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Microsoft and Google Fighting for the Skies

Posted by Zonk on from the nuke-the-site-from-orbit-only-way-to-be-sure dept.

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. "

10 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Infinite Loop ? by y4h0oo · · Score: 2, Informative

    Funny how MS (outdated) maps doesn't show Apples Cupertino headquarters :
    http://virtualearth.msn.com/default.aspx?ss=apple& cp=37.333411%7C-122.029708&style=h&lvl=17&v=1%3Cbr %20/%3E
    whereas google does :
    http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.332307,-122.0301 03&spn=0.005924,0.010131&t=k&hl=en

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  2. They only copied Javascript :) by kuchin · · Score: 2, Informative

    They have TerraServer for a long time already, but it was always business-oriented. Now they slowly understand that common public can be took away from them by somebody else, who offer the same service for free (actually not for free, but this is another topic to discuss). So they just added Javascript and made it working for free.

  3. Re:Quality... by tOaOMiB · · Score: 2, Informative

    Then again, let's focus in on the actualy nearby city of Bridgeport:

    MSN Virtual Earth

    Google Maps

  4. What? by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 4, Informative

    You ARE aware that Microsoft had both maps AND sat images before Google, right?

    --
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  5. Re:it just doesn't seem like them by Evro · · Score: 2, Informative

    Microsoft's had TerraServer for years... I think before I'd ever heard of Google.

    http://terraserver.microsoft.com/

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    rooooar
  6. Re:moz only css extensions used? by werdnapk · · Score: 2, Informative

    opacity in mozilla, IE...

    In the css...
    -moz-opacity:.7; /* for mozilla */
    opacity:.7; /* CSS way */
    filter:alpha(opacity=70); /* IE way *?

    For opacity to work in IE, you need to define a width or a height for the element you're using the opacity on.

  7. Re:it just doesn't seem like them by donutello · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, to be fair, you would have to note that MSN put roadmaps right on top of the photos within days of Google launching this feature so it's extremely unlikely that they copied it (not enough time) and more likely that they were planning this all along and were just a little late to the party.

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  8. Re:Canada? by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Informative
    Original quote: "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

    From Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, AMERICAN!

    :-P ;-)

  9. Try clicking the 'Roads' checkbox in GE by donert · · Score: 2, Informative

    Shows you the streets.

  10. Re:Quality... by MrScience · · Score: 3, Informative

    Right. And comparing the space needle yields different results (MSN has higher detailed imagery). They are both in beta.

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