Windows Live Mobile Throwdown
Originally uploaded by titaniumtommy.

So which is better? Without a doubt, Microsoft's was the winner.

Even just comparing the mapping and traffic capabilities, this matchup could have been a bit uneven. We were running WLS on a Windows Mobile phone, which gave it a "native-app" feel, because it was a native app. Google Maps on Java ran like Java always does. Painfully

Just gathering some tools for the real estate bust...so I can quickly gauge school systems in places where homes are in default. This one looks promising...

School Performance Maps: California

Yahoo has been gobbling it's way to Web 2.0 greatness and I'm glad they're doing it that way. Now they're getting into the increasingly crowded mapping game. Here's something I found while poking around flickr's apis: Yahoo! Maps Web Services - Maps Application Gallery

Remember Google Map/Craiglist real estate splice? Now comes an MSN VirtualEarth version. This one seems a little more "business-y" since it seems to be built as a tool for realtors.

See for Yourself.

MSN just launched their MSN Virtual Earth site! Congrats to the Virtual Earth team!

It's basically a Google Maps competitor, but as usual, MSN has a few tricks up its sleeves:

1. LocateMe - this neat feature installs a little widget that figures out where you are by your wifi signal. I absolutely love it.

2. Blog It - Integrated blogging to your MSN Space of your Scratch Pad. I'm still playing with this to see if it's useful...so far nada.

3. It works with MSN TV 2. Google Maps causes the box to crash while Virtual Earth runs very well on MSN TV 2 (a little slow on dialup, but then again, what isn't slow on dialup these days?) About the only thing that doesn't work on MSN TV 2 is the click and drag feature (which may work with a USB mouse attached...I'll have to try).

There's even a fan site setup that's ready to hack VE and make it do cool/fun things (hopefully even more useful than some of the Google Maps remixes that we've seen). Link.

UPDATE: For MSN TV 2 users, the mouse works great with this site. The scroll wheel can zoom the map in and out and scroll the results and scratch pad windows. You should search in the scrunched view (the non-resized page), but then resize the page to access features like Aerial photos). The LocateMe can be used (just scroll way down in the panel that appears and click "IP Address"). It doesn't work as well as the PC version where you install an application, but it's nice nonetheless.

Google Maps + Craigslist

This is really cool...slow and buggy, but shows a LOT of potential.