Mapping sites pile on the features [BT broadband office]

Mapping sites pile on the features

Posted 29 October 2007 at 8:39AM by Simon Dickson in Doing business online

Microsoft has just rolled out a major upgrade to its maps.live.com site. Lots of new technical features we could talk about, but let's face it... the first thing you'll want to do is look up your own house. The good news is that they've expanded the UK coverage of their amazing 3D 'bird's eye' views, with the addition of 15 new towns. There's still no obvious rhyme or reason to the areas given the 3D treatment, but stick in your postcode, and see if it gives you 'bird's eye' as an option.

Data importing is arguably the most practically useful new feature, especially if you're already using Google Earth. The easiest way to do this is to create a collection of data points using Google Earth; save them as a KML file, and upload them to the web somewhere; then call them into a maps.live.com view by simply linking to the URL: http://maps.live.com/?mapurl=http://whatever. That way, you should be able to get the best of both worlds - the usability of the Google tool, and the imagery of the Microsoft engine.

I like the look of '1-click directions': this gives you a route to your final destination, based on whether you're approaching the area from the north, south, east or west. Of course, this last bit is usually the only part you actually need - I know how to get out of my own street, thanks! - so this is a smart piece of simplification. There's increased integration with other Microsoft search and data tools, which is helpful. But some of the neater functions seem to be largely US-only (for now at least), and whilst it's certainly prettier than it's Google rival, I just find it a little bit more awkward to use.

Plus, Google Maps isn't exactly standing still, with the introduction this week of a social element allowing you to meet the people who have submitted reviews of businesses, or shared maps they created; and although it hasn't yet reached these shores, Google is steadily extending the list of locations covered by its Street View.

Tags: bird's eye, google maps, mapping, microsoft, windows live

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Comments

1. At November 7, 2007 8:46 AM, Adrian wrote:

"There's still no obvious rhyme or reason to the areas given the 3D treatment, but stick in your postcode..."

Maybe MS has a list of the postcodes of the homes of Technology magazine editors!

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