Microsoft vs. Google Earth-virtual 3D Earth "virtual earth3d "!

(This article is originally edited by GE hantao. For more information, see http://blog.csdn.net/gehantao/archive/2006/11/09/1375249.aspx. Thank you)

What if you are planning to go on a business trip or vacation in a strange city and are not familiar with the local urban planning? With the help of the Global Positioning System? You usually purchase a map or query related map websites. Have you ever thought about it? Using a new map search service, you can walk in a virtual city or resort, allowing you to navigate through Times Square in New York in your office, in front of your computer, can you see the fresh taste of the sea breeze in Hawaii?

It's not far from us!
Microsoft recently released a new version of map service: virtual 3D Earth "virtualearth3d", which allows users to "fly" in the browser to enjoy the three-dimensional model of the city and to see billboards.

Apparently, Microsoft's goal is Google'sGoogle EarthHowever, Microsoft pointed out that the positioning of virtualearth3d is slightly different, mainly to provide realistic simulation of the real world, and to build a realistic and texture building model through photos, rather than providing real aerial and satellite photos like Google does.
 
Users only need to enterWindowslivesearchSearch for the service, enter your own query target, and click the "maps" button to obtain the 2D map, aerial chart, andVirtualearthProvides new 3D models. Microsoft's Local Service Windows Live local is also renamed Windows Live searchmaps.

Due to the limited level of detail, this service is currently only available to users in some U.S. regions, including the following 15 cities: san Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Denver, Detroit, San Jose, Phoenix and Houston. Microsoft said it will continue to join new cities and expand to other countries and regions in the world. Developers can also use APIs provided by Microsoft to add 3D cities to their applications, but this is a paid service. The Virtual Earth Development Team plans to cover more than 100 cities in the third quarter of next year. (Do you know you have ever played "simulated city 3000 ?)

And not everything in virtualearth3d is real, because Microsoft will add 3D 3D virtual billboards in it to sell advertisements in the virtual world (this is a bit like online games ). Microsoft's technology originated from its acquisition of the game advertising company Massive in last April.

The virtualearth3d Development Team webcast online class shows you the powerful functions of virtualearth3d !!

[Comment]Microsoft Virtual earth3dThe service can only be used in the internetexplorer browser. Firefox, opera, and so on are currently not compatible.

What are you waiting? Download Now

 Virtualearth3d map Demonstration:

Baltimore

Houston

Two virtual billboards in Seattle

Baltimore's high-resolution Model

Virtual billboard near San Francisco AT & amp; T baseball stadium

Two virtual billboards in San Francisco

Seattle

Los Angeles traffic instructions