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April 11, 2008
Impressive Upgrade to Virtual Earth 3D
Well, Microsoft has been working hard. Last night they released a major upgrade to Virtual Earth that includes some impressive new features. Here's an excellent summary of the new features by Microsoft Steve Lombardi. NOTE: you will have to install the new version when you go to visit the Virtual Earth site - virtualearth.com and click on the 3D option. Let me summarize the key new features I see from a Google Earth perspective:
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Improved 3D buildings - Virtual Earth 3D already had more buildings with consistent quality textures (compared to GE). But, the texture resolution was low. They've now upgraded the texture resolution, increased the range of coverage to suburb areas, AND are now rendering trees as well! So far, only Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver and Phoenix have this new "version 2" upgrade. But, they promise hundreds of cities by the end of the year. Here's my initial impression: Models for the first city I tried took a while to load, but not terribly slow. Textures definitely look better, although not a huge increase in resolution. For some reason anti-aliasing is not working on my computer so edges on models look jaggy. The trees look really good - at least in Las Vegas. If they are automatically rendering trees from photogrammetry, I'm really impressed! [UPDATE 1030 ET: Steve pointed me to a new blog post, by Jerry Skaw of Microsoft, sharing more details about the 3D rendering. And the trees are automatically generated - and it matches my guess at how they would do it. See the post for more details and screenshots.]
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Export to KML - Microsoft has added the ability to export collections (their equivalent of placemarks) to KML, GPX, and GeoRSS. This means you can now save collections to files and use them in other things like Google Earth, or put placemarks on your GPS. Another step in improving functionality for practical use.
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3D Modeling Improved Also - Steve also mentions that their 3D modeling tool, 3DVidia, was also upgraded. I'll have to look at it, but the earlier version didn't seem as good as SketchUp.
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Bird's Eye Enhanced - You can now see street/map labels inside Bird's Eye views. This is a cool trick in projection since the photos are taken at different angles. It makes Bird's Eye much more useful as well. Cool feature!
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MapCruncher integration - MapCruncher is Microsoft's application that lets you place maps and photos over a location very accurately. They've now integrated this with Virtual Earth 3D. I haven't tested this yet. But, since VE3D was missing a way to put image overlays into their world, this is a step in the right direction. I just wonder how hard it will be to use. GE has a very easy and intuitive interface for adding image overlays. But, it doesn't have the ability to accurately project them into other than rectangular overlays.
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Explore Collections - Steve called this GeoWeb Explorations. It's kind of like dynamically searching for user content as you move your view. Something I think Google Earth should be doing as well. You find the option in VE3D under the "Collections->Explore" option in the upper right. They have added the ability to filter your searches by KML, or other tags that appear in your scene. And, you can filter based on photos, OR 3D models. I'm guessing Microsoft has developed their own equivalent of 3D Warehouse with a few models. I haven't found a lot of models available in this mode yet.
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Movie Capture - Microsoft has a new capability to make movies and even claim the ability to capture up to HD quality movies. Google Earth Pro does not do a good job of capturing movies at higher frame rates (probably due to using the built-in Microsoft video codec). But, I use Fraps and can capture HD for GE anyway.
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Real-time Traffic - Microsoft has a new traffic application called ClearFlow that allows it to predict traffic patterns based on other traffic data. This sounds like impressive stuff. See the NY Times article, and Mickey says some good stuff about it at Digital Earth Blog. Mickey also notes what they really need is a mobile version - which I'm sure will come eventually.
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Improved KML Support - Steve says they can support KML files with a new "&mapurl=" parameter - meaning you can add the URL of a KML file without having to load it inside the app. He notes this means you can view a Google Mays MyMap inside Virtual Earth. Interesting! I tried this, but it is a little tricky. Steve gives example URLs for how to use the new parameter. You then look for the "View in Google Earth" inside your Google MyMaps and copy that link as your URL.
Overall - I would say this is a significant upgrade to Virtual Earth. The new features have some impressive capabilities. I'm obviously a big fan of Google Earth, so my opinion may be slanted. But, I still feel the Virtual Earth 3D interface is not as friendly or smooth as Google Earth. It will be interesting to see whether the inclusion of MapCruncher makes it easier for people to add content like image overlays. The enhancement to the 3D buildings is welcome, as is the slick addition of labels for Bird's Eye imagery. The 3D buildings (and trees!) and Bird's Eye imagery are still the main two attractions for me to use Virtual Earth 3D. But, not enough for me to use it every day.
Posted by FrankTaylor at April 11, 2008 08:38 AM
Comments
Posted by: Barry Hunter at April 11, 2008 09:00 AM
I've just noticed that VE now works in Safari 3. Am I slow in the uptake, or is this new since the latest VE update?
Fab either way!
Posted by: Will Sancha at April 11, 2008 09:46 AM
now if only they supported linux for their site....
Posted by: Corey Farwell at April 11, 2008 10:08 AM
Well here's something also worth nothing - Users in the UK are now directed to MultiMap - where we receive the same Virtual Earth data, but only a fraction of the features - no more 3D, links don't even work, they've even reverted back to a 'static image' way of navigation. Expect allot of UK users coming your way real soon!
Posted by: Mark at April 11, 2008 10:08 AM
As I blogged this morning, the new features of Live Maps sound great, but UK users have been blocked from the service:
Microsoft adds great new features to Live Maps, blocks UK visitors.
Posted by: James Turnbull at April 11, 2008 10:42 AM
In regards to UK visitors being currently blocked I read on another blog that they could go to: http://maps.live.com/?mkt=en-us and get around the block.
Posted by: Andrew Jones at April 11, 2008 01:20 PM
Ok, I think I'm going to switch to Live Maps now. Not that Google's solution is bad, but I really think the Virtual Earth platform is somewhat better than what Google has.
And there's other things that have been on Live Maps way before Gmaps and this update. I think I'm going full time.
Posted by: Quikboy at April 12, 2008 06:00 AM
I admit that I'm impressed with some of the aspects of this upgrade. But, I simply cannot help but make note of something -- and in turn wonder who exactly their branding coordinator is over there. "ClearFlow"? Think about that for just a second, and perhaps you'll dribble your coffee as I did.
And I really mean no disrespect to Microsoft in regards to such an observation. It must just be my sick little mind that notices these sorts of things, that's all.
But yes -- decent upgrade. I clap.
Posted by: Daniel at April 12, 2008 07:42 AM
And at Quickboy:
You're trying a little too hard through all the blogs, bud. I'm also willing to be open and say -- the upgrade also wasn't 'that good'.
But it is good. I'll throw them that.
Posted by: Daniel at April 12, 2008 08:50 AM
The detail and lighting of trees is outstanding. Check out this closeup of locust tree foliage at http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddh/2406568948/
Job well done!
Posted by: Roddh at April 12, 2008 04:25 PM
I'm very impressed with the trees in Virtual Earth. In aerial views you see hundreds (or 1000s) of trees, and as you get close you see individual leaves and foliage structure.
I published a couple photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddh/2404799837/in/set-72157602457155082/
Posted by: Rodd Halstead at April 13, 2008 05:32 PM
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NOTE: Please use English. Comments are moderated.
FWIW, "&mapurl=" isnt 'new' its been there a while, I think this update just improves the number of KML elements understood :) (including network-links - which is what was preventing MyMaps working easily before I beleive)