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f1000 · Dec 16, 2005, 10:38 PM

Doesn't work with Safari, but does work with Netscape. Check out the Bird's Eye feature for Manhattan.

http://local.live.com

AKcrab · Dec 16, 2005, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by f1000

but does work with Netscape.

Netscape? What is this "Netscape" you speak of?

ghporter · Dec 16, 2005, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by AKcrab

Netscape? What is this "Netscape" you speak of?

A fosil of an earlier day.

this Windows Live thing is slower than molases for me running Firefox ON A WINDOWS COMPUTER. It couldn't draw the whole North American map, leaving big chunks like "the Southwest U.S." and "the Northwest U.S." Hmmmm. Google doesn't seem to have much competiton here.

Plus it's just a rebadged "Virtual Earth," nothing really new. Meh. (I never thought I'd say that!)

BRussell · Dec 16, 2005, 11:06 PM

Birdseye is extremely cool.

f1000 · Dec 16, 2005, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Plus it's just a rebadged "Virtual Earth," nothing really new. Meh. (I never thought I'd say that!)

Yeah, but the Bird's Eye pictures are beyond anything I've seen so far. Check out the throng of people in front of the U.S. Capitol.

chabig · Dec 16, 2005, 11:14 PM

Oops.

f1000 · Dec 16, 2005, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by chabig

Oops.

Oops is right, punk!

mduell · Dec 17, 2005, 04:03 AM

The 3D(ish) view is really neat... this is the building where the head of Virtual Earth works.

torsoboy · Dec 17, 2005, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by BRussell

Birdseye is extremely cool.

agreed! way clearer than anything google offers

Weyland-Yutani · Dec 17, 2005, 05:05 AM

Google Earth is way better looking IMO and not browser based which is a boon in this case. The high-res images of Windows Live Local are very cool though.

However this WLL bet is worthless outside the USA as it is.

cheers

W-Y

loki74 · Dec 17, 2005, 06:03 AM

yeah, I actually managed to find my place, as well as my school. I could zoom in closer than on Google's.

Mastrap · Dec 17, 2005, 09:49 AM

It runs fine in Firefox on a 12"PB. However the image quality sucked in comparison to Google Earth. In google I can clearly see my house, here the image got fuzzy way before I could even see my part of town.

The high res images are nice, but only available for select locations. Google Earth has little to fear from this IMO.

Kerrigan · Dec 17, 2005, 01:40 PM

I agree that the Birds Eye view is quite nice. Frankly, the Google Satellite pictures are useless, so at least this Birds Eye feature is a step in the right direction. If this were available with greater consistency, then I could see it becoming quite useful for navigation.

As for the map service, it's... eh... its about the same as Google Local, but slightly more cluttered. It's good to see that Google is teaching Microsoft a thing or two about minimalistic, practical design.

And if you have a decent computer, the maps load very quickly.

BRussell · Dec 17, 2005, 01:46 PM

Why is it called "Windows" Live when it's not part of windows and doesn't require Windows?

The Godfather · Dec 17, 2005, 01:51 PM

Bird's view is available for less than 0.1% of this country's territory. When they scan my city, I will start using it.

Doofy · Dec 17, 2005, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by BRussell

Why is it called "Windows" Live when it's not part of windows and doesn't require Windows?

Micro$oft hinting towards the day when your OS is booted from their servers and not held on your local HD?

f1000 · 02:22 PM

Bill Gates's Xanadu
Apple Headquarters

RobOnTheCape · Dec 17, 2005, 04:50 PM

How is does this come close to Google earth. Pulling up Boston on Google I can see people waiting in line at the Aquarium, while using Windows I have to choose from a few hi res photos they have available for Boston. Looking forward to when Googleobtains more high res pics of outlying areas.

Using google earth to fly across the world from Ayers rock to Karachi to Bhutan to the Antartic to the Eiffel tower the program (even this demo) is amazing.

Another cool feature of Google is the ability of members to add widgets like things to the maps. One guy allowed you to add Paris metro signage to the underground train stops in that city.

I guess I might be missing something on using Windows.

t6hawk · Dec 17, 2005, 11:23 PM

This M$ thing sucks. Doesn't even have any record that my city of 1 million people even exists. It'll find some country road 2 hours south of me with a similar name but not the city. I'm sticking with Google until M$ figures out how to make North America properly searchable. The city is mapped out if I click and scroll over to it but just can't search it. The bird's eye view is cool (for the couple places it is available) but I don't find it overly useful to me.