Virtual Earth code development is not tied to any server side technology. With an interface style directly based on the upcoming Microsoft “Photosynth,” the user visually selects high-resolution scenes to be loaded in the 3D space. The 3D control, installed on demand and still offering a seamless “in browser” experience, supports Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows-based machines with adequate 3D hardware.

The interface requires no plug-ins and, in version 6, supports Internet Explorer 6, 7, Firefox 2, and Safari 2. The power of the 2D interface comes from JavaScript manipulating the HTML DOM and making AJAX calls directly to Microsoft's Web servers. Many optional parameters can be used here. The Virtual Earth constructor takes the ID of the DIV.

Listing 1: Virtual Earth “Hello World” code listing. Listing 1 shows a basic “hello world” example. Getting started with the platform is trivial a simple HTML Web page is all that you need to access the powerful AJAX mapping. The Virtual Earth platform combines a JavaScript library, a rich set of mapping data and imagery, a set of Web services, and a powerful 3D control. Let's explore what's new and what has changed in this latest release. Microsoft's premier Web-based mapping solution has undergone upgrades to it user interface, compatibility, and functionality making it an ideal time to get started with the platform or upgrade your existing application. Now in its sixth major release, Virtual Earth offers an entire world of opportunities for innovative Web-based mapping.

Live earth maps