The beta version of MSN’s competitor to Google’s Maps includes aerial photos and multiple searches.
The struggle for search supremacy continues, with billions of dollars in online ad revenue the prize for the company that can get the most market share.
MSN Virtual Earth debuted quietly over the weekend in beta form. Plans for the service were announced earlier this year in the wake of Google’s own map debut.
One feature in MSN Virtual Earth lets the user install a “Location Finder,” which will display their current location as determined by using Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi must be active on the computer for this to be used.
Virtual Earth allows for What and Where searches. Combining the two lets one find a business in a particular location. If a location is not specified, Virtual Earth filters results based on the current map view, or by the computer’s location if the Location Finder is in use.
Search results return a list on the left side of the screen, and as pushpins appearing on the map. Performing a new search minimizes the results of the first search, but its pushpins remain on the map while ones for the new search appear. Up to three sets of results can be stacked on the side of the screen.
The Tools menu includes an option called Scratch Pad. This tool lets users place a search result in the pad for reference later. When one clicks on a search result, a popup appears with more information. In that popup, clicking on Add to Scratch Pad places the result there.
From the Scratch Pad, the result can be emailed to someone, or blogged to an existing MSN Spaces blog. Also, Virtual Earth includes a Permalink button, where the state of the current window can be converted into a single URL that can be bookmarked for future reference or shared with others.
David Utter is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
