Microsoft's answer to Google Earth
While Google Earth remains the undisputed navigational heavyweight master of global mapping, Microsoft have weighed in with a reasonable effort.
Bing Maps (previously known as Microsoft Virtual Earth) combines local search with maps and aerial photography. Microsoft have included satellite imagery with maps in its local search results for quite some time but with Bing Maps, the display is focused primarily around maps and aerial views. You can zoom in and out of maps or images, and drag the images around within the display at leisure and the basic search interface is similar to MSN's local search with "what" and "where" forms to specify what you're searching for. In addition, text results for searches are displayed in floating popup windows on the left side of the display.
Aerial photographs are overlaid with labels, showing street names, landmarks, and other features, even including directional arrows for one-way streets plus permalinks saves a screenshot of everything open in Virtual Earth, including the map view location and search results.
It may not be in the same class as Google Earth but this is one of Microsoft's better efforts it has to be said.
Location Finder added to Microsoft Download Centre
Changes
Location Finder added to Microsoft Download Centre
User reviews about Bing Maps
by Gil Epshtain
There isn't a NPM support, need to add script tags like in 1994
by Anonymous
Awful!!!.
Awful! I printed out 6 different locations when traveling through Pennsylvania and every single one was missing parts of the directions. It always seemed to be in the middle of the directions. It would say take X to Z but it would leave out what to do at Y. I got lost a few times because of it. I ended up using my phone for directions which I didnt want to do, I wanted the battery life in case of an emergency. I won't be using Bing maps ever again! More
by Anonymous
NOT ACCURATE! Not accurate on a Mac..
I think they need to get more accurate information. I looked up a specific location, my address and found it was a block away from it's real location. Fact is they had me living in the middle of the road. Or is it that I'm using a Mac.
Pros:
It's nice that you offer this service.
Cons:
Needs to become Mac compatible. More
by Anonymous
Wrongly says that Opera is not compatible!.
Trying to use it in Opera and it says it isn't compatible and to get IE or Firefox, yet if you use the Anti-Sniffing extension, it works just fine in Opera, with no issues. I'm sick and tired of anti-Opera software, including this one. Any software that wrongly says it won't work with Opera automatically gets the lowest review. More
by Anonymous
not for Mac. for Windows only!.
Since Google's official corporate policy is not to show world maps in English, the Bing maps are the only way to go. However, it would be great if they worked on a Mac OS.
Pros:
very useful for English speakers
Cons:
not Mac compatible More
by Anonymous
Bing Maps.
Easy to use but yet costs. I will use Google until this is free. Sorry Microsoft, I can't afford to keep shelling out for programs that keep upgrading and costing. It is a never ending cycle that is costly.
Pros:
Easy to use
Cons:
cost to much! More