Google Earth/Maps vs. Microsoft Virtual Earth
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Hi all,
I kind of wanted to check on both platforms to decide upon which to use for extracting site aerials to use in arch projects.
Only spent some minutes on it, but to my taste Virtual Earth scores higher as no plugin within the internet browser is needed for it to zoom/pan the 2D aerials and the images look sharper and at higher quality.
Down side to Virtual Earth seems that less (rural) places have been scanned yet by satellite, so only major cities seem to work at high res.
What is your opinion on these 2 different platforms as I am not at all an expert on this?
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I use virtual earth more than google earth for the noted reason, sharper and better images.
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I also use Maps.live.com
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I'd say that I use both app. 50/50...
For me it all depends on the project and need...
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I use both, but I find the images much better from Microsoft live.maps
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I shouldn't be saying this out loud, but wouldn't it be possible to have a Live.maps plugin in Sketchup?
Or is that blasphemy?
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So you chaps haven't noticed that the images are much older in Virtual Earth?
~Voder
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No.
For most architectural use, this should not be a real hassle I think.(unless the images would be over 10 years old, which I don't expect)
To use as a ground texture to start mass modeling, resolution and image quality is the key.The down side to maps.live is the availability of maps (less areas scanned than GE).
So using both GE as live maps seems to be the way to go as most people replied.
A live.maps plugin in Sketchup would be a nice addition.
Best of both worlds! -
Well, my place is not only rather bad on liev.maps but even the streets are not always where they are shown and the names are totally screwed up. It shows streets where there are squares etc.
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Have you guys seen the new API to incorporate GE into web sites. This is pretty cool. And it seems to load faster than the standalone GE.
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/
And here's an example I'm working on.
http://www.twharvey.talktalk.net/index.htm
Tom
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Too bad I have Firefox 3 and it is not supported (yet).
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@Gaieus: Re: FF3 >> It is now! (gearthblog.com)
@Tom: Nice site so far, but for some reason I couldn't get the Earth option to work. It keeps telling me there is a problem with the plugin. gl!
Zach
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@cerevellum said:
@Gaieus: Re: FF3 >> It is now! (gearthblog.com)
@Tom: Nice site so far, but for some reason I couldn't get the Earth option to work. It keeps telling me there is a problem with the plugin. gl!
Zach
Seems to work fine for me, with a bit more snappiness than the stand-alone GE, as Tom noted.
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Hmm, weird..
It couldn't have to do with Firefox 3, do you think? Anyone else having this issue?
Lates,
Zach -
@cerevellum said:
Hmm, weird..
It couldn't have to do with Firefox 3, do you think? Anyone else having this issue?
Lates,
ZachI'm using Firefox 3...however, I did notice something odd about Firefox, with the browser consuming 98% of my CPU after I installed the plugin, and not releasing it (and still showing in Processes) even after I quit it. I'll need to check and make sure that was just the GE plugin and not something else, like a buggy theme, of course.
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Thanks for the info, Zach! I installed the plugin and Tom's place streams just fine on FF3. I could also navigate to my place and see it just like in the standalone GE app (had no problems with any issue).
This is my office however with some dedicated broadband connection. I1ll test it at home as well with my own broadband.
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