Digital Cents

Microsoft often gets a bad rap, occasionally deserved, often irrational, but sometimes on target. However, today I wanted to taken second to sing praises for Microsoft’s suite of “live” products. specifically, Live Writer (Beta) – which I am writing this blog post on – but more specifically “Live local.”

First, I need to provide some background. I am using a Gateway M275 Tablet pc, (most often using the stylus for everything,) which I have recently loaded Vista RC2 on, so I  am also using IE7 as my default browser. In addition, I installed the Windows Live Toolbar and a number of plugins like del.icio.us, flickr, and Inkblog.

Ok, back to the reason for my praise. Today I was going to a shoe store I had only been to once over a year ago. On my way there, I guessed (incorrectly) at a direction and was a couple of miles off from my desired destination…

“Ok, I was not quite completely lost, but the road I was on would NOT have connected me with the road I needed, like I thought it would.”

Remembering I had a business card in my wallet from the store, I dug if out to get the address…

“So, at this point you might imagine I could have simply called the store for directions… Well, yes I could have, but being a male with a predisposition for technology I thought if I Could only find a “hotspot” I could get directions for myself!”

Hotspot located in short order, I Launched IE7 and clicked on the “Live Local” map icon. While live local was not able to find my location by IP address, (most Likely due to how I set up the hotspot in Vista) I was able to enter the address of the shoe store, which live local found instantly.

From there, I zoomed out on the map and found a ballpark location of where I was. At this point you are probably saying…

“ok, but you still don’t have directions.” you’re right, and I was feeling that way too…

But, while I have not played with Live Local maps too much before this, I took a shot and right-clicked with the pen and a drop down menu gave me a choice I was hoping for “Drive from…” Amazing! I clicked on “Drive from…” and then right-clicked on the destination point Live Local had already found and selected “Drive to…” and then clicked “Get Directions” and viola my directions complete with map and turn by turn… Amazing!

While this post has taken about 15 minutes to write, the whole hunt for directions to less than 2 minutes. What a tremendous (and accurate) resource. If you are a fan of Google Earth, give Live Local a shot. I believe it will impress you. I did me and without a 100mb install!

Oh! What WILL the future bring?!