[METALMiKE]

I was just playing with Live Local or Windows Live and it has Houston and Austin birds eye views now.I'm not sure if anyone knew this.:)

[Mopacs]

WOW, the austin aerials are amazing. I didnt realize you can view any given location from 4 distinct angles (W,N,S,E). The Austin imagery is from early 2006.

[TDoss]

forgive my ignorance - I have never heard of the application? What is it?

[Mopacs]

forgive my ignorance - I have never heard of the application? What is it?

Its Microsoft's online mapping application, which has put forth some very popular advancements, such as the "Birds-Eye View" feature. Here is the heart of downtown Austin, centered over 4th and Congress, and a rather popular local landmark:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=p1b4sy6vn88q&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9915161

[KevinFromTexas]

Wow, that's great. I can so use this to help me build my model of downtown. The fact that they're not just aerials from one side, but that you can switch cardinal views and see buildings and blocks from different angles will be very helpful. Awesome!

[Mopacs]

The imagery looks to have been taken in early 2006, January or February of last year. The Milago is well underway, and the crane had already been taken down at this point:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=p18j086vnhg9&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9915749

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=p18j086vnhg9&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9915926

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=p18j086vnhg9&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9915719

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=p18j086vnhg9&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9915960