MSN Virtual Earth vs. Google Maps |
MSN Virtual Earth is enjoying a soft launch this weekend and along with many others I have been taking it out for a test drive and comparing it to Google Maps. First let’s look at a .6 mile shot from above Seattle.
The first thing I noticed is that MSN Virtual Earth (VE) has a clearer satellite view than Google Maps which makes it easier to see the surrounding landscape. There isn’t as much distortion, nor is at as dark (see below). I’m giving VE +3 points here, because clarity of a map is extremely important.
- Google Maps highlights the street names and highways clearer as shown above using their new “hybrid” view (+1 GM)
- MSN Virtual Earth calls the spot to return to the map a permalink and Google Maps says “link to this page.” I think Google will win out with the non-geek/blogger audience with this term (+1 GM)
- In Google Maps, I put “Safeco field, Seattle, WA” and was treated to a red pin of where Safeco Field was located. I put Safeco Field in in “What” in the MSN Virtual Earth and it returned “no results found” even though you can clearly see the words “Safeco Field” on the map above. I then tried the same thing as GM using the ‘where’ field and same thing: “no results found.” So if I’m a baseball fan in Seattle and want to find Safeco Field, how do I do it using Virtual Earth? I did find if I put the keyword “baseball” in the ‘what’ field then that immediately put a red ‘1′ next to Safeco Field. Think I’ll call this one a draw because GM’s map to keyword function seems a little more intuitive, but VE’s makes it clearer to see and allows narrowing searches within the current map which could be really handy if you know the general vicinity of something, but don’t know where on the map it actually is located. I also tried the keyword “baseball, seattle wa” in Google Maps and it returned a bunch of results in the greater Seattle area, Safeco Field among them. (DRAW)
- Next I tried getting directions from Puyallup, WA where our office is located to Seattle, WA in both VE and GM. In VE when I chose “Drive To” it took me to maps.msn.com. It prefilled the location of Safeco Field which was on my last search as the end point. All I needed to add was Puyallup, WA and it returned detailed driving directions with a green highlight showing the path. Unfortunately, it wasn’t tied to the Virtual Earth map, unlike GM which simply gave me two fields: “Start address” and “End address” when I clicked on the “Directions” link. Everything stayed on the same page and it used AJAX to pull in the location without any page reload. Again, GM edges VE in more simpler UI (GM +1).
- My last task was to find bowling alleys in Puyallup, WA and the surrounding areas. I typed “bowling” in the ‘what’ and “puyallup, WA” in the ‘where’ in VE and immediately it rapidly returned the results in Puyallup and the surrounding area. The only problem is it didn’t return Daffodil Bowl which is in downtown Puyallup. I tried the same search in GM using the “Local Search” link and Daffodil Entertainment Center (see, no “bowling” in the title) was the first result returned (GM +1)
- Overall speed of both programs is a DRAW, except when it comes to mapping as mentioned above, which I already gave a point to Google in that department. VE suffers from not having better integration with their very clear and superior satellite view.
- Overall intuitiveness of GM vs. VE, I would give to Google Maps (GM +1). I found it easier to use and more intuitive than MSN Virtual Earth. If it only had better graphics and clarity, it would be the clear champion between the two.
- Overall graphics and clarity VE wins because the satellite view is bigger and cleaner (VE +1).
Overall scorecard
MSN Virtual Earth: 4
Google Maps: 5
It’s tough to declare a winner here, because with a little tweaking MSN Virtual Earth could easily beat Google Maps, but right now VE is weak in a few areas and the nod, IMO, goes to Google Maps — but just barely. This is really a very excellent effort on MSN Virtual Earth team’s part.
Both programs are very good and quite useful when you have an internet connection (if you are lost, didn’t get a map of where you were going ahead of time, and don’t have an internet connection then both of these services are useless — try Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS instead).
Now, I’m curious how do you score the two programs in a side-by-side comparison?
Did this post make you go hmm?
(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
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One thing missing that makes google way better is the open API so people can mashup data with google maps. Is there any word on Bill letting out an API for his Service?
No wonder Scoble has been talking about maps this week……
Comment by Steven Frein — July 24, 2005 @ 1:30 pm PST
“… little tweaking MSN Virtual Earth could easily beat Google Maps”
Don’t agree at all, virtual earth is just virtual USA and that will not be solved by a little tweeking, so Google Maps wins big time and it won’t be solved quickly I guess. With a little tweeking Google could solve your points, so by the time virtual USA understands there is more on this planet then the USA, Google will be better also. So when will Virtual USA kill Google Maps and why?
And what about the horrible black and white pictures or the outdated images?
Major dissapointment and I was really thinking that MS would come with a killer, with all their money to buy good and current images.
Comment by Martin — July 24, 2005 @ 2:13 pm PST
Yes. There is an API. Come back tonight and watch the video over on Channel 9.
Comment by Robert Scoble — July 24, 2005 @ 2:57 pm PST
don’t forget driving directions. VE points to the old mapping site. -2 VE
Comment by frodoo — July 24, 2005 @ 4:59 pm PST
[…] 8217;s new “Google Maps killer” was released this morning: MSN Virtual Earth. TDavid wrote a review while the site was up for performance testing which is quite good. All in all, […]
Pingback by Ensight - Jeremy Wright » Review: MSN Virtual Earth — July 25, 2005 @ 7:42 am PST
Local Search : Maps Make It Happen
The new Microsoft Virtual Earth, which joins Maps.Google.Com, is the clearest presentation yet of the fact that search (paid and hopefully organic) is going local in a big big way. Look at the image below, and marvel at how nicely the list of bookstore…
Trackback by The Pre-Commerce Blog — July 25, 2005 @ 8:55 am PST
Profile - MSN Virtual Earth
Service: MSN Virtual Earth
Launched: July 23, 2005
What is it?
MSN Virtual Earth is an excellent mapping/satellite imagery application. Much like Google Earth (profile), it is fascinating to look at, and very useful as well. There is no download …
Trackback by TechCrunch — July 25, 2005 @ 6:56 pm PST
Yes, there is not only an API for Virtual Earth, but an entire Developer portal dedicated to tutorials, documentation and sample applications. Check out http://www.viavirtualearth.com
Also, regarding only having coverage for the United States. This is just while we are in beta. We will begin introducing coverage for other countries soon. We currently offer maps and driving directions in about 25 or 30 countries at our maps.msn.com site - We’ll be bringing these countries into the Virtual Earth Website as the beta cycle winds down.
regards,
Steve Lombardi
Virtual Earth Program Manager
Comment by Steve Lombardi — July 30, 2005 @ 1:11 am PST
Google Maps vs. Virtual Earth
Whilst reading today’s Ars Technica article on censorship of security-sensitive areas in Google Maps and Microsoft Virtual Earth, I rediscovered something I had vaguely noticed on the day of Virtual Earth’s launch, but had not investigated due to the…
Trackback by thoughton:digitallife — August 9, 2005 @ 3:52 pm PST
just wrote a comprehensive review and comparison of Virtual earth and Google Maps
http://myschizobuddy.com/index.php?/archives/7-Virtual-Earth-and-Google-Maps-Comparison.html
Comment by MySchizoBuddy — August 13, 2005 @ 1:01 am PST
VE and GM may be roughly comparable for the US, but at present, GM still has VE beaten hands down for the rest of the world. I don’t doubt that MS are looking to sort that out in the future, but here and now Google have got it. I think for US users it is too easy to forget that other people have computers too.
Also, when it comes to search, the ability to type in a place name and go straight there is really noticeable in its absence from VE. IMHO, that difference probably scores more than the difference in map clarity, which I’m not too convinced on in any case - I find GM perfectly clear.
Comment by Tom K — December 28, 2005 @ 11:03 am PST
[…] Makeyougohmm, ThinkLemon, PostMoneyValue, Fusion94.org, sinceretheory, Ben Barren, Chris Pirillo, Jeff Nolan (“actually make that well over 3 years old for the images, I just recognized a car in the street that my neighbor used to drive”), SurfersSurf […]
Pingback by TechCrunch » Profile - MSN Virtual Earth — January 21, 2006 @ 11:42 pm PST
MSN has old outdated maps. Good way to get lost, if I ever need to time travel i am all over it.
Comment by Derek — August 1, 2006 @ 6:46 pm PST
i need google map because i work taking flower every day i am delivery person tank you
Comment by daniel gonzalez — August 31, 2006 @ 9:15 am PST