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Windows Live goes Local

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the extending-embraces dept.

dualcore writes "PC Magazine is reporting that Windows is going live with a 'new online local search and mapping service.' The interface is pretty close to Google Local, but with subtle enhancements, such as right-clicking anywhere on the map brings up a context menu or the way you can click on a point on the map to select it for directions. The final word on which service is better remains to be seen but this competition will certainly benefit the end-users."

7 of 177 comments (clear)

  1. Cumbersome by (1+-sqrt(5))*(2**-1) · · Score: 5, Informative

    Playing around with it, I find it cumbersome compared to its Google analog; the drag behaviour, for instance, goes into a bizarre sticky mode.

  2. Initial Reactions by funny-jack · · Score: 2, Informative
    Like:
    • bird's eye view
    • right-click menu
    Dislike:
    • funky dragging behavior
    • smooth dragging on bird's eye view is limited to a 3x3 square
    • much slower than Google Local/Maps overall.
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    You probably shouldn't click this.
  3. Re:What I don't understand... by gid13 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not talking about the concepts of satellite imagery or map sites. I'm talking about the draggable interface. It feels exactly like Google Maps.

  4. Bill Gate's crib by mcguyver · · Score: 3, Informative

    Bill Gate's huge pad. Neet.

  5. Re:Cor by CODiNE · · Score: 2, Informative

    Works for me with Galeon under Linux. Looks like we're not being ignored anymore!

    But doesn't work under Safari... You know Bill must be pissed when their stuff works on Linux before it does on a Mac. I KEED! I KEED! No really.

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    Cwm, fjord-bank glyphs vext quiz
  6. Why bird's eye could never have mosaiced images by TimmyDee · · Score: 2, Informative

    Even if it wouldn't be seamless, it seems they could still offer the option of scrolling around multiple photos in a mosaic format. Maybe they don't want to break the illusion that you are in this space by allowing you to have a mosaic view of all photos available in an area. Maybe someone can create this (though Microsoft will probably shut it down like Google shut down the Google Maps poster maker).

    There's actually a reason why MS did what they did with the Bird's Eye imagery. Since it was taken at an angle (it's an oblique aerial photo), the edges of the images won't necessarily mosaic with the edges of the other images properly, giving us a weird, multi-perspective view. Some buildings would lean on way, while others would lean the opposite, even if they were neighbors.

    Granted, this happens in vertical aerial photos like those Google has and MS has in their aerial photo section. However, this "leaning tower" effect is minimized because of the angle of the photo and special methods used to reduce such distortion (known as orthorectification). As such, orthophotos can be panned and scrolled without too much oddness, whereas oblique aerial photos (MS's Bird's Eye view) will look extremely awkward and thus will probably be stuck in a sort of static viewing mode.

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    Per Square Mile, a blog about density
  7. Try the mouse wheel! by MTO_B. · · Score: 2, Informative

    I accidentally used the mouse wheel, and was surprised by it zooming in and out, actually that is quite nice. Try it ;-)