The latest update to Microsoft’s digital globe, Virtual Earth, now has limited support for KML; lots more information at OgleEarth and the Google Earth Blog. My reaction? Ehhh. Virtual Earth has some cool features (like Birds-Eye view), but I find the browser-based interface less than ideal, and it doesn’t even work in 3D mode on my laptop. The stand-alone Google Earth client is faster (actually works on my laptop), has more features, is easier to use, data creation is straightforward, etc.. And while it isn’t relevant to me, there are many who appreciate that you can run GE on Macintosh and Linux, while Virtual Earth isn’t supported on those platforms. I’ve seen a few interesting apps being developed using Virtual Earth as the platform, but until Microsoft fixes the usability and data creation issues, and preferably creates a stand-alone client, I’m not going to spend a lot of time with it. In fact, I’d put it at number three in the digital globe world, behind stand-alone digital globes like Google Earth and WorldWind; even ArcGIS Explorer could give Virtual Earth a run for its money in some applications.
"This site" searches Free Geography Tools; "Web" searches the Internet using Google.
I was wondering if you or any of the readers have found a way to translate MS Live Collections (polygons) to KML? Ideally, I need to get someones Collection into ArcGIS (shp), so getting it to KML will do fine.
I do agree with a lot of what you say, firefox seems to have trouble installing the 3d plug-in so im not a big fan at the moment. But if I want to distribute a kml to a client, instead of them having to download google earth as a separate application, it would be quite handy having it all in a browser (albeitthey still have to install plugins). I find in the commmercial environment a lot of IT departments are beginning to block programmes like Google Earth due to bandwidth and problems with profiles/My Places in google earth.
(by the way your ReCaptcha is a bit extreme, maybe find a simpler one? I just had to type an obscure 17 character pair of words)
Don’t work with Virtual Earth that much, so I can’t help you too much with the MS Live Collections problem.
I understand your argument – I also had a client who really wanted the application to be browser-based. For me, the advantages of an independent client are clear.
Sorry about the reCaptcha – I don’t actually select the words. Thing is, it cut my comment spam from 50 a day down to 1-2 a day. And by helping to digitize books, it actually serves a useful purpose.