By Soul Solutions on
Sunday, 27 January 2008
 We've had a late addition to our user group tour...Gold Coast .Net. We'll be visiting these guys on the 21st February, venue TBA. Will add some links and details as they come to hand.
Updated schedule can be found HERE
Technorati Tags: Gold Coast .Net
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By Soul Solutions on
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Next Tuesday, 29th we're off to Hobart to present 2 sessions on SQL Spatial with Virtual Earth. We're lucky to be the 2nd presentation at the newly formed Hobart SQL Server Usergroup during the day followed by the Hobart .Net at night.
Details for the session:
In this visually interactive talk we explore the new spatial data types, functions and indexes directly related to the real world using the interactive browser based Virtual Earth control. We focus on the new Geography data type providing an overview of the new functionality as directly applied to mapping. This includes the storage of points, polylines and polygons as well as real world tasks like effective rendering to the map, geofencing and proximity searches. We explore the power of union and buffering. Finally we examine the new index specifically built for fast spatial lookup.
The talk will inform, teach and demonstrate. You will understand what this new functionality is all about, what data types and functions are needed, how they operate and how to add an effective spatial index to your project.
Registration/Information on the sessions:
Technorati Tags: SQL Spatial, Virtual Earth, Hobart
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By Soul Solutions on
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
 In part 2 of this series, Derek Chan shows how to integrate the Mappoint Web Service platform on a Virtual Earth map.
http://www.viawindowslive.com/Articles/VirtualEarth/InvokingserversidecodeusingAJAXPart2.aspx
If you recall part 1 introduced the concepts of using a httphandler to communicate between server side code and Virtual Earth.
http://www.viawindowslive.com/Articles/VirtualEarth/InvokingserversidecodeusingAJAX.aspx
As usual the full source code is available for download. Great work Derek!
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By Soul Solutions on
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
I spoke with Rony Ledany the Managing Director of Terra Pixel about their new product ImagePatch this week. As you may know the Virtual Earth API allows for custom tile layers to be added over the top of the stock road or aerial tiles built in. The difficulty is how you source the data, prepare and integrate into your system.
I asked Rony a few quick questions:
John: So Rony, what is ImagePatch?
Rony: ImagePatch.comJohn: How easy is it to incorporate your service into a Virtual Earth application?
Rony: Very easy, as we deliver our patches in YUM format (Virtual Earth tile base ready package) you can just like you see our image samples on ImagePatch.com
John: Are we talking about better quality images, more recent image or coverage of areas not currently in Virtual Earth?
Rony: Microsoft Virtual Earth publish their imagery in many levels of resolution. Generally, high resolution in urban areas and less in rural locations. Image Patch can deliver much higher resolution, but focuses on specific location vs.. an entire region.
John: Thanks for the quick chat Rony, if people are interested in this service how do they get in contact with you?
Rony: www.ImagePatch.com let you view patch samples, then over to the Order Page in just 4 easy steps:
1. Locate the area of interest
2.Define the area for acquisition
3. Chose Resolution
4. Submit an email request
We will then both get an email confirmation that include a KML with a polygon of the area of interest.
...
Read More »
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By Soul Solutions on
Sunday, 13 January 2008
This week we arrive in Melbourne to present our 3rd in a series of 8 talks on SQL Spatial with Virtual Earth. So far there's just under 100 people registered so should be a great turn out. If you're interested and haven't signed up all the details are below.
SQL Spatial with Virtual Earth
15 January - Melbourne - Register HERE
In this visually interactive talk we explore the new spatial data types, functions and indexes directly related to the real world using the interactive browser based Virtual Earth control. We focus on the new Geography data type providing an overview of the new functionality as directly applied to mapping. This includes the storage of points, polylines and polygons as well as real world tasks like effective rendering to the map, geofencing and proximity searches. We explore the power of union and buffering. Finally we examine the new index specifically built for fast spatial lookup.
The talk will inform, teach and demonstrate. You will understand what this new functionality is all about, what data types and functions are needed, how they operate and how to add an effective spatial index to your project.
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By Soul Solutions on
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Time has flown by and we start the first leg of the SQL Spatial with Virtual Earth User Group tour this week. So for those in Canberra and Adelaide, watch out...we're coming to town!
Looking forward to meeting a few virtual friends in person. So if you're around and want to catch up and say hello let us know.
Details and registration for the 2 events are:
SQL Spatial with Virtual Earth
In this visually interactive talk we explore the new spatial data types, functions and indexes directly related to the real world using the interactive browser based Virtual Earth control. We focus on the new Geography data type providing an overview of the new functionality as directly applied to mapping. This includes the storage of points, polylines and polygons as well as real world tasks like effective rendering to the map, geofencing and proximity searches. We explore the power of union and buffering. Finally we examine the new index specifically built for fast spatial lookup.
The talk will inform, teach and demonstrate. You will understand what this new functionality is all about, what data types and functions are needed, how they operate and how to add an effective spatial index to your project.
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By Soul Solutions on
Saturday, 5 January 2008
John and I sat the Virtual Earth Beta Exam 071-544 - TS: Microsoft Virtual Earth 6.0, Developing last year. As it's a beta exam you don't find out if you passed for about 2 months. This morning we checked the Prometric site and discovered we both passed  .
Also, congrats to Derek Chan, who also sat and passed. Anyone else got their results yet? Let us know...
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By Soul Solutions on
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Dell has some great Christmas deals out and while looking at their catalogue I noticed they have some wireless xbox 360 controllers for windows. I had always wanted to pick one of these up and now wireless - even better!
It was dead simple to install, little peice of software on the supplied CD and then plug in the usb dongle. Instantly I can now fly around, badly mind you, in Virtual Earth 3D.
You have 3 controls, the LT and RT (trigger fingers at the front of the controller) control zooming in and out. The multidirectional pad in the top left (left thumb) pans the map while the multidirectional pad on the right (for the right thumb) controls the point of view, rotating and tilting the map. The "A" button puts everything back to north if you get a little lost. All these controls are analogue so it appears you have control over the speed as well.
It will take me a little while to get use to it but it is pretty cool to show of your latest project standing back 5m and flying around the location. No doubt you will see it in action at any VE presentations I do in the future! So if your not sure what gadget you need for Christmas pick one of these up.
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By Soul Solutions on
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Derek Chan has published a great introduction to communicating with Virtual Earth from server side code. The article is a good read to understand the basics of ajax before proceeding onto more complex examples or using asp.net ajax extensions. Read the article here:
http://www.viawindowslive.com/Articles/VirtualEarth/InvokingserversidecodeusingAJAX.aspx
Thats makes 10 articles for Virtual Earth 6, well done!
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