in where I'm starting from. I'm sorry...how is this hard? On the other hand, I am impressed with Yahoo! Maps Beta...although it is a bit slow to load...but hopefully that'll get fixed. I have yet to look at the new Live Local offering, but considering the social-aspect of it all, I'm sure its good too. I am not brand specific...I use what I use based on what I need. Google Maps for the satellite views...Yahoo beta for the traffic aspect. I won't be too quick to judge Microsoft's faring because I used to use Mappoint exclusively as their directions seemed a little more accurate. In the end, we all win.

EDIT: Indianapolis is one of the 10 cities that have the Bird's Eye View on Local Live...this thing is friggin' beautiful...I saw my car at work in awesome detail...thumbs up to Microsoft for this offering. Now if only it were a bit faster (server load must be killer right now).

Score: 0

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