Microsoft Tries Hand at Web Mapping

MS Virtual Earth

Yeah, yeah - Microsoft has release Virtual Earth - their copycat version of Google Maps.

What I even bother using it - not a chance. If you're a little slow on the uptake and haven't paid attention these last 5 years, you may not have noticed that the only time Microsoft does anything creative or ground breaking is AFTER one of the competitors has already done it.

Oh - and their aerial photography is OLD, b/w orthos in my area.

The one thing that I do like is how the roads have been overlaid (partial tranparancy) with the aerial imagery. So far only major roads have been completed - but I'm sure someone is working on it already.