Virtual Earth & MapPoint B2B : MapPoint Finished Goods

SAP and Virtual Earth

cpendle — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:08:00 GMT

How about some SAP and Virtual Earth integration? Check out this video explaining how mapping provides better business intelligence combining SAP and Virtual Earth: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/businesses/partners/demos/sap/index.html. The zone optimization application takes business data with Virtual Earth and provides map representation of areas to prevent zoning conflicts and discover holes in areas that need to have coverage. It's a great example of VE, MapPoint, SAP and Windows Vista working together.

Virtual Earth Business Value Webcast

cpendle — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:48:00 GMT

In case you missed my webcast on "Using Mapping and Location Technologies to Grow Your Business" you can view the recorded version here: https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/Register.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032313598&CountryCode=US&IsRedirect=false. Other than the glitch in the middle switching from slides to demos the presentation should be engaging enough to justify a mapping solution if you don't have one or using mapping in new applications that don't exist today. Slides, demos and conversation - all good stuff.

Overview of the preso:

Mapping the Current Landscape
Microsoft Virtual Earth Overview
Enterprise Applications

Retail
Insurance
Hospitality

Data Analysis
Mappoint 2006 Overview

Webcast - Grow Your Business Using Mapping and Location Technologies

cpendle — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:47:00 GMT

I'll be presenting an online web cast November 9, 2006 @ 1 PST covering mapping technologies for the enterprise. You can sign up here: https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032313597&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Here's an abstract of my presentation:

This webcast provides an overview of trends in mapping and location technologies and shares best practices of how various companies leverage these technologies. Many of your business applications can benefit from these location capabilities such as store locators, data analysis/business intelligence, fleet solutions and many more. After attending this webcast, you will understand how maps and geographic information can help your company grow.

While most of my presentations are technically focused, this presentation will present mostly the business aspects of why mapping and location have become critical for companies large, medium and small. I'll throw in some tech to spruce up the preso, but as a whole I hope to keep the business owners focus intact.

Streets & Trips 2007 On The Way

cpendle — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 22:02:00 GMT

The new version of S&T will be hitting the shelves in time for XMAS. In addition to updated data, the new version breaks new ground for trip planning and navigation software by tightly integrating online local search results with mapping and navigation capabilities. It also significantly enhances the navigation feature set with several improvements such as a “full screen mode” to enhance the driving experience, a better performing and sleeker hardware puck (featuring the latest SIRFIII technology), improvements to rerouting and additional navigation improvements such as drive times and reverse routing. Lastly, we made the first significant investments in tailoring the application for ultra-mobile PCs, so that as that platform begins to emerge in CY07 we have a winning offering to attach to UMPC sales.

You can preorder on Amazon or pick it up in stores on October 12. And, yes Autoroute 2007 has the same features and will most likely be available a week later.

Virtual Earth Plugin for Outlook

cpendle — Fri, 26 May 2006 22:15:00 GMT

http://outlook.local.live.com/minisites/local/outlook/default.aspx

Map and get driving directions to and from appointments, get timing information, find places near where you are or where you're going - all within the Outlook client.

Downside to MapPoint 2006

cpendle — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 06:01:00 GMT

Ok, so I've been saying all along that MapPoint 2006 is backwards compatible, blah, blah, blah, but it's not. I just learned that the demographic information for Canada is gone. You can still import your own demographic data into the product, but Canada is no longer included in the product.

I've obviously had a pre-release of the product while writing this blog and just figured it would get added before it went to market. Clearly that didn't happen.

More Information on MapPoint 2006

cpendle — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 08:09:00 GMT

I posted some time ago about the cool new features in MapPoint 2006. I also said it was set to be released in Q1 of 2006 which the end is creeping up quickly, so what's the scoop? Well, I just installed the latest build, so you want to know what I know?

First off, when can you get it? Release to market (RTM) is still set for March. Which means you'll be able to pick it up at Best Buy in May. I guess RTM means start the CD stamping. Additionally, there is a software assurance discount running for MapPoint 2004 that if you buy SA now you get the free upgrade to 2006. Its a screaming deal and worth at least asking your MS account executive about.

What's up with the delay? Why are we always late releasing products? (To make them better) Because we're adding A TON OF MORE DATA FOR EUROPE - it would seem our European counterparts are always snickering at being the red-headed step child (squeezing the piss) - we delayed the release. I believe our European friends will be happy to know that Eastern Europe is going to be included. EU, EU, EU (futbol worthing chanting). If there is anyone reading this blog from a non-EU country that wants to know when their data will be in MapPoint, you may have to convince your polit bureau to join the EU. If you're on the polit bureau let me know if you'd be willing to license us your data and maybe we can work something out.

What about an Australian version? I love you Australians and your enthusiasm for MapPoint. I've really been pulling for you, but again there won't be an Australian version of MapPoint. South America (Brasil/Brazil) neither.

Is it just another data update? There is more than just a data update in MP 2006; however, most of it is via the user interface and not focused in the APIs. There was talk about rewriting the product in managed code and improving the API integration but we couldn't find time - the developers share time with other products. Improvements include better support for GPS devices (including shipping with a GPS sku), integration with Windows Live Local and a night time map style (like the one in MWS). Additionally, all of the driver guidance you see in S&T 2006 is now in MP 2006. The "locate me" feature from Windows Live Local is included which locates you based on wireless networks and reverse IP lookup - no API. :(

In fact, the only changes to the API are that the Location object supports two new properties: Latitude and Longitude. The MapStyle property now supports a road map style for low light conditions: geoMapStyleNight.

And, of course, a data refresh. :)

Still a pretty sick product, but I agree, tough to work with in managed code and definitely not suitable for a server. Which reminds me - I've gotten alot of flame mails about installing it on a server - neither MapPoint 2000, 2002, 2004 nor 2006 are server products. We don't build them for the server, nor do we test them on a server. PLUS, if you've got them running on the server you're in violation of your user agreement! Ouch. It says so in the license agreement. Now, using the ActiveX control, there are ways to distribute a custom application so that server-based custom applications can be handled, but everyone who accesses the application must have a local copy of MP licensed and installed.

Didn't mean to end on a downer. Besides, if you've got a server-based application you should use MapPoint Web Service or Virtual Earth.

MapPoint Gets a New Name

cpendle — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 08:56:00 GMT

The Microsoft MapPoint business unit has officially changed it's name to the Microsoft Virtual Earth Business Unit. We'll maintain the MapPoint branding for our products, but moving forward our online platform will be called Virtual Earth, as well as, our BU. I need to get new business cards.

Q&A - Problems with Importing From Excel

cpendle — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:40:00 GMT

User: We are using MapPoint to show servcie provider territories. In some states, we have more than 8 service providers, so when we import the state data, only the first 8 service providers are showing up. Is there a way to change this vs having to go in and create a new worksheet in excel and only showing 8 service providers per worksheet?

CP: If I understand you correctly, you're creating a new worksheet for every 8 service providers. If so, what a terrible experience you must be having! I have a question:

Since you are using Excel, does the last column in your schema have data in it? There's a bug in Excel that if you have, say, 8 columns you are using for your data, but the eighth column only has a header (and no values in the respective cells) it will actually truncate the file. That could be the problem.

MapPoint does have a limit per worksheet - 10,000 items - and you're nowhere near it so you shouldn't be having this problem. Also, instead of importing your data into MapPoint I would recommend using the Data Link - "Data" | "Link Data Wizard." This way you can change your spreadsheet and when you go into MapPoint you need only click "Data" | "Update Linked Records" and your map will be updated with the latest and greatest data from your Excel spreadsheet.

MapPoint B2G

cpendle — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 21:47:00 GMT

For those of you MapPoint users who work in or with government agencies, Microsoft now has a page dedicated to the space complete with demos, sale items, and case studies. Check it out: http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint/industries/government/gov_challenges.mspx.

L'information des Technologies de MapPoint dans Europe

cpendle — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 03:06:00 GMT

Finally some MapPoint representation for MapPoint in EMEA. What the heck is EMEA? Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Arnaud Gstach has started a MapPoint blog to keep our fans across the pond abreast of "mappennings" - I just made that word up. Let's see if it sticks.

http://blogs.microsoft.fr/arnaudgs

Where 2.0 2006

cpendle — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 02:58:00 GMT

Conference details have been announced for the Where 2.0 conference which will be in San Jose this year: http://conferences.oreillynet.com/where2006/. I'll be there. Will you?

MapPoint 2004 API Documentation

cpendle — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 04:17:00 GMT

I'm so sick of scouring through MSDN to find this and I just can't seem to bookmark it: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/?url=/library/en-us/MapPoint2006/ALLGettingStarted.asp

Programming MapPoint with .Net

cpendle — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 02:51:00 GMT

Chandu has finally finished and published his book on MapPoint. It covers all of our products including MSN Virtual Earth! It's published by O'reilly and can be found on MP2KMag.com.

Here is a list of chapters:

1. Hello, MapPoint!

Part I. MapPoint 2004
2. Programming with MapPoint 2004
3. Working with Data in MapPoint 2004
4. Advanced MapPoint 2004 Programming

Part II. MapPoint Web Service
5. Programming MapPoint Web Service
6. MapPoint Web Service Find APIs
7. MapPoint Web Service Route APIs
8. MapPoint Web Service Render APIs

Part III. MapPoint Location Server
9. Programming Microsoft Location Server
10. Programming with Location Server APIs

Part IV. MSN Virtual Earth
11. Programming with Virtual Earth
A. Managing Your Data on MapPoint's Customer Services Site
B. Working with Polygons
C. Implementing Spatial Search Using SQL Server

Chandu also runs his blog from http://www.programmingmappoint.net/.

MapPoint 2006 - New Features

cpendle — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 21:33:00 GMT

I just got the inside scoop on MapPoint 2006 new features:

New Advanced GPS Features - The new GPS task pane takes information about your current location as determined from your connected, compatible GPS device and displays your current location and the speed at which you are traveling.
Voice and Text Directions for Windows XP Users - New Driving Guidance takes your location from a connected GPS device and combines it with a route you have created to give you voice-prompted driving directions.
Updated Geographic and Demographic Data - Use updated geographic and demographic data sets in MapPoint to display trends and illustrate key points on maps.
Pocket Streets - Microsoft Pocket Streets makes it easy for you to create custom maps in MapPoint and then export them for use on your Microsoft Windows Mobile™–based Smartphone or Pocket PC.
Microsoft Location Finder - New Location Finder uses your computer’s wireless network capability and a database of known Wi-Fi access points to display your location on maps, even if you do not have a GPS device.
New Map Style for Low-light Conditions - New Map style for low-light conditions makes it easier to view maps on your laptop computer.
Virtual Earth Integration - Link off to MSN Virtual Earth online

Don't confuse MapPoint 2006 with Streets and Trips 2006: http://blogs.msdn.com/mappoint_b2b/archive/2005/08/17/452410.aspx

MapPoint 2006 is set to release in Q1 calendar year 2006.