Saw the most amazing thing on the MS Intranet today: my house. I can see my house from here.
The technology is called “MSN Virtual Earth“, where Microsoft meshing search and local maps to produce a fantastic visual experience. The views I saw gave me some significant view options: street, aerial and hybrid (where I could match actual landmarks to the street designators).
Zooming in (using the mouse wheel), I could go from great heights into my own backyard (note to self: cut the grass). Clicking on the map / picture surface, I could center and navigate around my city (Seattle) with ease. I have a nifty shot of the Space Needle that I'm saving until I can post it.
This is another step of work that has been in progress over the past 10 years, coming together in a big way, now that distribution technologies and bandwidth availability have come of age.
Links to public news on Bill Gates' 5/23/2005 speech (and some screenshots):
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050523-125208
http://www.webpronews.com/insidesearch/insidesearch/wpn-56-20050523BillGatesUnveilsGoogleMapsCompetitor.html
http://news.com.com/MSN+announces+satellite-mapping+service/2100-7345_3-5716973.html
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050523/NEWS01/505240307/1007/SPORTS
http://www.webpronews.com/insidesearch/insidesearch/wpn-56-20050523MSNVirtualEarthEmploysSatelliteTechnology.html
http://google.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000100044309/