Virtual Earth - Live Search Maps
Live Search Maps, a web mapping service is a part of Windows live online application services and is supported by Microsoft Virtual Earth framework.
Features:
Street Maps: Users can search and browse street maps that are topographically shaded for cities worldwide. Maps contain certain points of great interest such as hospitals, stadiums and metro stations and other facilities. You can also search user created points in these maps. Search can cover businesses, public collections, people, locations, or types of business.
For countries like South Korea and South Africa, Live Search Maps provides data on arterial roads and highways but does have data on local streets or alleys. Detailed map data is also available for many global cities in countries like Istanbul, Mexico city and Rio-De-Janeiro. However, map details decrease significantly if you move outward from city center.
Satellite Images: Live search maps also contain many terabytes of aerial and satellite imagery. In several areas and places, maximum resolution is around 4.5 pixels per meter. Elsewhere in remote places of the world top resolution is more or less the same. Users can toggle labels off or on to choose whether they want to see the ground as it appears from an airplane or to get a closer look as it would appear on the map. Detailed satellite images can be seen in countries like Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and United States.
Bird's Eye view: In more than 80 European locations and in over 95 cities in United States, a bird's eye view provides aerial photographs from all 4 angles. Pictometry images are more detailed than aerial views. In these pictometry images, pedestrians, advertisements and other objects such as signs are clearly visible in several bird's eye views.
3D Maps: 3D maps feature allows users to see buildings and other structures in 3D with the ability to tilt and rotate the angle. In addition, it also enables its users to zoom in from high altitudes.
To attempt to accomplish near photo realism, 3D buildings are textured (colored) with composites of aerial photography. For viewing 3D maps, users should install a plug in. It is also necessary to enable “3D” option of virtual Earth. You can not only explore maps using keyboard and mouse but also navigate 3D environment using Xbox 360 controller in Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Currently around 68 cities worldwide can be viewed in 3D.You will be able to view major cities in Canada and United States. Some cities have important landmarks such as Coliseum in Rome modeled in 3D. Terrain data is accessible to the whole world in 3D mode. You can also use 3D modeling program to add your own models to 3D maps.
On these Live Search Maps, you can find, view, and print driving directions. User's point of interest can be easily stored and shapes. It also has a location finder that helps to locate a user's location. Street level photos are taken from all directions and you can see these photos while driving a car.
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