John Rowland wrote:
Windows Live Local has gone 3D. It's a blatant rip off of Google Earth,
especially the stars in the background, but it seems to lack Google Earth's
ability to set a flight path over Greenland and sit back and enjoy. However,
the ability to switch between an aerial photography globe and a map globe is
very handy.

The tiny number of buildings depicted in 3D are much better than anything in
Google Earth - check out the (New York) Chrysler Building and the London
Eye. (You only get the high-res versions on Aerial or Hybrid mode, and they
take a while to completely load, going through several low res versions in
the meantime). Chelsea Bridge has a strange effect that makes it look like
the bridge has a roof over the vehicles.

Bizarrely, the disused piers of Blackfriars Bridge are among the first 3D
models which have been added to London.

http://maps.live.com/

Just had a look at the aerial pictures - no parking restrictions yet in
Golders Green. They came in around 2003-2004. The old Load Of Hay pub
in Brent Street has been demolished by this point but no building work
had yet started on what is now called Hampshire Court.