How do I get MSN Virtual Earth so I can use it not Google Earth? All I can find is articles about it..Thanks!?

Question

I want to see my old house in Italy and show my boyfriend where I grew up...

Answer 1

Hi,

Though I hadn't used it until researching your question, it seems that MSN Virtual Earth is a Web service only, not a downloadable program like Google Earth. It also appears that there's been some kind of plan (or at least name) change, because although I found a number of Web pages with links to Virtual Earth, each time I clicked one I arrived at "Windows Live Local." Here's the URL I was repeatedly taken to:
http://local.live.com/

It is "powered by Virtual Earth," though. That would appear to be the service they want you to use, and/or which Virtual Earth has become.

I played around with it for a few minutes. I zoomed in on Italy to see what kind of detail is available. Though I could get down to street level, I didn't see any buildings, but maybe the area I chose was just too rural. I didn't even see any satellite imagery; only a nice map.

Like you said, I found a number of articles, but those articles were mostly dated mid-2005. A newer article (see the link, below: A Closer Look...) tells about Windows Live Local and calls it the consumer destination for Virtual Earth, which seems to be what I was finding. So that must be the answer to where you can find it. (Click my link, above.)

Having said all that, have you tried Google Maps, or Yahoo Maps/Local? (These name changes are driving me crazy.) I've provided links at the bottom. While MSN's service *may* provide the satellite views you said you want (so you can see your house), the other two *definitely* do. It's just a question of whether your old neighborhood has been photograhed in high-enough resolution to be available to these services. Some places are detailed all the way down to buildings, while others are much less so.

I've used them both. In each one, you can see a map view, a satellite view, or a hybrid view. Google's was the first one I'd heard of, and tends to have my loyalty as "first stop" for that reason. (Familiarity is another reason.) But both have unique and useful features, and either one has a good chance of locating your house.

Good luck.