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MSN Virtual Earth Revealed
jeremyw writes "A day before its official launch, MSN Virtual Earth has gone live. MSN appears to have been inspired by Google Maps in this combination of local search and mapping. Virtual Earth introduces a number of interface enhancements to the now-familiar draggable aerial web map, such as the ability to zoom in using your mouse scroll wheel, and a Location Finder to determine your location to determine your real-world location "using Wi-Fi technology." Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble claims the site may not perform at full capacity until Monday."
I can see my house from here!
bad_outlook
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Is this vague enough for you?
wow microsoft is just leaps ahead of the competition when it comes to innovation
What have they done to Columbia University's campus map?
Microsoft Version
(correct) Google Maps version
On the map view, zoom into my hometown near Birmingham, UK using "Road Map" view.
Switch to "Aerial Photo" view and BLAM! straight in downtown Atlanta, USA.
It's amazing. I never knew my hometown could do that!
"It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
Microsoft TOTALLY ripped ENCARTA off from the Triple-A. This whole idea of SELLING MAPS has been around for at least, what, 35 years or more. I think the guys at Apple invented it. Thievery!
I'm not sure, but I think Microsoft may be living in a bit of denial...
On the other hand, it took only a week or two for them to update Flight Simulator!
The cars aren't moving.
I always assumed it was Gates' ego - he honestly believed the sun should rise on him before most of the rest of the U.S.
Think that's bad? Try comparing those scenes in the aerial/satellite views ;)
I did a search for 'Copenhagen, Denmark' and it only found some tiny towns in US, how rude!! :)
I never assumed that NBC graphic depicted the earth rotating. I thought it was from the perspective of someone in a rocket circling the earth as he travels from West to East.
---Technology will liberate us if it doesn't enslave us first.
Ah, yes. You see, this is a common misconception in the IT world. A lot of otherwise intelligent people think that just because Microsoft are innovating from behind again, that means they should conform to whatever de facto standards may already have been established.
People are well aware of Microsoft's excellent track record in innovating with the ideas of others. So it is quite natural that when these people see a company like Google indulging in a spot of pre-emptive copying, they fall into the error of assuming that just because Microsoft came up with the idea second, that means they didn't do it first.
Once you disregard this spurious and distracting datum, it becomes clear that Google have the responsibility to conform to Microsoft's interface. It's really quite simple.
Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
wow taking forever to load... nothing like MSN load time... wow aint it fast... oh wait... its loading... no wait here it come... damn and i have broad band and it is acting like 14.4k dial up... well i love the hybrid maps on google :) so i am sticking to google :)
(yes i know i suck at spelling fell free to correct my grammar and/or spellin i dont care, im still not going to change
Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble claims the site may not perform at full capacity until Monday.
So I suppose us visiting it wouldn't be such a good idea. I can see the posting now:
"Slashdot Crashes Earth"
At least that's better than when IE had the rotating Earth throbber. That only showed the Americas and Europe, and left out the whole of Asia!!!!
Mirror
I quit!