02-08-2006, 08:00 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Virtual Earth Mobile: Free Maps On-the-Go
Jason Fuller has released an essential Virtual Earth Mobile update. On February 12, Microsoft's Virtual Earth (Windows Live Local) servers will switch to a new interface, thus rendering any old Virtual Earth Mobile clients inactive. So, now's a good time to grab the free v1.50 release, which aside from supporting the new server interface, also packs a handful of new features such as driving directions (via MSN Mobile), a Wi-Fi locator, the asynchronous loading of maps, map stretching, improved zoom levels, a new help page, and support for integrated GPS on the HP iPAQ Mobile Messenger series.
Additional screenshots can be found below.
Virtual Earth Mobile offers three view modes: Road (above), Aerial, and Road & Aerial (below).
You can get up close and personal with...
...everyone's favourite Flight Simulator airfield.
The new driving directions feature is a boon. Flag a starting point and a destination, and MSN Mobile will map out a route for you.
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02-08-2006, 09:02 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 7
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this is a good competition to the Google Map Java Midlet.
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02-08-2006, 02:44 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 25
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Very nice
I have both the Google one and this loaded. I think the Virtual Earth is superior. I have a question about Virtual Earth though. I turned on the GPS in the phone, but when I select "Locate Me" the app says it can't access the GPS. Ideas? I have a XVT6700 Smartphone.
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02-08-2006, 04:36 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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Re: Very nice
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Originally Posted by pcause
I have both the Google one and this loaded. I think the Virtual Earth is superior. I have a question about Virtual Earth though. I turned on the GPS in the phone, but when I select "Locate Me" the app says it can't access the GPS. Ideas? I have a XVT6700 Smartphone.
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The XVT6700 doesn't have GPS. CDMA phones use location from cell towers but they call it GPS.
you will need to get a bluetooth GPS to use these features.
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02-08-2006, 04:40 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 65
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Re: Very nice
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Lee
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pcause
I have both the Google one and this loaded. I think the Virtual Earth is superior. I have a question about Virtual Earth though. I turned on the GPS in the phone, but when I select "Locate Me" the app says it can't access the GPS. Ideas? I have a XVT6700 Smartphone.
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The XVT6700 doesn't have GPS. CDMA phones use location from cell towers but they call it GPS.
you will need to get a beneath GPS to use these features. |
I tried the same as pcause and get the same issue.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Lee
you will need to get a beneath GPS to use these features.
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Can you clarify Jason?
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02-08-2006, 04:42 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 118
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Are address location capabilities limited to WM 5.0 operating system? I have a Dell Axim X50v but am still on 2003se. I can get maps and current location from WiFi but destination address searches are bombing out.
Brad
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02-08-2006, 05:14 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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Re: Very nice
Quote:
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Originally Posted by crashdau
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Lee
you will need to get a beneath GPS to use these features.
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Can you clarify Jason? |
oops. stupid tablet pc handwriting recognition. that was supposed to say bluetooth. i edited my post. sorry about that. 
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02-08-2006, 07:41 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 93
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what's the different between this application and mapopolis for example?
thanks for your help
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02-08-2006, 09:18 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,725
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This is cool, although a little slower than I expected.
I also just got this error when attempting to zoom in:
Code:
VirtualEarthMobile.exe
IOException
__Error::WinIOError+0x8a
File::Move+0x55
DownloadRequest::OnSuccessfulDownload+0x7d
DownloadRequest::Download+0xc9
TileManager::DownloadQueueThread+0x69
TileManager::DownloadQueueThreadProc+0xd
Haven't duplicated it yet, but I'm trying. 
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02-09-2006, 03:13 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by msafi
what's the different between this application and mapopolis for example?
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Mapopolis is a dedicated GPS navigation package requiring the use of a GPS receiver and their maps. Route tracking tends to be real-time.
Virtual Earth Mobile, on the other hand, leverages the power of Microsoft's Live Local technology to provide a mapping service that's not stuck to real-time tracking (like Mapopolis). Anyone can load Virtual Earth Mobile on their Pocket PC or Smartphone and access the maps. A GPS receiver isn't needed unless you want to track your current location. Virtual Earth Mobile will also provide aerial data on the maps. All the data is pulled direct from Microsoft's servers, so for the most part, you'll need some sort of wireless connection to get it going (e.g. GPRS, EV-DO, Wi-Fi, etc.).
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Linear Mode
