Live Search Maps 3444247 225781486 2008-07-15T11:03:08Z Pikablu0530 1608817 /* Live Search Maps */ China mashup {{Infobox Software| |name = [[Image:Windows Live Search logo.png|20px|Live Search logo]] Live Search<br />''Maps'' |logo = [[Image:Windows Live Local logo.png|120px|center|Live Search Maps logo.]] |screenshot = [[Image:Virtual Earth 3D.png|center|250px|Virtual Earth 3D within Live Search Maps]] |caption = Virtual Earth 3D within Live Search Maps |developer = [[Microsoft]] |latest_release_version = v7 |latest_release_date = [[April 10]] [[2008]] |latest_preview_version = |latest_preview_date = |operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]] |genre = [[Web mapping|Web mapping service]]<br/>[[Virtual globe]] |license = |website = [http://maps.live.com http://maps.live.com]<br/>[http://virtualearth.com http://virtualearth.com] }} '''Live Search Maps''' (previously ''Windows Live Maps'' and ''Windows Live Local'') is a [[web mapping]] service provided as a part of [[Microsoft]]'s [[Windows Live]] online applications services suite and powered by the [[Microsoft Virtual Earth]] framework. ==Features== ===Street Maps=== Users can browse and search topographically-shaded [[street map]]s for many cities worldwide. Maps include certain points of interest built-in, such as metro stations, stadiums, hospitals, and other facilities. It is also possible to browse public user-created points of interest. Search can cover public collections, businesses or types of business, locations, or people. For some countries, like [[South Africa]], and [[South Korea]], Live Search Maps has data on highways and some arterial roads, but lacks local streets or alleys. There is also detailed map data available for several [[Global city|global cities]] in developing countries like [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Istanbul]], and [[Mexico City]]. However, for such cities, the detail of the map decreases significantly as one moves outward from the city center. Live Search Maps has a tendency to mark certain [[List of unsigned auxiliary Interstate Highways|unsigned three-digit Interstates]] in the United States, such as [[I-444]]<ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=36.14964~-95.986969&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=14268713&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> , [[I-110]]<ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=31.771284~-106.449172&style=r&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=5037007&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, , [[I-478]]<ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=40.686463~-74.013648&style=r&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=1925788&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, and the [[Interstate Highways in Alaska]]. <ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=61.790006~-148.686218&style=r&lvl=8&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=1925788&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Still other auxiliary Interstates, whose signs are not posted for various reasons, are labeled incorrectly as part of another Interstate. Examples are [[Interstate 695 (District of Columbia)|I-695 (DC)]], which is labeled as part of [[Interstate 295 (District of Columbia)|I-295 (DC)]]<ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=38.876501~-77.003045&style=r&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=187805&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, and [[I-878]], which is labeled as [[I-678]].<ref>[http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=40.652741~-73.803964&style=r&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=2020428&encType=1 Live Local Search<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Satellite Images=== Live Search Maps also includes several terabytes of [[satellite imagery|satellite]] and [[aerial imagery]]. In many areas, maximum resolution is approximately 4.5 pixels per meter. Elsewhere, especially in the most remote areas of the world, top resolution is a few orders of magnitude less. Users may toggle labels on or off, choosing whether to see the ground as it would appear from an airplane versus closer to how it would appear on a map. List of countries that have detailed satellite images: * [[United States]] * [[Canada]] * [[United Kingdom]] * [[Germany]] * [[Italy]] * [[Australia]] * [[New Zealand]] * [[Japan]] * [[India]] [[Image:Virtual Earth Birds Eye.png|right|300px|thumb|Windows Live Maps viewed in 3D and, birds eye view. The bottom image shows the quality to which the image can be seen]] ===Bird's eye view=== In over 100 cities in the United States<ref>[http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!250 List of bird's eye view cities in the US]</ref> and in over 80 European locations,<ref>[http://local.live.com/?v=2&cid=546E7E30AC2C5011!1193 List of bird's eye view sites in Europe]</ref> a [[bird's-eye view]] offers aerial photos from four angles. These [[Pictometry]] images are much more detailed than the aerial views from directly above buildings. Signs, advertisements, pedestrians, and other objects are clearly visible in many bird's eye views. ===3D Maps=== The 3D Maps feature lets user see buildings in [[3D model|3D]], with the added ability to rotate and tilt the angle in addition to panning and zooming. To attempt to achieve near-photorealism, all 3D buildings are [[texture mapping|textured]] using composites of [[aerial photography]]. To view the 3D maps, users must install a [[plugin]], then enable the "3D" option on "Virtual Earth". In addition to exploring the maps using a mouse and keyboard, it is possible to navigate the 3D environment using an [[Xbox 360 controller]] or another [[game controller]] in [[Windows Vista]] or [[Windows XP]]. As of April 2007, users may also use [[3Dconnexion]]'s ''SpaceNavigator'' input device. Currently, roughly 68 cities worldwide may be viewed in 3D, including most of the major cities in the [[United States]] and a few cities in [[Canada]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[France]].<ref>[http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=320432CACC287CB4!101&encType=1 List of 3D cities]</ref> Some additional cities have had a select few important landmarks modelled in 3D, such as the [[Colosseum]] in [[Rome]]. Terrain data is available for the entire world. It is also possible to use a simple 3D modelling program called [[3DVia|Virtual Earth - 3DVIA]] to add one's own models to the 3D map. The following is a partial list of cities that have most areas rendered in 3D: '''United States''' Atlanta, Augusta, Aurora-Naperville, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Cape Coral, Cedar Rapids, Chattanooga, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Coral Springs, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville, Joliet, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mobile, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Redmond, Rockford, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Shreveport, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tacoma, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tucson, West Palm Beach. '''Canada''' Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto '''United Kingdom''' Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Gloucester, Liverpool, Northampton, Norwich, Plymouth, Swindon, Wolverhampton '''France''' Toulouse, Vannes '''Japan''' Tokyo ===ClearFlow=== Microsoft announced in March 2008 that it will be releasing its latest software technology called “ClearFlow”. It is a Web-based service for driving directions available on Live.com in 72 cities across the U.S.<ref>[http://www.maps.live.com Live Search Maps]</ref> The tool took five years for Microsoft’s [[Artificial Intelligence]] team to develop. ClearFlow provides real-time traffic data to help drivers avoid traffic congestion. Differing from [[Yahoo! Maps]], [[Google Maps]] and [[Mapquest]], ClearFlow not only gives information for alternative routes, but supplies traffic conditions on city streets adjacent to highways.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/technology/10maps.html|title="Microsoft Introduces Tool for Avoiding Traffic Jams"|author=Markoff, John|publisher=New York Times|date=2008-04-10|accessdate=2008-04-10}}</ref> Clearflow anticipates traffic patterns, while taking into account sporting/arena events, time of day and weather conditions, and then reflects the back ups and their consequential spill over onto city streets. Often, ClearFlow found it may be faster to stay on the highway instead of seeking alternative side street routes, which involve traffic lights and congestion as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2008/04/10/microsoft-clearflow-maps/|title="Microsoft Implements 'Clearflow' Traffic Artificial Intelligence in Live Maps"|author=Glazowski, Paul|publisher=Marshable Social Networking News|date=2008-04-10|accessdate=2008-04-10}}</ref> According to U.S Microsoft employee and artificial intelligence expert, Eric Horvitz, “…ClearFlow would be integrated into Live Search Mobile and other Microsoft mobile applications, including in-car navigation and personal navigation devices.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://searchengineland.com/080410-073026.php|title=Four Year Effort Culminates In “Clearflow” Traffic on Microsoft Live Search Maps”|author=Sterling, Greg|date=2008-04-10|accessdate=2008-04-10}}</ref> Clearflow will be available at no cost. The one draw back of Clearflow is that it offers no real-time updates regarding highway and road closures or accidents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/10/microsoft.clearflow.maps/|title=Microsoft ClearFlow aims to get drivers out of jams"|publisher=electronista|date=2008-04-10|accessdate=2008-04-10}}</ref> ===Other features=== [[Image:Virtual Earth Traffic.png|thumb|300px|right|Live Search Maps showing where there is traffic and relevant details]] * [[Terrain]] details are also available in 3D mode. * Finding, viewing, and printing driving directions * [[Traffic]] viewing (in several major cities) * User [[point of interest|points of interest]] that can be stored and shared * Drawing on maps * A location finder that can locate the user's location * Integrated route calculation * Street-level photos (from all directions) in [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle, WA]] (city center) and [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco, CA]] (city center). Users can view these photos by driving a race or sports car, or by having a walk. Street-level photography is currently only available as part of a separate [http://preview.local.live.com/ tech preview site]. ==History== Live Search Maps was based on existing [[Microsoft]] technologies such as [[Microsoft MapPoint]], and [[TerraServer-USA|TerraServer]]. The original version lacked many of its now-distinguishing features, including birds' eye view and 3D maps, and the Collections functionality was limited to a single "Scratchpad" of points of interest. Upon its release in December [[2005]], Windows Live Local became the public face of the Virtual Earth platform. On November 6, [[2006]], Microsoft added the ability to view the maps in [[3D model|3D]] using a [[Microsoft .NET|.NET]] managed control and managed interfaces to [[Direct3D]]. Microsoft has recently referred to this product officially as "'''Live Search Maps'''", integrating it as part of its [[Live Search]] services. ===Military Base Deletions=== Early in 2008, following criticism that the similar program [[Google Earth]] may be used as a reconnaissance platform by terrorists, Microsoft began a program of deleting high definition aerial views of military bases and other similar installations from Live Search Maps.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335751,00.html FOXNews.com - Pentagon Bans Google Earth From Military Bases - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> One example of such a deletion can be witnessed by viewing the [[Aviano Air Base]] in Northern Italy.[http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=46.030044~12.598057&style=a&lvl=13&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=24971228&encType=1] Whilst the base is viewable in low resolution from a low zoom level, zooming in reveals only farmland. It is unclear what location the photographs actually depict. Another example is the naval base in Toulon, France, which was blanked out in white. ===United Kingdom=== From [[11 April]] to [[15 April]] [[2008]], users in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] who navigated to http://maps.live.com/ were automatically redirected to [[Multimap.com]], making it very difficult to access Live Search Maps.<ref>[http://blog.multimap.com/2008/04/11/a-new-and-improved-multimap/ Multimap :: Blog » Blog Archive » A new and improved Multimap…<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The issue was due to what the Live Search Maps team called "a couple of unfortunate bugs."<ref>[http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!14442.entry Virtual Earth / Live Maps: Live Maps is back in the UK!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Updates=== * v1 (Beagle) (July 2005) * v2 (Calypso) (December 2005) - "Bird's-eye imagery" released. * v2.5 (February 2006) * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!1415.entry v3 (Discovery)] (May 2006) - Real time traffic, collections, new [[API]]. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!4097.entry v4 (Endeavour)] (September 2006) - People search, drawing on maps, new imagery. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!7573.entry v5 (Spaceland)] (November 2006) - 3D viewer, building models in 15 cities. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!7986.entry Data update] (December 2006) - New 3D models and high-resolution imagery for 6 new areas. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!8017.entry Data update] (January 2007) - Over 100 European cities with bird's-eye coverage added. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!8457.entry Data update] (29 March 2007) - 3.8TB of bird's-eye imagery, [[orthophoto]]s and 3D models of 5 British cities. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!8495.entry v5.5 (Falcon)] (3 April 2007) VE 3D plugin for Firefox, [[GeoRSS]] support, area calculations. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!9276.entry v6 (Gemini)] (15 October 2007) - New data, party maps, traffic based routing, v6 MapControl, Bird's Eye in 3D, etc. * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!14129.entry v6.1 (GoliatH)] (10 April 2008) - Improved quality of 3D models, improved KML support and new export capabilities, street labels on Bird's Eye imagery, MapCruncher integration, [[High-definition video|HD]] filming capabilities, Clearflow traffic report system. ==Compatibility== Microsoft states that Live Search Maps can be used with [[Internet Explorer]] 5.5 and later, with [[Mozilla Firefox]] 1.5 on Windows and Mac OS X, and with [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]]<ref>[http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2BBC66E99FDCDB98!14512.entry Virtual Earth / Live Maps: Safari and iPhone get the Birds Eye Treatment<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Firefox on Linux and Firefox 2.0 and 3.0 also appear to work. [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] is stated to be usable "with some functionality limitations".<ref>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/download/newsroom/msn/WLLocalRG.doc</ref> Users of [[web browser|browsers]] that are not considered compatible, as well as users of versions of compatible browsers that are not supported, will be directed away from viewing the map without an error message. [[WebKit]]-based browsers such as [[Konqueror]] have experienced problems accessing Live Search Maps and related websites.<ref>[http://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15120 Bug 15120 - Offender Locator page does not load (Windows Live Maps mashup)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The 3D Maps viewer plug-in requires Microsoft [[Windows XP Service Pack 2#Service Pack 2|Windows XP Service Pack 2]], Microsoft [[Windows Server 2003]], or Windows Vista, with Internet Explorer 6/7 or Firefox 1.5/2.0/3.0.<ref>[http://help.live.com/Help.aspx?market=en-GB&project=WL_Local&querytype=topic&query=WL_LOCAL_REF_3D_Requirements.htm System requirements for Virtual Earth 3D (Beta)]</ref> ==See also== * [[Comparison of Web Map Services]] * [[Geoweb]] * [[Google Earth]] * [[Google Maps]] * [[Microsoft MapPoint]] * [[Mobile GMaps]] * [[NASA World Wind]] * [[Pictometry]] * [[TerraServer-USA]] * [[Yahoo Maps]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== ===Live Search Maps=== * [http://maps.live.com Live Search Maps] * [http://collections.live.com Live Search Maps Collection Hub] * [http://maps.live.com.au/ Live Search Maps Australia Mashup] * [http://ditu.live.com Live Search Maps China Mashup] ===Official Team Blogs=== * [http://blogs.msdn.com/virtualearth/ Virtual Earth Platform Blog] * [http://virtualearth.spaces.live.com Official Virtual Earth Team Blog] * [http://virtualearth4gov.spaces.live.com/ Virtual Earth For Government Team Blog] * [http://blogs.msdn.com/VirtualEarth3D/ Virtual Earth 3D Team Blog] ===Developers resources=== * [http://www.viavirtualearth.com/ Via Virtual Earth] - Resource for Live Search Maps developers * [http://msdn.microsoft.com/mappoint/ MSDN MapPoint Center] - Official developer center for Virtual Earth and MapPoint Web Services ===ASP.NET=== * [http://simplovation.com/Page/WebMapsVE.aspx Web.Maps.VE] - The industries First ASP.NET AJAX Virtual Earth Mapping Server Control. This control allows map events to be handled from within Server-Side .NET code without Postbacks; completely eliminating the requirement to use JavaScript. A full JavaScript API is also available to allow fully customized implementations. ===Other=== * [http://www.flashearth.com/ Flash Earth] - Compares satellite images from Virtual Earth with other mapping websites such as Google Maps, and Yahoo Maps * [http://birdseyetourist.com/ Bird's Eye Tourist] - Links to "bird's-eye" images *[http://earthcities.flappie.nl/ Earthcities.flappie.nl] - Birth's Eye Cities in MSN Virtual Earth in Belgium and The Netherlands {{Windows Live|state=uncollapsed}} {{Earth}} [[Category:Windows Live]] [[Category:Maps]] [[Category:Virtual globes]] [[Category:Web mapping]] [[Category:Web Map Services]]<!-- Does Live Search Maps really use WMS? --> [[Category:Keyhole Markup Language]] [[Category:Route planning software]] [[de:Windows Live Maps]] [[fr:Windows Live Local]] [[nl:Windows Live Local]] [[ja:Live Search Maps]] [[pl:Live Search Maps]] [[pt:Windows Live Local]] [[sv:Windows Live Local]] [[ta:வின்டோஸ் லைவ் லோக்கல்]] [[zh:Live Search Maps]]