MSN Virtual Earth Map Information

Microsoft's next generation of mapping service is the Virtual Earth platform. Virtual Earth combines the MapPoint Web Service with new innovations around satellite and aerial imagery, map styles and usability as well as enhanced local search. According to MSN, The Virtual Earth platform has become the best solution available on the market for businesses and government customers.

Virtual Earth powers Windows Live Local, which is Microsoft’s online local search and mapping Web site. The following is from the MSN Virtual Earth Web site and it is a list of the features that MSN describes for MSN Virtual Earth:
• Bird’s-Eye Imagery. Get unique views of the real world locations, providing real insight into "what it’s like there."
 • Aerial and Satellite Imagery. Enjoy high-resolution aerial and satellite images from the best of breed imagery providers.
 • Dynamic Maps. Easy to read, accurate maps and hybrid imagery make finding locations and following directions easier than ever.
 • Intuitive User Experience. Utilizing AJAX technology, drag and pan the map, zoom in and out with the scroll wheel and interact with the application like a rich client.
 • Specialty Static Maps. Customize applications with over 30 specialty road map styles that are dynamically generated via the Web Service, such as line-drive maps or night-time driving maps.
 • Localization. Expand your audience by localizing maps and driving directions into 13 languages (Available through the MapPoint Web Service API only).
 • Geocoding. Get the most accurate locations around the world with the highest quality geo-coders, such as Group1 GeoStan geocoding engine in the U.S.
 • Driving Directions. Provide optimized driving directions with step-by-step instructions. Travel long distances with worldwide city-to-city routing.
 • Proximity Search. Return a list of POI based on the proximity to a selected location. Flexible ways to search for additional POI along a specified route. • Flexible, Standard APIs. Utilize services-oriented architecture (SOA) best practices with multiple platform support through our SOAP and JScript interfaces.
 • Customer Services Site. Manage your applications, store and batch process your data and generate flexible reports that can be combined with business intelligence applications.

Software Requirements for Virtual Earth Map Control Software Development Kit (SDK) - This is for developers and putting maps on Web sites.
• End users must have a computer with an Internet connection and
 • Internet Explore 5.5 or higher on Microsoft Windows
 • FireFox 0.9 or higher on Microsoft Windows or Macintosh.

If you just want a cool mapping program - Use Virtual Earth 2D (Live Search) which can be used online. If you want really cool mapping use Virtual Earth 3D (Beta) free download which brings you another step closer to knowing “what it is like out there”.

You can search, browse, and organize local information viewed in three dimensions, just the way it exists in the real world. System requirements:

Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, or the Windows Vista operating system.
Windows Internet Explorer version 6 or 7, with security settings set to enable or prompt Microsoft ActiveX controls.
A video card with 32 MB or greater video memory that is compatible with Microsoft DirectX 9.
Hardware acceleration must be set to Full.
 
Recommended:

Broadband connectivity.