Microsoft Virtual Earth

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better than some of the features of Google Maps (at the time the quintessential example of an AJAX application), Microsoft decided to answer back. Granted, Google was first, but in many ways, Microsoft did it better. ( Requires FireFox (MAC) or Internet Explorer (PC) )

Dubbed MSN Virtual Earth, it is a correlation of Microsoft MapPoint, Microsoft Terra Server and a 3rd party licensed satellite photography provider. Some of the best features include the following:

- Dramatically better satellite photography than Google
- Click-and-Drag functionality of map and satellite photos (AJAX)
- Larger area for map/satellite imagery
- Animated zoom
- Scratch Pad
- Saved Searches

Check out 1600 International Drive. (Then click on 'Bird's eye view' graphic)