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VE : Virtual Earth for free?
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
VE : Virtual Earth for free? // Roundtable
Post by theuns // Sep 10, 2008, 5:14am
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theuns
Total Posts: 519
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Am I missing something? Did a google search to find VE and got to http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/
But this just looks like a commercial version that you have to buy.
Is there a free version or is the free for all web based?
Can somebody point me in the right direction so I can start experimenting with trueSpace models on VE?
Tom? |
Post by jayr // Sep 10, 2008, 5:55am
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jayr
Total Posts: 1074
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i had trouble finding it myself, try this link:
http://maps.live.com/
switch the view to aerial or 3d |
Post by TomG // Sep 10, 2008, 6:21am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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The Virtual Earth page mostly shows you the business case for what you could use it for.
The actual "thing" itself is at http://maps.live.com/ - this is because VE is not separate from the MS mapping solution, but is just one string to that bow. The maps.live site is the MS mapping site, so if you want 2D road maps, driving directions, or a 3D view of downtown Dallas, it all happens at the same place :)
Once there at http://maps.live.com/, clicking on 3D will prompt you to install Virtual Earth if you don't already have it installed. Note that Virtual Earth is a viewer, rather like a Flash plugin, etc - you install it, then you can view new content in your browser.
As such it is of course free to install and use. You can even upload collections (push pins, highlighted areas, comments etc) on the maps - but to do so you will need a Windows Live ID. This is the generic MS ID, used for hotmail to Games For Windows to MS Messenger, and of course the maps site.
You need an id because you have to have some secure place to store and edit your driving directions, collections etc. It too is free of course.
One thing a collection can store are 3D objects. Once you have a Live ID to enable you to have collections (ie have someplace to store them), then you can use tS to export to VE. Send the link to browse the collection to someone, and they can see your 3D object in place anywhere on the globe :)
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Steinie // Sep 10, 2008, 7:20am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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I'll say it again, this information should be on the front page or in the FAQ. The main reason we all received TS7.6 for free and the information about getting VE isn't easily available to a new user. Reading this thread felt like deja vu. |
Post by frootee // Sep 10, 2008, 7:46am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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I agree Steinie. A link prominently displayed is needed here.
Although it's not very 'prominent', I added a link to the Tech FAQ:
http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showpost.php?p=80428&postcount=29
Froo |
Post by Délé // Sep 10, 2008, 7:56am
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Délé
Total Posts: 1374
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Froo beat me to it. He's too quick. :p
I also added where you can get a Windows Live ID to the FAQ. ;) |
Post by frootee // Sep 10, 2008, 7:59am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Hehe just workin in tandem with you Dele! :D
Froo |
Post by Steinie // Sep 10, 2008, 8:41am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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Boy you guys are quick! Thanks.
If you can I would also add that Windows Live and VE are both free too.
This is not the first impression I had when I did a Google search and almost didn't continue. |
Post by frootee // Sep 10, 2008, 8:56am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Done. Thanks for the tip Steinie! :)
Froo |
Post by TomG // Sep 10, 2008, 11:37am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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The idea of a page for this is a good one, I'll create that and we can main or half banner link it from our home page. Will be done sometime over the next 7 days or so, when I can fit it in, will let you know about it on the forums! And thanks for the addition of the info into the tech faq too, a great community we have here.
Thanks!
Tom |
Post by theuns // Sep 11, 2008, 12:34am
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theuns
Total Posts: 519
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Thanks guys... did see that map.live.com as one of the hits in the google search... will follow the directions you gave and check it out... |
Post by 3dtrc // Sep 11, 2008, 6:50am
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3dtrc
Total Posts: 14
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What kind of information do I have to give to get an ID? |
Post by TomG // Sep 11, 2008, 7:01am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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The usual for signing up to email, social networking sites, etc - name, zip, year of birth, etc. Nothing I havent been asked for emails, facebook, myspace, renderosity, 3D commune, etc etc etc :)
HTH!
Tom |
Post by DotNetWebs // Sep 13, 2008, 8:18am
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DotNetWebs
Total Posts: 24
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Just to add: you can embed Virtual Earth onto any PUBLIC FACING website for free. i.e you can't use it for intranets etc.
I haven't implemented any 3D yet but my Virtual Horsham (http://www.virtualhorsham.co.uk) application can give you an idea of what you can do with the Virtual Earth API
Regards
Gavin |
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