Comments on: New Features at Live.com Local Maps http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/ Startup and Technology News Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:20:55 -0800 hourly 1 By: Interactive maps are going to change a lot of travel plans « Johnny Smoes on technology http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-3017006 Interactive maps are going to change a lot of travel plans « Johnny Smoes on technology Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:51:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-3017006 [...] I see broad implications for how ecommerce sites will be designed. If you are creating a site that is looking for more customers to visit a location, be sure to read this article at TechCrunch. [...] [...] I see broad implications for how ecommerce sites will be designed. If you are creating a site that is looking for more customers to visit a location, be sure to read this article at TechCrunch. [...]

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]]> By: sunflowercta http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-243549 sunflowercta Thu, 05 Oct 2006 17:54:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-243549 www.beauty333.com http://www.beauty333.com

]]> By: ProgrammableWeb.com » Blog Archive » New Virtual Earth API http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-53755 ProgrammableWeb.com » Blog Archive » New Virtual Earth API Fri, 26 May 2006 05:09:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-53755 [...] For good coverage of the core product release see TechCrunch. [...] [...] For good coverage of the core product release see TechCrunch. [...]

]]> By: El Ruso » At last an alternative for Mexico street-level maps http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-53370 El Ruso » At last an alternative for Mexico street-level maps Thu, 25 May 2006 16:22:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-53370 [...] It used to be that the only option to check Mexico City/Monterrey street-level maps online was fairly mediocre (compared to Google Maps et al.) Guia Roji site (no smooth map scrolling was particularly annoying). Checking out local.live.com after reading TechCrunch article I found out to my delight that it finally had street-level maps at least for Mexico City and Monterrey. Images below are linked to map locations. [...] [...] It used to be that the only option to check Mexico City/Monterrey street-level maps online was fairly mediocre (compared to Google Maps et al.) Guia Roji site (no smooth map scrolling was particularly annoying). Checking out local.live.com after reading TechCrunch article I found out to my delight that it finally had street-level maps at least for Mexico City and Monterrey. Images below are linked to map locations. [...]

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-53045 David Mackey Thu, 25 May 2006 00:45:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-53045 Thats beautiful. It always works wonders for the consumer when businesses duke it out over features. Thats beautiful. It always works wonders for the consumer when businesses duke it out over features.

]]> By: Nick http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-53012 Nick Wed, 24 May 2006 23:49:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-53012 Google now has map (not just photo) coverage of Australia Google now has map (not just photo) coverage of Australia

]]> By: Bitelia » Windows Live Local añade nuevas opciones http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52992 Bitelia » Windows Live Local añade nuevas opciones Wed, 24 May 2006 22:51:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52992 [...] TechCrunch) Enlace Permanente | Enviar por email a un amigo Más anotaciones de: ServiciosWeb [...] [...] TechCrunch) Enlace Permanente | Enviar por email a un amigo Más anotaciones de: ServiciosWeb [...]

]]> By: Kingsley http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52953 Kingsley Wed, 24 May 2006 21:08:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52953 Has anyone put the shared pin feature to good use? I could see a good social real world bookmarking that'll build on top of this. Has anyone put the shared pin feature to good use? I could see a good social real world bookmarking that’ll build on top of this.

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52928 Andy Wed, 24 May 2006 19:57:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52928 Nice one - I've put that in my favourites :) Quick question: how is this making any money? I don't need to buy Autoroute any more, as I have this constantly-updated website at my fingertips and it's miles better than Google Maps. Aren't they shooting themselves in the foot? Nice one – I’ve put that in my favourites :)

Quick question: how is this making any money? I don’t need to buy Autoroute any more, as I have this constantly-updated website at my fingertips and it’s miles better than Google Maps. Aren’t they shooting themselves in the foot?

]]> By: Mapostate http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52904 Mapostate Wed, 24 May 2006 18:57:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52904 Here's the correct URL to see the US bird’s eye coverage: http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=39.396201~-96.768695&style=h&lvl=5&scene=3694810&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!250 There are a bunch of “collections” at this site: http://www.passthepoi.com/ Mapostate Here’s the correct URL to see the US bird’s eye coverage:

http://local.li...46E7E30AC2C5011!250

There are a bunch of “collections” at this site:

http://www.passthepoi.com/

Mapostate

]]> By: Mapostate http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52902 Mapostate Wed, 24 May 2006 18:52:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52902 And to see the US bird's eye coverage take a look here: http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!1193 There are a bunch of "collections" at this site: http://www.passthepoi.com/ Mapostate And to see the US bird’s eye coverage take a look here:

http://local.li...46E7E30AC2C5011!1193

There are a bunch of “collections” at this site:

http://www.passthepoi.com/

Mapostate

]]> By: Alex Daley http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52900 Alex Daley Wed, 24 May 2006 18:33:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52900 To see the coverage for UK bird's eye currently, check this out: http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!1193 We will be updating it a lot in the coming weeks and months, and will keep this collection updated with the latest cities, so add it to your favorites. You should also note, routing works in AU and NZ as well. Helsinki to Moscow is my fav, try making that drive :) To see the coverage for UK bird’s eye currently, check this out:

http://local.li...46E7E30AC2C5011!1193

We will be updating it a lot in the coming weeks and months, and will keep this collection updated with the latest cities, so add it to your favorites.

You should also note, routing works in AU and NZ as well. Helsinki to Moscow is my fav, try making that drive :)

]]> By: pmtracker http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52895 pmtracker Wed, 24 May 2006 18:26:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52895 Nice one. It would be really great if this kind of service is combined with touch screen technology in future so that I can navigate around a city just by dragging and adjusting my hands on touch screen. Nice one. It would be really great if this kind of service is combined with touch screen technology in future so that I can navigate around a city just by dragging and adjusting my hands on touch screen.

]]> By: Marshall http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52882 Marshall Wed, 24 May 2006 17:47:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52882 It has been uncomfortable to use Gmaps for international collaboration and find that Africa, for example, is a big grey mass. It has been uncomfortable to use Gmaps for international collaboration and find that Africa, for example, is a big grey mass.

]]> By: Steve Lombardi http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52876 Steve Lombardi Wed, 24 May 2006 17:32:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52876 here are a couple of Collections showing where we have Birds eye maps in the UK and the US respectively. http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!1193 http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!250 As we add coverage, i'll be updating these collections on a regular basis, so these are good ones to add to your favorites! As for announcing where we will be flying, and when, ther eare two problems. the big one is weather. Due to the nature of how we acquire the BE imagery (very low elevation flyovers) cloud cover can squash a flight plan. I heard it took over 3 weeks to capture Seattle - 2.5 weeks sitting ont he ground and waiting for clear skies, then 2 days to fly :-) the less serious obstacle, well, let your imagination run wild. I won't even try to take a stab at the graffiti that would appear on peoples rooftops! here are a couple of Collections showing where we have Birds eye maps in the UK and the US respectively.

http://local.li...46E7E30AC2C5011!1193

http://local.li...46E7E30AC2C5011!250

As we add coverage, i’ll be updating these collections on a regular basis, so these are good ones to add to your favorites!

As for announcing where we will be flying, and when, ther eare two problems. the big one is weather. Due to the nature of how we acquire the BE imagery (very low elevation flyovers) cloud cover can squash a flight plan. I heard it took over 3 weeks to capture Seattle – 2.5 weeks sitting ont he ground and waiting for clear skies, then 2 days to fly :-)

the less serious obstacle, well, let your imagination run wild. I won’t even try to take a stab at the graffiti that would appear on peoples rooftops!

]]> By: mlougee http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52866 mlougee Wed, 24 May 2006 17:13:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52866 I'd agree w/ Andy (#14)... is there any way to see, from the aerial or map views, which areas have been "Birds Eye'd" already? It would be great to have a "Coming Soon" list for Birds Eye, but that's probably too iffy for Microsoft to publish. I’d agree w/ Andy (#14)… is there any way to see, from the aerial or map views, which areas have been “Birds Eye’d” already?

It would be great to have a “Coming Soon” list for Birds Eye, but that’s probably too iffy for Microsoft to publish.

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52857 Andy Wed, 24 May 2006 16:45:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52857 I've managed to get Dover and Brighton in birds-eye view, but various nearby places don't work. Is there no way of seeing a map of areas which include these close-up pictures? I’ve managed to get Dover and Brighton in birds-eye view, but various nearby places don’t work. Is there no way of seeing a map of areas which include these close-up pictures?

]]> By: steve http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52849 steve Wed, 24 May 2006 16:21:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52849 @Erik Don't worry I can think of a few hundred reasons not to move to the SF bay area. @Erik

Don’t worry I can think of a few hundred reasons not to move to the SF bay area.

]]> By: steve http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52848 steve Wed, 24 May 2006 16:19:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52848 I noticed that Microsoft has recently added decent road coverage for much of europe (im sure not all) And driving directions work for me between france and switzerland. Google added this also just recently. Although not much else is available near me (show restaurants, etc, etc.) Your mapping favourite (note the european spelling) Yahoo still has no road coverage ... ok a few highways but more rivers than roads show-up. Still SLOWLY Europe is getting some features from the big guns. I noticed that Microsoft has recently added decent road coverage for much of europe (im sure not all)

And driving directions work for me between france and switzerland.
Google added this also just recently. Although not much else is available near me (show restaurants, etc, etc.)

Your mapping favourite (note the european spelling) Yahoo still has no road coverage … ok a few highways but more rivers than roads show-up.

Still SLOWLY Europe is getting some features from the big guns.

]]> By: Steve Lombardi http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52845 Steve Lombardi Wed, 24 May 2006 16:05:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52845 We definitely focused on what our users were asking for in this release. Our number one user request (by a landslide) was better international maps, address lookups and driving directions. Improved aerial imagery was on the list, but it wasn’t number 1. For International users of WLL it wasn’t even in the top 4. We therefore focused on core user scenarios. Here’s one. I want to get from my Hotel at Amstel 104, 1017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Paradisio at Weteringschans 6, 1017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands to see Modest Mouse. That’s a common task that users come to WLL for 80% of the time. Yup, 20% of the time they want to look at rooftops along the way, and we’re working to add aerial imagery of the same quality we have in the US and UK for all parts of the world. But in the meanwhile, we gave the vast majority of our visitors what they wanted. Try looking up those addresses at other web sites and getting driving directions between them. Include our old website in the mix as well. See… they all suck, and our users HAMMERED us on this. What good is it to zoom into some random place and look at the roof if you can’t even find an address or get directions? Now check out this permalink on our new site released today: http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=52.363525~4.890301&style=r&lvl=15&scene=1925142&rtp=pos.sqv1gzhd78hk_Hotel%20Amstelicht~pos.sqtbcvhd68qw_Paradisio&cid=2BBC66E99FDCDB98!1423 WLL correctly finds both addresses and provides reasonable walking directions to the club. Why am I pointing this out? Because when I see posts like those from Martin and Luke on this thread that imply we’re only building features for people in “the valley”, I take great issue. Isn’t it quite the opposite? The majority of people telling us we need military grade satellite photos or features that require VR goggles and 3D glasses as Pri 1 features are all from the valley and knee deep in web 2 land. The Majority of our web visitors tell us they need to find their hotel and get directions to the airport as Pri 1, and gee wiz features like Birds Eye imagery that can be rotated, WiFi autolocation, etc.. as Pri2. With that said, it’s not that we don’t care about propeller head features either :-) WLL is the only major online mapping and local search site with WiFi AutoLocation, shareable user gen’d content, rotatable oblique imagery, and real time traffic flow overlaid on roads to name a few. And I’m pretty sure our next re4lease is gonna require you to wear something on your head. But you can be sure you’ll be able to get directions for a cup of coffee while your doing it. We love feedback. You can post it here, or email me directly. Either way, you can be sure it will have the eyes of our entire team. Steve Lombardi Virtual Earth Program Manager stevelom at microsoft d com What do you Collect? http://PassThePOI.com We definitely focused on what our users were asking for in this release. Our number one user request (by a landslide) was better international maps, address lookups and driving directions. Improved aerial imagery was on the list, but it wasn’t number 1. For International users of WLL it wasn’t even in the top 4. We therefore focused on core user scenarios. Here’s one. I want to get from my Hotel at Amstel 104, 1017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Paradisio at Weteringschans 6, 1017 Amsterdam, The Netherlands to see Modest Mouse. That’s a common task that users come to WLL for 80% of the time. Yup, 20% of the time they want to look at rooftops along the way, and we’re working to add aerial imagery of the same quality we have in the US and UK for all parts of the world. But in the meanwhile, we gave the vast majority of our visitors what they wanted. Try looking up those addresses at other web sites and getting driving directions between them. Include our old website in the mix as well. See… they all suck, and our users HAMMERED us on this. What good is it to zoom into some random place and look at the roof if you can’t even find an address or get directions? Now check out this permalink on our new site released today:

http://local.li...BBC66E99FDCDB98!1423

WLL correctly finds both addresses and provides reasonable walking directions to the club.

Why am I pointing this out? Because when I see posts like those from Martin and Luke on this thread that imply we’re only building features for people in “the valley”, I take great issue. Isn’t it quite the opposite? The majority of people telling us we need military grade satellite photos or features that require VR goggles and 3D glasses as Pri 1 features are all from the valley and knee deep in web 2 land. The Majority of our web visitors tell us they need to find their hotel and get directions to the airport as Pri 1, and gee wiz features like Birds Eye imagery that can be rotated, WiFi autolocation, etc.. as Pri2.

With that said, it’s not that we don’t care about propeller head features either :-) WLL is the only major online mapping and local search site with WiFi AutoLocation, shareable user gen’d content, rotatable oblique imagery, and real time traffic flow overlaid on roads to name a few. And I’m pretty sure our next re4lease is gonna require you to wear something on your head. But you can be sure you’ll be able to get directions for a cup of coffee while your doing it.

We love feedback. You can post it here, or email me directly. Either way, you can be sure it will have the eyes of our entire team.

Steve Lombardi
Virtual Earth Program Manager
stevelom at microsoft d com

What do you Collect?
http://PassThePOI.com

]]> By: Erik Kalviainen http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-52789 Erik Kalviainen Wed, 24 May 2006 15:23:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/05/23/new-features-at-livecom-local-maps/#comment-52789 Again, more reason to move to the SF Bay Area. The coolness fades as you move away from select US areas. Again, more reason to move to the SF Bay Area. The coolness fades as you move away from select US areas.

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