Microsoft Developer, Chandu Thota has outlined Microsoft's plans to launch a new service that will compete directly with Google Maps as early as this summer in a posting on his web blog. In his post he states "Virtual Earth is a fusion of many exciting dimentions that we experience from mutiple sources today; it provides a core set of reference points such as maps, aerial imagery, photos, consumer and business directories and ratings and reviews and allow the broader community of consumers and businesses to contribute their own location-specific information to create an always expanding, dynamic and relevant local search experience."

The online tool will boast 45 degree imaging, Satellite images with street map overlays, and ability to add local data layers, such as showing local businesses or restaurants. Its not known if the service will be free, or an enhanced version of the tool be made available to MSN subscribers.

Google Maps announced last week that its changing the name of its recently acquired software -keyhole, to Google Earth, which would then also be added to the Google Maps service.

Video: Microsoft Virtual Earth via Channel 9
View: Welcome to Virtual Earth! @ Chandu Thota's Blog

Thanks jphillips59 for the heads up on this in Back Page News.

Components in normal version:
  • Default User Interface
  • Standard input array
  • Standard DSP array
  • Album List
  • Converter (formerly known as Diskwriter)
  • Masstagger
  • ReplayGain Scanner


Components in full version:
  • all components from the normal version, plus
  • ABX comparator
  • AC3 decoder
  • ALAC decoder
  • Archive reader (supports 7-Zip, RAR, ZIP, GZIP)
  • Audio CD writer
  • Autoplaylist
  • CD Audio decoder
  • Crossfeed DSP
  • Database search
  • DUMB module decoder
  • DXi MIDI synthesizer host
  • Festalon
  • Game Emu Player
  • OggPreview
  • sidplay2
  • Utilities


New features (incomplete):
  • Improved playlist management: all playlists are editable without being active, multiple playlists with the same name, Autoplaylists
  • Field remappings in titleformat scripts: see Titleformat Introduction and Titleformat Reference for details
  • Tag merging: combines information from multiple tag formats on the same file
  • Cleaned-up preferences
  • On-line help system for preferences pages (uses the HA wiki)
  • Playback queue
  • ...


There are 28 additional comments
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Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by kizzaaa on 24 May 2005 - 11:10
cool
(7 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by Fragaday on 24 May 2005 - 11:15
Two giants battling it out - the only winner will be the user. Without MS going into things like consoles and Google going into.. well, everything, things would have progressed so slowly, if at all. Man I love competition.
Quote this comment #2.1 Posted by SquareSoftO on 24 May 2005 - 12:20
Google doesn't need competition (yet). They have been doing just fine without other companies imitating them. On the other hand, Microsoft does need the prodding of competition to be innovative (i.e. Firefox, Opera, Linux, etc.). Billy-Boy is kicking himself for not buying out Google when he might have had a chance.
Quote this comment #2.2 Posted by DJROrion on 24 May 2005 - 13:33
QUOTE
Billy-Boy is kicking himself for not buying out Google when he might have had a chance.


When Microsoft looks in the rear view mirrow to see the competition, I doubt Google is anywhere near em.
Quote this comment #2.3 Posted by SquareSoft0 on 24 May 2005 - 13:38
Heya 2.1, nice name you have there. I so do ponder where you thought of it.
Quote this comment #2.4 Posted by SquareSoftO on 24 May 2005 - 14:31
QUOTE
I so do ponder where you thought of it.


Copied the idea from Microsoft... read the post. They call this a "Standard-Operating-Procedure".
Quote this comment #2.5 Posted by triad_man on 24 May 2005 - 21:01
QUOTE
When Microsoft looks in the rear view mirrow to see the competition, I doubt Google is anywhere near em.


Some would argue that is because Google is ahead of them.
Quote this comment #2.6 Posted by DJROrion on 25 May 2005 - 11:55

QUOTE
Some would argue that is because Google is ahead of them


When Google makes an OS worth using on millions of computers I may agree. untill then any of those people would be ignorant.
Quote this comment #2.7 Posted by triad_man on 27 May 2005 - 20:36
I am sorry I didn't know the article related to opperating systems?
(7 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by Cubiz on 24 May 2005 - 11:30
Aren't Microsoft capable of creating their own ideas? Honestly, for a multi-billion dollar company, all they do is take someone elses idea and put their name on it. MSN Desktop Search = Spotlight, MSN Messenger = Yahoo Messenger (since most of MSN7's new features where in Yahoo first), and now "Virtual Earth" = Google Maps. There are literally countless examples of Microsoft stealing someone else's idea. It's pathetic.
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by OSUKid7 on 24 May 2005 - 11:35
Why reinvent the wheel? Seriously, it's not the *exact* same thing, and Microsoft isn't stupid. They see how successful Keyhole is, and want in on the action. And as Fragaday said in comment #2, consumers win when there's competition.

If you don't like Microsoft products, don't use it. It's that simple.
Quote this comment #3.2 Posted by neufuse on 24 May 2005 - 11:37
Microsoft actually had stuff like this before google did... Microsoft TerraServer was around years before google maps... just didn't have all the functionality, all they did it looks like was upgrade it to include all the new stuff google also has

and terraserver has always had higher res maps then google maps too... i was disapointed when i saw you could only go so far in rural areas on google, but terraserve you could go a lot farther, about 1 zoom level from what google maps lets you go on big cities... i can actually see my town on terraserve and my house, google its just a big blur i cant even come close to seeing.
Quote this comment #3.3 Posted by Neobond on 24 May 2005 - 11:39
Actually, most large companies, like Microsoft and Google, aquire technologies from smaller start-ups and then make it available to a worldwide audience including further development.
Quote this comment #3.4 Posted by Porp on 24 May 2005 - 11:58
So your saying only Apple computers should have Desktop Search (Spotlight)? And only one messenger service (Yahoo) have fun and interesting features.. Wow, your sure for choice. Also, Microsoft was way ahead of Google.. They had TerraServers (Satellite Images) along with MSN MapPoint (Street Maps) *YEARS* before Google Maps.

Cubiz obviously like's choice
Quote this comment #3.5 Posted by kawai on 24 May 2005 - 12:54
Microsoft had terraserver for YEARS before google ever bought keyhole

so please, stop your MS copies everything non sense
Quote this comment #3.6 Posted by lbmouse on 24 May 2005 - 13:17
QUOTE
Microsoft had terraserver


You mean Microsoft purchased Terraserver (tm). Here are some good posts on the subject.
Quote this comment #3.7 Posted by neufuse on 24 May 2005 - 16:22
QUOTE
You mean Microsoft purchased Terraserver (tm). Here are some good posts on the subject


so what, google purchased keyhole too... pretty much the exact same situation on both sides... but with google, keyhole already had mapping functions ontop of the space images... terraserve didn't
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by Porp on 24 May 2005 - 11:53
All I can say is A-MAZING.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by HoochieMamma on 24 May 2005 - 12:20
All I want is hi-res pics of europe (mainly italy).
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by AethylFilth on 24 May 2005 - 12:28
I'm fine either way, I'm a GIS administrator
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by noping on 24 May 2005 - 13:15
I love it when they ReInvent the wheel.

MS instead of copying others why not Invent new technologies?
Quote this comment #7.1 Posted by DJROrion on 24 May 2005 - 13:28
Maybe you should invent a new reply. This one is getting boring.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by jphillips59 on 24 May 2005 - 14:54
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/4/a/64a8e731-6cf5-4609-999c-1da1c2767040/virtual_earth_2005_channel9_video.wmv
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #9 Posted by georgi55 on 24 May 2005 - 15:42
I love competition
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #10 Posted by TheSarge on 24 May 2005 - 17:28
Yes! MS can't buy Google so they have (aparantly) decided to try and compete with them.
My money is on Google in the short-to-medium term, but the MS jugernaught can win in the long term. Google needs to realise what they are up against here and do the best they possibly can. That's all they can do against MS.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #11 Posted by McFly on 24 May 2005 - 19:10
"dimentions"? How about he use MS spellcheck tools first?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #12 Posted by mayamaniac on 24 May 2005 - 20:04
its not about who came out with the idea of maps or web email or desktop search or search engine. Google didn't invent any of that. All I know is they do it right. When I search, I use google. When I want to send email, I use gmail. When I use online maps, I use google maps. I mean yahoo maps and mapquests has been around light years before Google, but look at the screen shot of MS Virtual Earth, what does it look like?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #13 Posted by jak0bk on 26 May 2005 - 09:59
Well.. to everyone that says that Microsoft is just reinventing the wheel... when was the last time something was brand-spanking-new to computers?

Firefox... IE came way before, as did Netscape. MOSAIC was the progenitor of their race.

Many search engines through the ages. Google was nothing new. Just a little bigger.

GMail and Hotmail did nothing new. SMTP/POP3/IMAP were around long before these services came up. I remember using a command line utility on my old OS/2 machine to send mail.

I remember when my MAPSCO was enough to get me around.





As for competition: good. It gives people jobs. It keeps the public on their toes (well, us geeks anywho). Good luck to MS and good luck to Google. Go balls to the wall.
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