Microsoft and Google Fighting for the Skies

Robert writes "Today's SF Chronicle has an article about Microsoft and Google's new battle for the skies. Both companies now have similar products that combine maps and satellite photos. Roads and driving directions can be superimposed on imagery on both products." From the article: "Google and Microsoft are engaged in a major battle over Internet users. Each has unveiled a series of features designed to keep users loyal and grab a bigger share of the lucrative search-engine market. Yahoo, in Sunnyvale, also is a major competitor, though its executives have yet to express any interest in aerial images. Amazon.com offers street- level photographs of businesses through its A9.com search engine. "

Comments

it just doesn't seem like them

[sweeney37]

I'm absolutely shocked by the way Microsoft took someone else's idea and co-opted it to be their own. just shocked.

Mike

Re:it just doesn't seem like them

[MushMouth]

this page was active in January of 1999, maybe google should stop copying other peoples ideas.

Re:it just doesn't seem like them

[cazbar]

I can see the Microsoft patent attempt coming now...

Method for showing simulated cheese when zoomed in on maps of the moon.

Sorry Google, your creations are our property.

(click here and zoom in if I lost you)

fighting for the skies?

[Anonymous Coward]

sweet, I hope it's somewhere over San Diego.. that place is a hellhole and could use a few fighter jets raining death over them...

Hmmm....

[slapout]

....wonder when we'll see the beta of "Google Flight Simulator"....

Re:Hmmm....

[Anonymous Coward]

It's already in Google Excel!

So Yahoo won't do aerial images ...

[tomhudson]

Since Google's motto is "do no evil", and Microsoft wants the home market, I guess Yahoo! will have to "settle" for porn images.

Gee, in that case I KNOW who'll make more money off their image search! AND have the most loyal customers ...

New features coming soon!

[Kisil]

Word on the streets is Microsoft is planning an innovative news filtering application that will bring content from multiple sources into one easy-to-read page. Microsoft also has alleged plans for an innovative desktop search application that will allow users fast and easy access to content on their own machines.

Both features due early in 2009. No word yet on whether these features will be supported for non-microsoft browsers.

I wonder...

[donleyp]

how long it will take Microsoft to come up with a way to monopolize the search engine market and cost us another $10 billion.

Re:Observation.

[Eclypser]

I just looked out my office window. Congress really does look like that.

Re:The Winner in the long-term

[borawjm]

The first one that allows me to spy on the hot blonde down the street while she's sunbathing will be my winner

Canada?

[Quiet_Desperation]

Yeah, but that's Canada, man. Do they even need maps? I mean... is there anything *to* map? Other than moose migration vectors, barren tundric wastelands, scattered impact crater remnants and the Molson brewing plant, what the hell else is there worth getting a map to?

Hey, I'm teasing! Calm down!

Re:Canada?

[gstoddart]

Yeah, but that's Canada, man. Do they even need maps? I mean... is there anything *to* map? Other than moose migration vectors, barren tundric wastelands, scattered impact crater remnants and the Molson brewing plant, what the hell else is there worth getting a map to?

Yes, but it's extremely valuable to know just exactly how much more barren expanse of nothing is left on your journey.

Sometimes friends will give directions to their houses like "travel 59.8 km through the tundra on this vector, turn left at the start of the muskeg, and then go north to the impact crater for 6kms". :-P

Without precise directions and maps, we'd just all be wandering around in the tundra with no clue of where we're going.

Re:Canada?

[falser]

Canada does have a highway. It's intelligently named the "Trans-Canada Highway". It makes giving directions to different cities very easy: "East" or "West".

Re:Tin Foil Hats Unite!

[WormholeFiend]

Now why would they want us to think Apple only had 1 building

It's not Microsoft's doing.

I read in alt.conspiracy that Apple is working on stealth shingle/roofing technology.

When this tech comes out, I'm gonna make me a hat out of that material.

That's easy

[overshoot]

Use Google to see where you are and where you're going.

Use MSN to see where you grew up before the freeway went through.

WAY out of date

[Quiet_Desperation]

OK, I can forgive if the some of the stuff is a little out of date, but this is just ridiculous.

MS Virtual Earth zoomed all the way out

But can you use it to fight SPAM?

[doublem]

Amazon.com offers street- level photographs of businesses through its A9.com search engine

Nifty idea. It'd be great if this could be used to send Spammers photos of their businesses, or maps to their houses when they Spam us.

Nothing more. No threats, no other action, just a simple photo of thier home or business sent right to their e-mail account or FAX machine.