CNET’s Webware , a tech site about “cool web 2.0 apps for everyone,” has announced its annual Webware 100 Nominees, and Live Search Maps (along with 3 other Live Search offerings – Live Search, Live Search 411, and Live Search Farecast Beta) made the nominee list. Introduced in 2007, the CNET Webware 100 is a round-up of outstanding Web 2.0 products and services, nominated by the readers. The Webware editors select 300 finalists and invite readers to vote on the final picks. Live Search took home prizes in 2007 and 2008 and we need your help to go three for three. Voting starts today, so visit the Webware website to vote for all your favorite Live Search products in three big categories, including...
In an immediate step to adjust our licensing in support for small, start up business, I present to you The BizSpark Program with Virtual Earth . The BizSpark Program is a means of helping small software companies get off the ground with discounted or free software and services from Microsoft. This is a great program to really get your company off the ground allowing your company to grow without software and service licensing inhibiting your business. At a very high level, here are the requirements for Virtual Earth in BizSpark: Is in the business of software development, Is privately held, Has been in business for less than 3 years, and Has less than US $1 million in annual revenue Respective...
Another huge addition to the digitization of our planet just hit the web last night – 21TB - all ortho imagery launched into Microsoft Virtual Earth, powering Live Search Maps (and other Live Search properties). Now, this one isn’t huge in terms of terabytes, oh no. This is huge in terms of square kilometers of the world. This should take you some time to get through. And, FWIW, there are a few countries on the list that I’m wondering if you’d ever heard of – Seychelles or Comoros anyone? Their tourism boards need to step it up! Also, don’t let these pictures fool you – you can zoom in far closer than I’ve captured. Albania Berat Butrint Fier Gjirokaster Pogradec Velipoje Vlore Australia Bacchus...
The City of Seattle just added another Microsoft Virtual Earth application to their site – The Traveler’s Information Map features a Virtual Earth canvas illustrated with with lots of useful traveler information (also read as, commuter information). After launching their first Virtual Earth application dubbed the “ My Neighborhood Map ” which highlights everything you could possibly do in Seattle, they’ve now launched a new site under the Seattle Department of Transportation called The Traveler’s information Map which shows traffic flow, real-time web camera pictures and incident information such as car accidents, disabled vehicles or events that would cause some form of backup (like a Mariner...
This week during the Environmental Systems Research Institute Developer Conference in Palm Springs, CA, ESRI announced their extended partnership with Microsoft’s Virtual Earth business unit granting native access to Virtual Earth’s imagery and road network map data within ArcGIS Desktop and Server. How’s that for a footprint? At the very least it makes the GIS world a bit more interesting, no? Here’s the official announcement: ESRI Expands Virtual Earth Access in GIS by Teaming with Microsoft ArcGIS Users to Bring Dynamic Basemaps into Analysis and Service Applications Redlands, California—March 26, 2009— ESRI announced today a new agreement with Microsoft Corporation that gives ArcGIS users...
Making a run for the border? Hungry for 4th Meal? Thinking outside the bun? How about trying a pan of that new grubbulous looking pasta served up by Pizza Hut? If you choose to find your way to a couple of your favorite eateries there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be using Virtual Earth. Both Taco Bell and Pizza Hut , both owned by Yum! Brands , have launched their new locator’s leveraging Microsoft Virtual Earth . Taco Bell is so good around 4AM isn’t it? Pizza Hut’s locator allows you to enter an address and select filters prior to searching. So, enter your address and postal code, then select whether you’re looking for delivery, carryout or dining in. It’s important to note that you ONLY need...
As mentioned previously, I want to ensure the community has lots of code samples for the Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control. Well, apparently I wasn’t alone. Many folks have sent me their code samples and links to blogs, so I’ll go ahead and consolidate a few of them here: Johannes Kebeck (Microsoft): Database Connections with the Virtual Earth Silverlight MapControl CTP Michael Scherotter (Microsoft): Data Binding with the Virtual Earth Control Via Windows Live: http://www.viawindowslive.com/Articles/VirtualEarth/VirtualEarthSilverlightMapControl.aspx Chris Pietschman (Pietschsoft): Getting Started with Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control SDK CTP Basics of Adding Polygons and Polylines...
Wow – MIX 2009 was truly a blur for many reasons, but mostly because there was just SO MANY exciting sessions and announcements and the show just FLEW by. For those of you who didn’t get to come, there’s always next year; however, if you missed MIX or you were there and missed my session (not sure why you’d do that!), the session, along with all the others MIX sessions, are now live on the MIX Replay site . At the show we announced the Microsoft Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control as a CTP. This was hugely well received and .NET developers around the world wanting to map out their data are now celebrating the simplicity with which they can visualize their data leveraging their C# skills. I...
While hanging out at 3rd Place during an unsession at MIX, I busted out the camera and recorded a little video showing off the Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control while discussing it with the Lead Developer, Keith Kinnan; Lead Tester, Max Artemov; and Lead Program Manager, Train Chiou. Well, the videos speak for themselves and is unedited in full raw footage greatness. I had to do two videos since it’s 15 minutes total and I couldn’t find a hosting service that would allow me to upload 200MB and didn’t want to wait for the Wifi in the hotel to actually work, so enjoy! Oh, and don’t forget that my session is today, Friday, March 20 @ 12:30 in Lando 4201 Session ID: MIX09-T34F. Part 1 (We killed...
Welcome to MIX! Following suit with many Microsoft web technologies, here’s our product announcement…..It’s been a long time coming – a year, in fact, since I presented a sneak peak of the Microsoft Virtual Earth Silverlight (VESL) Map Control at MIX 2008 . Now, here we are a year later at MIX 2009 releasing the Microsoft Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control as a CTP. We even got mentioned in Scott Guthrie’s keynote (see pic below)! The bits will be available for download later this week. Over the coming days and weeks, I’ll start getting more and more content and code samples out about how to leverage the Virtual Earth Silverlight Map Control, but for now here’s a little overview of exactly...
The Virtual Earth Web Cast Series continues this month focusing on the travel and hospitality vertical and how Virtual Earth and location can be leveraged to improve performance and the user experience for their applications. On Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, join me with special guest Tyler Davey from Infusion Development as we discuss, “ Hospitality Businesses Create Strong Guest Connections with Virtual Earth (Level 100) ” as part of Microsoft’s Momentum web cast events. We will fill up the 60 minutes allotted, so get it on your calendar. Here’s the brief description of the web cast: In today’s challenging economy, hospitality organizations—restaurants, hotels, resorts...
A few months ago I posted about the Seadragon browser that was published for iPhone allowing users to browse Photosynth and Virtual Earth on the Apple mobile device – Virtual Earth Via Seadragon on iPhone . Well, now there’s a new iPhone application made just for browsing Photosynths call iSynth and it’s available for download from the iStore now . iSynth brings all the eye candy of Photosynth to the user experience of iPhone making it a fantastic way to explore synths. You can search, browse and view synths right on your phone effortlessly. The application was developed outside of Microsoft by Greg Pascale , but we wholeheartedly think the application is great! So, how does it work? I ripped...
The team at Via Windows Live is sponsoring a contest asking you to submit articles or videos showcasing innovative Virtual Earth applications. Winners will get a Virtual Earth clock or glass globe (I have one of each – both nice); and, everyone who contributes gets a t-shirt. Hey, in this economy who couldn’t use a free shirt! The contest started February 16 and runs through April 16. Here’s the official announcement: Showcase your skills and teach us something new with Virtual Earth! Submit a written article or video demonstrating an innovative Virtual Earth solution or application, and see your material featured on our site! Win one of numerous prizes for the most unique or highly rated submission...
We just pushed 55TB of additional updated map data and new imagery into Virtual Earth (and Live Search Maps , of course). Another massive release…they just keep coming, don’t they? Obliques (Bird’s Eye) Italy Brindisi, IT Catanzaro, IT Cesena, IT Ferrara, IT Firenze, IT Forli, IT Latina, IT Milan, IT Reggio Emilia, IT Rome, IT Norway Bergen, NO Spain Granada, ES Lugo, ES Sevilla, ES Talavera de la Reina, ES Zamora, ES Sweden Goteborg, SW Stockholm, SW United Kingdom Bristol, UK Shrewsbury, UK United States Alabama Calhoun County Franklin County Lee County Tuscaloosa County Arkansas Benton County Fayetteville Metro Washington County Georgia Hall County Iowa Grundy County Hardin County Harrison...
