Virtual Earth Updates
After the recent massive 14 Tb image update and some releases on the side every now and then, the Virtual Earth team steps up again with some impressive work for consumers, designers and developers. The first thing in the long row is Virtual Earth Web Services SDK, Version 1.0, a set of Web services that allow you to add mapping and search functionality to your application, including location finding, map imagery, and routing capabilities. Next they’ve launched Virtual Earth Map Control SDK 6.2, the map control software development kit (SDK) consists of a complete set of reference topics that cover the Virtual Earth map control application programming interface (API). Apart from these releases, the Virtual Earth AJAX control on MSDN and the Virtual Earth interactive SDK have been updated/upgraded as well.
What’s new? Well. Umm. A lot.
Check out the list below Mark Brown posted on the DEV site yesterday:
New Mobile Support
Users can now build mobile applications with Virtual Earth, which offers more features and enhancements to support mobile platforms such as, Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry and Apple iPhone. Rich imagery creates immersive mobile end-user experiences that bring location-based information to life.
- Rich Imagery for Mobile. Mobile applications feature geocoding and new maps rendered specifically for mobile devices (64×64 image size).
- More flexibility to develop mobile features. The new Virtual Earth Web Services will support features (mapping, geocoding, and routing) that can be implemented for use on mobile devices.
Enhanced International Opportunities
This latest release of Virtual Earth provides more support and more detail for more countries around the world. Enjoy the functionality and features of Virtual Earth in a broader range of countries.
- New localized maps. Maps are now available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish for users in Western Europe. These localized maps are supported for both desktop and mobile applications.
- New international reverse geocoding. Users can now find international addresses with reverse geocoding, which is now available anywhere Virtual Earth has routing.
- Extended parsing capabilities. With expanded parsing capabilities, users will experience better match rates for addresses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Richer Data: See More in the Platform
The Virtual Earth platform is designed for the enterprise and public sector user, from features to support. This 6.2 release enhances the platform infrastructure with new geocoding and parsing improvements, as well as more detail revealed in relevant ways.
- Pushpin clustering. The new map control includes the ability to zoom in on a map to better visualize a cluster of points. The pushpins can be clustered and surfaced at larger zoom levels, or hidden from view at smaller zoom levels, to give a better user experience.
- Expanded number of rooftop geocodes. Virtual Earth now offers 85 million unique addresses—more than 65% of all rooftops in the U.S.
- New near-matching capabilities. Using near-matching capabilities, customers can find locations using alternate and similar spellings, resulting in a more relevant search experience.
- New landmark-based routing. Customers in the U.S. and Canada can now use maps that feature familiar landmarks, such as gas stations and fast-food restaurants, called out by name.
- New imagery metadata. Users can now find out the relative age of a given image, which will help them assess if the imagery is still relevant to their needs.
- New imagery. Find locations that come to life, with richer bird’s eye and 3D imagery of more locations in cities across North America.
- New functionality to hide base layer tiles. Developers now have more granular control to hide the Virtual Earth base map tiles for those applications in which they choose to use their own imagery or overlays.
- Weather integration. Bring your 3D maps to life by featuring near real-time local weather and cloud formations.
Stunning, isn’t it? Almost as good as a virtual world.
Enhanced Functionality: Do More in the Platform
The latest release of the Virtual Earth platform offers a richer user experience and more intuitive functionality. There are more ways for customers to search for more types of mapping information, in ways that are tailored to their individual needs.
- New Virtual Earth Web Services. The new SOAP based Virtual Earth Web Services v. 1.0 offers static map images (.gif, .jpeg and .png), direct map tile access, one-box search functionality, geocoding, reverse geocoding, routing . It supports Virtual Earth on the desktop and on mobile devices.
- New one-click directions. Through the Web Services, customers can now get directions in one click, choosing from route options by shortest time, shortest distance, or traffic flow.
Related links:
Windows Live Dev announcement
Virtual Earth team blog