Microsoft Kills Off MapPoint and Streets and Trips In Favor of Bing Maps 174
DroidJason1 (3589319) writes Microsoft has killed off two of its mapping products, MapPoint and Streets & Trips. Both of these services have received their last update and will soon be retired in favor of Microsoft's premier mapping product, Bing Maps. The company has yet to go public with a press release announcing the retirement of these two mapping services, but the Redmond giant has quietly mentioned the fate on both the services' websites. MapPoint was first released back in 1999 and made it easier to view, edit, and integrate maps into software. Streets & Trips was a route planning package. Microsoft is now pushing Bing Maps exclusively.
I'm always amazed MS blew the mapping race (Score:5, Interesting)
when they had Microsoft TerraServer running on those sweet DEC Alpha's [microsoft.com] back in 1998. Instead of launching a new and exciting mapping service, they just settled for a minor showcase for SQL Server 7 with a database greater than 1TB.
Talk about a company with zero vision.
Re:I'm always amazed MS blew the mapping race (Score:5, Interesting)
Because upper management there is only concerned with a project long enough to use it to jump to the next bigger project. And, bigger is not defined as more important. It's a project with more employees. When I jumped to Expedia very early in that company's history, it was a pleasure to work there. Importance of a project was based upon the number of customers and/or profit. The goal of making a good product and attracting and keeping customers was pounded into us constantly. At Microsoft, making a profit or making customers happy was never a goal of upper management. I never once heard any feedback from customers. At Expedia, we did constant A/B tests and were told exactly what worked and what didn't. That's how you make a better product.
Re:I'm always amazed MS blew the mapping race (Score:4, Interesting)
What really bothers me about carbon based lifeforms such as yourself is not the fact you're a racist idiot but rather the feelings you bring out in me. When I first read your hateful, pointless spew I immediately thought of how to hunt down and kill you to cull your DNA from the herd. I then felt shame for sinking down into the muck with you. Off to take a shower to get the slimy stench off me.
Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings (Score:5, Interesting)
I knew of Streets and Trips from way back when - it was one of the earliest available GPS packages that almost featured turn-by-turn.
Way back when GPS was horrendously expensive.
I didn't even know they still sold it - I suppose its advantage was it was offline and had everything or so in one box.
Guess that's why they killed it - people remember it, but didn't realize it was still around - you certainly don't see it advertised anywhere.
I Use Streets and Trips on RV Trips (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I'm always amazed MS blew the mapping race (Score:2, Interesting)
I can get embed a LOT of google maps services (actually from two different google map services) for free, with plenty of neat features, and a JavaScript library of extras provided free from Google. OR
I can go to Bing Maps and get NOTHING free, yes that's right FUCK ALL nothing. I can sign up for their expensive service and get their half-assed maps. Fuck Bing maps and their pathetic service, they are an almost-ran and will never be more.
Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings (Score:2, Interesting)
Open source projects don't get killed. They may die, but they never get killed.
Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually last I looked my mothers job used it. it integrated into the rest of their software package so that addresses and route planning could be done easy.
Not sure if they currently can use it but since bing maps like google maps requires internet connections probably not. Not every where they travel have 2G service let alone 3G.
What gets me is why doesn't google or bing maps have an offline mode?Cache a couple of states or even just counties.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings (Score:5, Interesting)
They taught map reading in school? How to read a compass? When/where was this? I learned it in Boy Scouts.
Fortunately us Touring motorcycle riders tend to use paper maps. Unfortunately paper maps are difficult to come by. You have to be a member of AAA to get access to decent maps. Otherwise you're stuck with the Rest Area state maps. Not horrible, I've used them occasionally but they are pretty cheaply printed. Opening the map has it tear at the creases.
[John]
Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually Streets and Trips has a lot of features that Google maps and I bet Bing maps lack for trip planning.
For example you can tell it when you are going to leave, your MPG, fuel tank size, and how many hours you want to drive a day. Streets and Trips will suggest refueling points and stopping points.
I wish the online maps "Google" would put those features in and allow you to push the trip to your mobile device.