Skip to Content

Free TUAW iPhone app -- try it now!
AOL Tech

VirtualEarth posts

Filed under: Web services, Google, Microsoft

Microsoft adds New York 3D imagery to maps

Live Maps NYCIf there's one city in the U.S. that you might actually want to see a 3D map of, it's probably New York City, because, you know, there's stuff to look at. Des Moines, Iowa, not so much.

But for some reason, when Microsoft launched 3D views of major cities for its Live Maps and Virtual Earth programs, New York was curiously absent. Today, Microsoft is rolling out 3D imagery for New York and other cities including Austin, Cincinnati, Tampa, and Savannah in the U.S, Ottawa in Canada, and Northampton, England.

If you want a sneak peak before downloading Virtual Earth, Search Engine Land points out this movie of the 3D New York imagery in action. In the meantime, Google could be preparing to announce a new "street view" for Google Maps, and the search company is also expected to announce a major expansion of its 3D building rendering for Google Earth.

Filed under: Business, Fun, Internet, Web services, Microsoft

Weather.com releases real-time weather for your street

real time weather map Bosses everywhere are going to love The Weather Channel. With maps being the number one draw for weather.com visitors, they have teamed up with Microsoft's Virtual Earth to offer users the ability to see real time weather reports for streets in the U.S.

The Interactive Weather Map can be viewed in either a "road view", or a much cooler satellite view, with different color blobs from greens to grays denoting the weather conditions. Want to see the directional path of the weather condition in your area? Check out the animation feature in the lower right corner, this plays a cycle of animated satellite imagery data, perfect for scrubbing through time while you watch storms and weather systems progress.

What does this mean for employees calling in late due to "weather"? Watch out; Your boss can track storm systems right down to the block you're on, so you might want to develop some better excuses.

[via CenterNetworks]

Filed under: Internet, Web services

Weather.com introduces interactive maps

Weather.com introduces interactive maps
I admittedly don't spend any significant amount of time at Weather.com, but a little birdie who does just tipped us off to a new Interactive Weather Map beta that still has that new feature shine to it. The map offers full drag-able goodness, with the ability to swap between Radar, Clouds and Clouds + Radar coverage. On-the-fly transparency of said coverage is also present, as well as a slow-frame animation for those who want to get their amateur weather man on.

All of this is powered by Microsoft's Virtual Earth, and it is indeed an impressive piece of (beta) work, though I can't find any sort of press release or wiz-bang announcement. Now, if Weather.com could only introduce a new 'Reliable Weather™' option (even an alpha would be fine), we'll be in business.

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Web services, Microsoft, Browser Tips

Microsoft is battling Google with its new Virtual Earth

virtual earthMicrosoft is keeping things interesting in the mapping community by releasing its Virtual Earth online application. Microsoft has actually decided to add in real photographs of buildings, a feature that Google Earth has not yet implemented. Microsoft currently has 15 US cities with the 3D views, and plans to have more than 100 cities by the third quarter of next year. Another difference with Microsoft's new Virtual Earth is the integration of ads in the 3D environment. Not sure how I feel about this integration of virtual billboards yet. Aren't we bombarded with too many ads during the day as it is? Next we're sure to see the time on our watches having hourly sponsors! That aside, the Virtual Earth team has done a nice job with this interesting 3D feature. It's a great way to totally immerse yourself into a kind of realistic flight through your local map searches. Look for a name change in the future as well. The team will be changing the name from Live Local Search to Live Search Maps. Unlike Google Earth, this application runs totally inside the browser with an internet connection, and a special virtual earth setup file. Unfortunately I was unable to test this out yet. The installation bar kept giving me the message that "The installation is taking longer than expected." It's been 20 Minutes so far, and I gave up. Was anyone able to check this out yet?

Filed under: Business, Internet, Windows, Web services

Windows Live Hotspot Locator

windows live hotspot locatorMicrosoft is working hard at beefing up its "Live" service offering. Right now it seems like they have everything under the sun listed in Windows Live. Current offerings include Mail, Messenger, Gallery, Mail Desktop, Q & A, Product Search, and now the Windows Live Hotspot Locator.

The Windows Live Hotspot Locator is actually a nice way to check for WiFi access, both free and paid. Simply visit the site, enter your country, state/ province, zip code, city, a distance radius, and whether you are on the hunt for paid, free, or both types of WiFi access. Windows Live generates a list, complete with address, location name, and who the Hotspot providers are. You can select a location from the list, and get to page dedicated to them showing a Microsoft Virtual Earth map, with pinpointed location. Now if they can only make that list accessible when you arent connected and looking for a connection!

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

View more Time Wasters

Featured Galleries

Defective by Design, London: Protest Pictures
Microsoft Security Essentials
Chromium Pre-Alpha on CrunchBang Linux
Safari 4 Beta
10 Firefox themes that don't suck
IE8 RC1
Download Squad at the Crunchies After-Party
Download Squad at the Crunchies
WordPress 2.7
Cooking Mama: Mama Kills Animals
Windows 7 Hands On
Comodo Internet Security
Android First-look: Amazon.com MP3 Store
Android First-look: Twitroid
Google Reader Android
Android Hands-On
Twine 1.0
Photoshop Express Beta
Mozilla Birthday Cake
Palm stuff
Adobe Lightroom 1.1

 


Follow us on Twitter!

Flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

More Tech Coverage

AOL Radio

Joystiq

TUAW

Daily Finance

Autoblog

Urlesque

Engadget

WoW

Switched.com

FanHouse