July 31, 2007 | Tuesday

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Microsoft v Google: Street Wars

By Jon Myers, Director Of Search in Search Engines |Google |Microsoft |Search Technology

One of the hottest areas online is mapping technology – and its development is revving up!

A few years ago we were in awe at the launch of the satellite imagery on things such as Google maps, then Google Earth and then Virtual Earth from Microsoft. Now the boundaries are being pushed again – this time at ground-level with the ‘Street View’ concept.

A great post on gizmodo.com compares the vehicles that Google and Microsoft are using and the miles per gallon performance as they capture images around town. Microsoft are using a huge 4.8 litre Chevy Tarhoe with 6 camera mounts where Google favours a much more streamlined 2.2 litre Chevy Cobalt and have already done some limited “street view” testing in five cities across the US.

And of course there’s many more in the race - an early runner in this concept can be seen at Everyscape.com.

Who wins this “race” is unclear, or if there will a winner at all, but it looks certain that the quality of imagery will rise with maybe video and probably advertising options within this.