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Virtual Earth goes 3D

Today sees a Virtual Earth update that adds a wealth of new features to Windows Live Local (local.live.com). Changes include:
  • 3D representations of 15 major US cities (San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, Baltimore, MD, Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI, San Jose, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Houston, TX)  - Codenamed Spaceland
  • A new "flythrough" mode that allows the user to roam and discover
  • In-world advertising
Because of the scale of the release, we've made several posts covering the changes, have a screencast showing the update in action, and an audio interview with Stephen Lawler (General Manager for VE product development).

The interview covers a range of topics, including how the 3D photorealistic cities are made, whether there will be a Virtual Earth client and whether Virtual Earth will be going mobile.

Update:
The press release just went live, check it out here: Official Press Release 
  
Screenshots (Click to enlarge):

Comments

Khristopher wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-06-2006 11:25 PM

it's gone live now.

tophtucker wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-06-2006 11:33 PM

Wow.

Just...... wow.

donavon wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 1:20 AM

I'm collecting interesting 3D places in a Windows Live Local collection.  Click 3D on the dashboard control and the select Hybrid for the best view.

Here is the URL: http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=ED47C672742C0F8F!185

rieuwa wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 1:49 AM

Maps were nice

     Satellite imagery was cool.

               Birds-eye view was awesome...

                            3D view... Well I can't think of an adjective to describe my amazement.

Wow... It's Christmas come early! I'm not complaining at all, as I am amazed at the work these guys have put in... but I cannot wait for this to arrive in 3d Europe (already seen a few nice models in London...)...  

ian-live wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 4:10 AM

O...M....G

Even has contours of hills/mountain ranges.

Truly amazing

BV2312 wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 3:25 PM

http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=ED47C672742C0F8F!185 doesn't seem to work donavon

but i did try http://maps.live.com/?v=2&cid=ED47C672742C0F8F!185 and that worked! pretty cool! google maps eat ur heart out

BV2312 wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 6:40 PM

Odd! i posted the link for local.live.com...... but somehow it changed to maps.live.com..... :S someone explain?

Chris wrote re: Virtual Earth goes 3D
on 11-07-2006 7:32 PM

Mmm no idea. Perhaps they are redirecting local.live.com to maps.live.com

Live Search's WebLog wrote Virtual Earth 3D beta: A new dimension for mapping and Live Search
on 11-20-2006 6:46 PM

What if mapping the world was more like a video game? What if you could fly like Superman and figure

LiveSide - News blog wrote Virtual Earth adds five new 3D cities and Italy imagery
on 12-25-2006 4:06 AM

The Map Room is reporting that 3D imagery for five new cities has been added to Virtual Earth . The new

LiveSide - News blog wrote Windows Live: Where it started, where we've been, and where we are now
on 12-31-2006 9:17 PM

Well, it's that time of the year again. It's the time where everyone does their predictions for the new year and recap of the events of the year that is on its way out. Kip is going to be covering our list of things to watch for in 2007 and that means

LiveSide - News blog wrote Windows Live: Where it started, where we've been, and where we are now
on 12-31-2006 9:18 PM

Well, it's that time of the year again. It's the time where everyone does their predictions for the new year and recap of the events of the year that is on its way out. Kip is going to be covering our list of things to watch for in 2007 and that means

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