Comments on: Microsoft to Compete With Google Earth? [update] http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/ Geospatial Information Science - Trends, Tools & Technologies Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:25:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Carsten Keßler http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-27 Carsten Keßler Fri, 06 Jan 2006 08:48:10 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-27 ... and like they did with HTML and JavaScript. And there are certainly some other examples. … and like they did with HTML and JavaScript. And there are certainly some other examples.

]]> By: Patrick Maue http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-26 Patrick Maue Thu, 05 Jan 2006 23:37:36 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-26 This is an interesting move of Microsoft. Let's hope that they stick to the OGC standards and don't incorporate their own, proprietary, ideas. (like they did with CSS). This is an interesting move of Microsoft. Let’s hope that they stick to the OGC standards and don’t incorporate their own, proprietary, ideas. (like they did with CSS).

]]> By: Carsten Keßler http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-25 Carsten Keßler Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:18:32 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-25 Noiv, I've been playing around with wmsInterface, and it worked at least for some WMS. Might be a problem of the servers with the ones I could not add. But still, that's not what I would consider really user-friendly. And having a standard view defined by each WMS working on every layer is certainly a good idea. Rkgeorge, I have not used WMS with SVG yet, but I know that there are hardly any servers offering this format. I don't know much of XAML, so I just have to believe what you say about this ;) However, you are right - vectors give away a lot (if not all) of the original information. So providers of services offering vector formats really have to be careful not do breach other ones copyrights. Noiv, I’ve been playing around with wmsInterface, and it worked at least for some WMS. Might be a problem of the servers with the ones I could not add. But still, that’s not what I would consider really user-friendly. And having a standard view defined by each WMS working on every layer is certainly a good idea.

Rkgeorge, I have not used WMS with SVG yet, but I know that there are hardly any servers offering this format.

I don’t know much of XAML, so I just have to believe what you say about this ;) However, you are right - vectors give away a lot (if not all) of the original information. So providers of services offering vector formats really have to be careful not do breach other ones copyrights.

]]> By: rkgeorge http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-24 rkgeorge Wed, 04 Jan 2006 23:28:16 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-24 As far as Microsoft/GeoTango, the interface could possibly move to .NET XAML, which unlike SVG is 3D. There are a lot of interesting possibilities as a WFS as well as WMS when client XAML is part of the equation. In a declarative XML graphic, aggregators or end users can add their own event listeners to customize local interaction relatively easily. It should allow us amateurs more leeway than even the Google API. WFS makes chaining a lot easier too. The big problem though, is vectors give away a lot of intelectual property. As far as Microsoft/GeoTango, the interface could possibly move to .NET XAML, which unlike SVG is 3D. There are a lot of interesting possibilities as a WFS as well as WMS when client XAML is part of the equation. In a declarative XML graphic, aggregators or end users can add their own event listeners to customize local interaction relatively easily. It should allow us amateurs more leeway than even the Google API. WFS makes chaining a lot easier too. The big problem though, is vectors give away a lot of intelectual property.

]]> By: rkgeorge http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-23 rkgeorge Wed, 04 Jan 2006 23:24:40 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-23 I ran into similar situation with an svg interface. Most public WMS getCapabilities don't seem to use the and tags. Some don't include either Layer or Layer . Or if it is included it is just a generic overall bounding box rather than layer specific. The combination of BoundingBox with Min Max scale would allow a determination of visibility and avoid the dreaded white tile when using a simple I ran into similar situation with an svg interface.
Most public WMS getCapabilities don’t seem to use the and tags. Some don’t include either Layer or Layer . Or if it is included it is just a generic overall bounding box rather than layer specific. The combination of BoundingBox with Min Max scale would allow a determination of visibility and avoid the dreaded white tile when using a simple

]]> By: noiv http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-22 noiv Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:43:53 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-22 Adding your own servers with wmsInterface is simple, have a look at the <a href='http://www.worldwindcentral.com/wiki/Add-on:WmsInterface#register_server' rel="nofollow">instructions</a> And I agree, the WMS standard is not end user compatible. It lacks at least a defined view (Lat, Lon, Alt) where in ANY case choosen layer is useable and server does not return white tiles. Adding your own servers with wmsInterface is simple,
have a look at the
instructions

And I agree, the WMS standard is not end user compatible.
It lacks at least a defined view (Lat, Lon, Alt) where in ANY case choosen layer is useable and server does not return white tiles.

]]> By: Carsten Keßler http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-21 Carsten Keßler Wed, 04 Jan 2006 08:53:06 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-21 I must admit that I don't quite remember how I tried to do it. It's been some weeks. So I just tried it again, and it works using the One World plugin. But I still don't know how to add my own, custom WMS. However, I still do think that this is all a bit too complicated for non-professionals. And maybe that's fine, because World Wind is a complex product, which is not really targeted at "non-GIS-people". But if Microsoft wants to compete with Google Earth, they have to make their product really easy to use. I must admit that I don’t quite remember how I tried to do it. It’s been some weeks. So I just tried it again, and it works using the One World plugin. But I still don’t know how to add my own, custom WMS.

However, I still do think that this is all a bit too complicated for non-professionals. And maybe that’s fine, because World Wind is a complex product, which is not really targeted at “non-GIS-people”. But if Microsoft wants to compete with Google Earth, they have to make their product really easy to use.

]]> By: noiv http://www.gisblog.net/news/microsoft-to-compete-with-google-earth/#comment-20 noiv Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:39:22 +0000 http://www.gisblog.net/?p=20#comment-20 Did you tried wmsInterface to connect World Wind with OGC WMS servers? Did you tried wmsInterface to connect World Wind with OGC WMS servers?

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