Weekly Microsoft Virtual Earth Update

Seems like the Microsoft Virtual Earth team is really pumping out the updates this month. This week we have some 3D updates. I noticed this morning when I started up VE3D I got the two following message boxes:

ve3d-initial-settings.jpg

ve3d-mouse-help.jpg

Looks like Microsoft is detecting your hardware and giving you the option of a less graphic intense choices in case you are still on that old Intel P-III.

When the VE3D first appeared, I was complaining about how the model of the Colosseum was great, but it was on a very low resolution aerial. Well no longer:

col-3dve.jpg

vatican-3dve.jpg

The Virtual Earth Blog says that there is now over 20TB of imagery for almost all of Italy. The VE Team is right, Mt. Vesuvius is just stunning.

ve3d-vesuvius_1.jpg

The other famous volcano, Etna is also in high-res:

ve3d-etna.jpg

Lake Como is of course beautiful, but the terrain model could use some updating.

ve-como-terrain.jpg

The Italian Alps are covered, and you get just enough into Switzerland to capture the Matterhorn. I’m no expert, but I assume the terrain model is still not good enough.

ve3d-matterhorn.jpg

Italy is such a beautiful country and having the whole peninsula and islands in high-res makes it look even better.

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