Microsoft debuts 3D Virtual Earth

Cory Bergman November 6th, 2006

Microsoft’s long-awaited 3D mapping service is now available for download, and I took it for a spin through Seattle. Unlike Google, which separates mapping from Google Earth, Microsoft has integrated the two into Virtual Earth. You can select from a 2D or a 3D view, and a compass in the lower left helps you navigate (I zoomed in too tight a couple times and got lost in 3D rotation.) You can also superimpose color-coded traffic flow data and incident reports over the roadways. The buildings are rendered from aerial photos and surprisingly detailed, yet it’s hard not to notice all the floating advertising billboards scattered about. There’s an ad for John L. Scott Realty at the base of the Space Needle. And a Zip Realty ad hovering over the city. Hmmm, a little much. All in all, a great tool with some terrific effects, but it only runs on Internet Explorer.