Windows Live Local

  • Article

I've been using Google Maps (GMaps) for a long time and, after joining Microsoft, started using the Windows Live Local (WLL) web app that runs on Microsoft Virtual Earth (MVE). At first, I was really hesitant to make the switch--GMaps had been good to me--and while it was in early beta, I really didn't like the fact that the maps in MVE were mostly black and white. However, I've found some new things that I like a lot more about WLL that GMaps.

  • Scroll to zoom - in WLL, if you have a scroll mouse, you can zoom in and out using the scroll wheel on the mouse.
  • Bird's eye view - WLL allows you to have a helicopter view of a city, so in NYC, you can see the Empire State Building as though you're flying next to it.
  • Traffic reports - WLL uses data from Traffic.com to report traffic problems in big cities. As you drag the map, it updates the map with accidents and road congestion-no refresh clicks.
  • Pushpins - WLL lets you save 'pushpins' that are points of interest. You can categorize them and share them with others. It will let you create driving directions to and from any pushpin--unfortunately, you can't just tell it that you want it to create directions between 2 pushpins yet, but maybe they'll think of that soon.
  • Business/category search - Searching for businesses or categories in a location is awesome because as you drag the map, it automatically refreshes the map with pushpins associated with the category or business that's typed in. GMaps makes you click the find button and it never restricts its search to the viewable area of the map.

I think when this is out of beta, WLL will be an awesome product that will give GMaps some real competition.

Comments