MapForums

As most of you already understand, Microsoft's Live Search Maps site is our free site to consumers for searching, exploring and discovering locations and points of interest around the globe. As I emphasize over and again, it is an implementation of Virtual Earth, the platform.
We have just released a new version that packs in some great new features worth a look because they wil be able to be leveraged in your applications through the API (coming soon).

I am including the official list below. Steve Lombardi speaks about some of these in more detail in his blog. Be sure to check it out.

(Thanks for doing the work Steve!)

Expanded Accuracy

· Enhanced Geocoding. Integration of multiple geocoders and datasets provide the most relevant and accurate results

· Rooftop Geocoding. Rooftop locations are the most precise geocoding results available in the United States today. Rooftop geocoding is now available through the API.

· Bird’s Eye Pushpin Accuracy. When switching between aerial and bird’s eye views pushpin accuracy is maintained, delivering a more seamless experience.

· Bulk Addition of Shapes. This new API allows the customer to add multiple pushpins in one drop while maintaining high performance and avoiding performance slowdowns.

· Improved Shape Control. Users can now specify how a shape object appears relative to other shapes or tile objects, providing greater control in viewing data and objects.

New Tools

· 3D Modelling. We partnered with Dassault to create a new application to allow anyone to create 3D buildings and other objects in Virtual Earth. 3DVIA Technology preview allows you to create textured buildings and save them directly into your map Collections.

· Multipoint Routing. The new API can take multiple points for a route instead of just the start and end points, allowing for more complex trip planning.

· Traffic Tile Overlay. For client token authenticated users, the new map control will now support fetching of traffic tiles, containing rendered traffic flow data.

· Improved Routing Engine. Near route searches now benefit from improved routing capabilities providing the ability to locate specific points of interest along routes.

· Localization Enhancements. When using MapPoint Web Services as a routing engine users can specify a specific culture and receive results localized to that culture.

· MapCruncher (Beta). MapCruncher™ Beta for Microsoft Virtual Earth makes it easy to publish maps overlaid in an application using the Virtual Earth map control.

· 3D Altitude Settings. Users can now specify altitude settings, in meters, for Virtual Earth objects in 3D

· Updated interactive SDK. A new version of the Virtual Earth Interactive SDK is available, demonstrating the new functionality of the Virtual Earth Map Control with ease.

Enhanced Infrastructure

· Safari Support. The new map control includes Safari 2.0 support, enabling Mac users to use almost all of the features of VE on Internet Explorer.

· Customer Identification with Client Tokens. Customers can use Client Tokens (obtained using production developer credentials) to identify their transactions for reporting and billing purposes.

· Transaction Reporting (Beta). Customers can access and view a preview of transactions for the current month as well as their historical traffic for a given date range.

· Service Level Agreement. The Virtual Earth Platform now carries a 99.9% uptime guarantee for customers that have purchased a licensing agreement.

· Improved Overall VEShape Performance. Speed and accuracy improvements for pushpins and shapes, even in high numbers, has been significantly increased. Performance enhancements also include faster map panning.

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