42244 2 3 econsultancy_xml <p>The <a href="http://en.city8.com/panosearch-pid323404_QHNI-ptz4.669_0.175_1.309-ctps-sn_u_5929_u_5B89_u_95E8.html">site</a> has been developed by Easypano Holdings, based in Shanghai. It began producing street level maps in July last year, and now has coverage of eight Chinese cities. See this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkrFsHiPb3o">video</a> for a demo (in Chinese). </p> <p>Both Google and Microsoft launched new 3D mapping services back in May this year. They are available on Microsoft's <a href="http://maps.live.com/">Live Search Maps</a> site, while Google has added Street View to <a href="http://maps.google.com/">Google Maps in the US</a>. </p> <p>Google's Street View maps, currently available for just a few US cities, provide a 360 degree panoramic view taken from a specific point on the street, allowing the user to pan around and move around the streets. </p> <p>City8 offers this service, but with a much greater degree of clarity. Like Google, City8 uses cameras mounted on cars which cruise around the streets capturing images. Easypano's software then blends the views together so that users can seamlessly pan around the city horizontally and vertically. </p> <p> <img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1803791302_72aff1d137_o.jpg" /> </p> <p>Google's street level photography has been a bit too intrusive for some people, prompting <a href="http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1870995.ece">concerns over invasion of privacy</a>. City8 hasn't yet encountered this problem. </p> <p> <strong>Related stories:</strong> <br /> <a href="/blog/1379-google-maps-adds-reviews-and-ratings">Google Maps adds reviews and ratings</a> <br /> <a href="/blog/1029-google-launches-mymaps-a-social-mapping-service">Google launches MyMaps, a social mapping service</a> </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>The <Link URL="http://en.city8.com/panosearch-pid323404_QHNI-ptz4.669_0.175_1.309-ctps-sn_u_5929_u_5B89_u_95E8.html" Window="Self">site</Link> has been developed by Easypano Holdings, based in Shanghai. It began producing street level maps in July last year, and now has coverage of eight Chinese cities. See this <Link URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkrFsHiPb3o" Window="Self">video</Link> for a demo (in Chinese). </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Both Google and Microsoft launched new 3D mapping services back in May this year. They are available on Microsoft's <Link URL="http://maps.live.com/" Window="New">Live Search Maps</Link> site, while Google has added Street View to <Link URL="http://maps.google.com/" Window="Self">Google Maps in the US</Link>. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Google's Street View maps, currently available for just a few US cities, provide a 360 degree panoramic view taken from a specific point on the street, allowing the user to pan around and move around the streets. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>City8 offers this service, but with a much greater degree of clarity. Like Google, City8 uses cameras mounted on cars which cruise around the streets capturing images. Easypano's software then blends the views together so that users can seamlessly pan around the city horizontally and vertically. </Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image Source="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1803791302_72aff1d137_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Google's street level photography has been a bit too intrusive for some people, prompting <Link URL="http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1870995.ece" Window="Self">concerns over invasion of privacy</Link>. City8 hasn't yet encountered this problem. </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related stories:</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/1379-google-maps-adds-reviews-and-ratings" Window="Self">Google Maps adds reviews and ratings</Link> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/1029-google-launches-mymaps-a-social-mapping-service" Window="Self">Google launches MyMaps, a social mapping service</Link> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2007-10-30T10:57:00+00:00 2 1 econsultancy_xml <p> <strong>A Chinese website called City8 is taking on Google and Microsoft's mapping tools by offering street level mapping with an impressive level of detail.</strong> </p> <p> <img alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/1803728716_d5a4ff602d_o.jpg" /> </p> <p> </p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>A Chinese website called City8 is taking on Google and Microsoft's mapping tools by offering street level mapping with an impressive level of detail.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image Source="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/1803728716_d5a4ff602d_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 1884 364483 Chinese mapping firm takes on Google and Microsoft false 2007-10-30T12:23:00+00:00 chinese-mapping-firm-takes-on-google-and-microsoft 2009-04-29T21:19:30+01:00 2009-04-29T21:19:30+01:00 512