Bing Maps gets 3D revamp

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 3 Dec 2009 at 10:24

Microsoft has bolstered Bing Maps with Silverlight support and street-level photography.

Silverlight makes zooming into maps noticeably smoother than before, even in comparison to the relatively slick Google Maps. However, the really impressive part occurs at street level.

As with Google Maps, Microsoft has begun adding street-level photography to its maps. Unlike Google's Streetview cars, however, Microsoft's mapping vehicles are using 3D imaging technology to map buildings, bringing a sense of depth to the photography.

Unfortunately, this effect applies to people, too, turning them into odd, watercolour-esque, videogame figures.

In addition, Microsoft is making use of its Photosynth technology - which stitches together photographs into 3D models - to allow people to wander through the interior of some famous buildings, and around monuments.

The software giant is also introducing an equivalent to Google's layers technology called apps. These apps are selectable from a gallery and allow people to overlay maps with the location of tweets, restaurants and other information.

Microsoft claims to have mapped around 100 US cities so far, though only 56 of them are currently available through the service. The company claims it plans to roll out the technology internationally, but there's no word on dates.