Windows Live Local Street Data For New Zealand!

Well it looks like Microsoft has followed Google and has added street level data for the entire country

 

You can search all the streets in the country. You have to use full syntax though. For the address above which is the Wellington office, I entered 150–154 Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand.

There is also cool driving directions. You can get directions based on quickest or shortest routes. I know this has been a feature in Live Local for quite a while now on other datasets but I never really played with it. You can just right click on a point and select whether you want to drive to or from. Pretty awesome!



  

The satellite imagery is still lacking big time. Google Maps has awesome high resolution imagery for the major centres. I guess Microsoft will soon add this to Live Local. Be cool to see.

The one thing I found that doesn’t work is the locality searching. I tried many different combinations but was not able to get this to work. I guess the data it just not there yet. Something else that must be coming soon!

Now I can go grab the Windows Live Local Add-in for Microsoft Office Outlook

“Windows Live Local for Outlook enables you to add maps and directions to your Outlook meeting requests, calculate the travel distance between your start location and your appointment location, adjust your meeting departure time based on the estimated travel time, store custom locations, as well as print the map and step-by-step driving directions to take with you on the road.”

Also has anyone tried the “Share in Messenger” option? That is so cool. I was playing around with it, talking to another mate. Its great for showing other people directions!.