Remember how A9 took a car with a few cameras on it down streets of major cities and let you see what the storefront looked like at a particular address? Well, we thought that was cool so wanted to take it to the next level.
Virtual Earth Streetlevel.
That link will take you to a Channel 9 video of Streetlevel that shows off what we did (and you’ll meet the team behind it). They took a van with 10 cameras to Seattle and San Francisco (more cities coming soon) and built quite a remarkable AJAX app. Lots of fun. Drive your own car down the streets of San Francisco. Oh, and you can search for the closest Starbucks, too! It’s like playing a video game. Driving through tunnels is a lot of fun!
How many images? Seattle alone is 10 million images. What a database!
You can check it out for yourself at http://preview.local.live.com/. More info is on the MSN Search blog.
What do you think?
anon: you’re funny!
Dmad: what end user problem does Halo solve? Can’t we do anything just because it’s cool or fun anymore?
But, the team answers what problems this solves in the video. Oh, wait, anon thinks the video is useless. Geeessshhh.
anon: you’re funny!
Dmad: what end user problem does Halo solve? Can’t we do anything just because it’s cool or fun anymore?
But, the team answers what problems this solves in the video. Oh, wait, anon thinks the video is useless. Geeessshhh.
I just can’t believe Microsoft did it.
Congrats
I just can’t believe Microsoft did it.
Congrats
Scoble,
I think StreetLevel presents Microsoft an excellent opportunity to involve the geek community in its projects.
Grabbing photographs of every street in the US is going to mind-bogglingly expensive, but guess what, there are some enthusiasts would be willing to help Microsoft wih this…hint hint…;)
If a person can grab pictures of the street where he/she works or lives, then slowly you can build up a big database of pictures from all over the country.
While there are severe logistical, and I assume copyright challenges to be worked out, this is a great community project; after all it is a preview (alpha?) right?
Cheers
Scoble,
I think StreetLevel presents Microsoft an excellent opportunity to involve the geek community in its projects.
Grabbing photographs of every street in the US is going to mind-bogglingly expensive, but guess what, there are some enthusiasts would be willing to help Microsoft wih this…hint hint…;)
If a person can grab pictures of the street where he/she works or lives, then slowly you can build up a big database of pictures from all over the country.
While there are severe logistical, and I assume copyright challenges to be worked out, this is a great community project; after all it is a preview (alpha?) right?
Cheers
If you can’t figure out what end user problem Halo solved, then you are more clueless about business than even Chris Coulter could imagine.
I think MS’s stock price reflects how valuable doing “cool stuff” is.
If you can’t figure out what end user problem Halo solved, then you are more clueless about business than even Chris Coulter could imagine.
I think MS’s stock price reflects how valuable doing “cool stuff” is.
[...] If you’re low on bandwidth I suggest you head over and read scobles entry on this: They took a van with 10 cameras to Seattle and San Francisco (more cities coming soon) and built quite a remarkable AJAX app. Lots of fun. Drive your own car down the streets of San Francisco. Oh, and you can search for the closest Starbucks, too! It’s like playing a video game. Driving through tunnels is a lot of fun! How many images? Seattle alone is 10 million images. What a database! [...]
Why can’t it drive me around town by itself ? Sort of like a sight seeing tour
Why can’t it drive me around town by itself ? Sort of like a sight seeing tour
“Goebbels, why don’t you just swallow your pride and watch the video? i’m sure you will feel a lot better afterwards.”
I used to occassionally despite Scoble’s poor techniques, sycophantic interview style, poor demeanor, and constant “oohing” and “ahhing” and “that’s cool”ing.
BUT… Microsoft has dropped Apple support without a vlaid reason. Scoble has claimed he would determine what the “true” reason was and report it to us; he has failed to do so for over 2 months, I believe. Scoble also said even he saw it as a problem and would pursue changing formats: he acts as if this is a monumental tasks that task tons of time and money; in fact, if he skipped one silly trip to one silly convo I could have a server set up for him in the time alloted and half the price.
I will what the sh!t videos only when one or more of the following occurs:
1. SMPTE actually approves VC-1 as a standard: yeah, right!
2. Scoble reports to us the true reason for dropping Apple support
3. Scoble converts the video to an acceptable format (which even includes the simple YouTube format)
And, finally, feel better? Why? I can test a beta quite easily. If the people behind that beta want feedback and info and want to provide it to testers, but refuse to give it in anything beyond a crappy video done on a handheld, that’s their problem, not mine.
“Goebbels, why don’t you just swallow your pride and watch the video? i’m sure you will feel a lot better afterwards.”
I used to occassionally despite Scoble’s poor techniques, sycophantic interview style, poor demeanor, and constant “oohing” and “ahhing” and “that’s cool”ing.
BUT… Microsoft has dropped Apple support without a vlaid reason. Scoble has claimed he would determine what the “true” reason was and report it to us; he has failed to do so for over 2 months, I believe. Scoble also said even he saw it as a problem and would pursue changing formats: he acts as if this is a monumental tasks that task tons of time and money; in fact, if he skipped one silly trip to one silly convo I could have a server set up for him in the time alloted and half the price.
I will what the sh!t videos only when one or more of the following occurs:
1. SMPTE actually approves VC-1 as a standard: yeah, right!
2. Scoble reports to us the true reason for dropping Apple support
3. Scoble converts the video to an acceptable format (which even includes the simple YouTube format)
And, finally, feel better? Why? I can test a beta quite easily. If the people behind that beta want feedback and info and want to provide it to testers, but refuse to give it in anything beyond a crappy video done on a handheld, that’s their problem, not mine.
Hi Goebbels – What are your questions? you can email me your questions related to Windows Live Local or the Streetside Preview, and I’ll be sure to get back to you with a response.
As for your Zooming question, I can address that here.
To Zoom In:
Plus key
Doubleclcick the map
Roll mouse wheel forward
To Zoom out:
Minus key
alt-DOubleclick
Roll mouse wheel back.
Hope that gets you started. send me other questions directly.
Steve Lombardi
Virtual Earth Program Manager
SteveLom@microsoft.com
Hi Goebbels – What are your questions? you can email me your questions related to Windows Live Local or the Streetside Preview, and I’ll be sure to get back to you with a response.
As for your Zooming question, I can address that here.
To Zoom In:
Plus key
Doubleclcick the map
Roll mouse wheel forward
To Zoom out:
Minus key
alt-DOubleclick
Roll mouse wheel back.
Hope that gets you started. send me other questions directly.
Steve Lombardi
Virtual Earth Program Manager
SteveLom@microsoft.com
Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to scroll.
I have few questions; a fair number of my critiques are posted here, but maybe I’ll send a more comprehensive list to you via email. Thanks.
Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to scroll.
I have few questions; a fair number of my critiques are posted here, but maybe I’ll send a more comprehensive list to you via email. Thanks.
Sorry: “Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to scroll.” should be”Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to ZOOM.”
Sorry: “Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to scroll.” should be”Steve, thanks. I ultimately was able to ZOOM.”
If you liked Windows Live Local I think you will also enjoy SuperTour.com. The main difference between the two sites is that while exploring SuperTour you walk the streets instead of driving. You are also able to explore the insides of hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. Since the site is still in beta there are only two locations available, Miami and Las Vegas. More is to come, so check it out (www.supertour.com).
If you liked Windows Live Local I think you will also enjoy SuperTour.com. The main difference between the two sites is that while exploring SuperTour you walk the streets instead of driving. You are also able to explore the insides of hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc. Since the site is still in beta there are only two locations available, Miami and Las Vegas. More is to come, so check it out (www.supertour.com).
Well SuperTour has a huge annoyance factor – the need to install a plugin before it will work. The site requires Shockwave version 10, which probably means that most visitors give up before they get to experience what the site can offer.
Well SuperTour has a huge annoyance factor – the need to install a plugin before it will work. The site requires Shockwave version 10, which probably means that most visitors give up before they get to experience what the site can offer.
I agree that loading Shockwave 10 is annoying, but SuperTour.com does that transition effect I mentioned earlier. That’s a really nice touch.
I agree that loading Shockwave 10 is annoying, but SuperTour.com does that transition effect I mentioned earlier. That’s a really nice touch.
[...] walk, drive, race – virtual earth street side Think satellite and birds-eye imagery was cool? Wait until you see streetlevel! Seattle alone is 10 million images. Check out this prototype at – http://preview.local.live.comCheck out the video on – channel9Check out this at Live Labs – http://labs.live.com/What scobleizer says - scobleizer.wordpress.comMore on – MSN Search Blog i can just say WOW! Quote Virtual Earth Team Launches Street-Side Drive-by The Virtual Earth team is pleased to launch a preview of a new feature we have been working on – interactive Street-side browsing. You can try it out at http://preview.local.live.com Street-side imagery allows you to drive around a city looking at the world around you as if you were in a car. But unlike the real world, you can stop your car anywhere you like and rotate your view around 360degrees. Currently we have street-side imagery for San Francisco and Seattle online, and we are planning to have many more cities added when we formally integrate this feature into Windows Live Local this summer. One of the most interesting features is to put you in ‘Street’ view map style. In this mode, all of the street-side images are pasted flat on the map to give you a very unique overview of an area. It takes some getting used to, but once you adjust to it you’ll find it provides a very compelling companion view for our Hybrid maps. Street view helps you orient yourself quickly in an area, while the street side views then show more detail presented as you would see it in the real-world. This technology preview is just that – a means for us to get a feature we are working on in your hands to play with and provide feedback on, before it is ready for prime time integration into the Windows Live Local site. That’s why we chose to put this up in the Live local technology preview site. There are a number of User Interface challenges with any new navigation model and getting input from users is critical to refining the UI interactions before launch. The Virtual Earth team is proud to be the first application featured at Live Labs, allowing us to get this proof of concept out quickly – We went from concept to launch in just a few short weeks, thanks largely to the dedication of our engineering team and cooperation with the Live Labs organization. Live Labs is a partnership between MSN and Microsoft Research headed by Gary Flake whose mission is to help fast-track technology from research to user’s hands, so it was a natural fit to partner with them to get this inaugural application out Via Live Labs. Try the application out and let us know what you think. How could navigation be improved? What cities would you like to have added? Is it easy to stay oriented or do you ‘get lost’ in the imagery? How could Navigation be improved? “From Concept to launch in a few short weeks”. As crazy as that sounds, its true. Jay Nanduri , Brad Snow, Chandu Thota, Eyal Ofek, Rick Welsh and myself, along with immeasurable support from the rest of the Virtual Earth team and our Ops crew put in some late night dev sessions to get this out. Channel 9 came over to talk to us about the process and application, so be sure to watch the video to get the word firsthand. Filed Under: Live [...]
Hey,
Some of you had said installing Shockwave for http://www.SuperTour.com was annoying.
So here’s the flash movie for a preview of the site and its features:
(http://www.supertour.com/movies/edenroc/)
Hey,
Some of you had said installing Shockwave for http://www.SuperTour.com was annoying.
So here’s the flash movie for a preview of the site and its features:
(http://www.supertour.com/movies/edenroc/)
Nice resource, very interesting reading… Good luck with your site in the future!!! May be you like my sites?
Nice resource, very interesting reading… Good luck with your site in the future!!! May be you like my sites?
Nice resource, very interesting reading… Good luck with your site in the future!!!
Nice resource, very interesting reading… Good luck with your site in the future!!!
[...] street side in exactly the same way that Google is doing now, but flew a plane over major cities. Here’s a video I did with Microsoft’s street side mapping team. What if the drug agency was using that photography [...]
I found it quite refreshing and exciting would like to see this all over the country or most large cities.
I found it quite refreshing and exciting would like to see this all over the country or most large cities.