Bing Maps now available in preview for Windows 8.1

Microsoft today released a preview of its new app Bing Maps And no, it's not the Maps app for Windows 8. By Bing Maps we mean the improved version of the browser maps for Windows 8.1 as introduced last June in Build 2013.

The application arrives today at the Windows Store in preview form Although we will be able to navigate around the world, the main news, such as the new 3D view, they focus on 70 specific cities to show us the best example of what Bing Maps will offer in the future.Among them several Spanish cities: Alicante, Córdoba, Vigo, Seville and Valencia.

The application has been developed for Windows 8.1 with the intention of taking advantage of the latest operating system update. In this way, Bing Maps works with the new Snapview modes and makes use of the changes in live tiles and notifications. But adapting to Windows 8.1 isn't the only new feature of Bing Maps.

Improving maps and views

Microsoft has used an immense amount of data and images to produce the most realistic maps possible. The image collection process is now so fast that it allows the Bing team to bring the photos captured from an airplane to the application on our computers in a matter of weeks. So far they have already processed 121 trillion pixels to build the available 3D environments.

To enjoy them we have touch control and a series of buttons on the side of the application that allow us to navigate more comfortably. From them we will be able to alternate between the map view or the aerial images and change the angle with which they are presented to us. The 3D is appreciable in the orography of the terrain and in the buildings, although for the moment it is only functional in a series of cities chosen by Microsoft whose list you can consult directly from the application or on the Bing website.

In selected areas we can also use the Streetside function, present in the bottom bar. By clicking on any of the areas included, marked in blue, we will have a bubble with the image at street level from which we can access navigation in the style of the popularized Street View of Google Maps.

More data and in-app searches

Precisely Google Maps is the main rival and Bing Maps intends to compete with it once again. To do this searches within the application have been improved with a bar always present in the upper right corner. With it we can search and get directions, as well as access local recommendations such as restaurants, hotels or things to do and see.

Indications have also been improved. The application will guide us to any point that we indicate on the map, allowing us to save routes to retrieve them at any time. Traffic information is also included, which will allow the application to notify us through notifications or directly on the live tile on the home screen when it encounters delays on a route.

The novelties that the new Bing Maps application brings are completed with its integration with the system and with other applications. Thanks to the new features of Snapview we will be able to make calls or make our reservations without leaving the map at any time, with applications such as Skype placed on one side of the screen.

Bing Maps is now available for Windows 8.1 users and can be downloaded directly from the Windows Store. This is a preview version of the app and it still shows some shortcomings, such as incomplete views or maps that are slow to load. Problems that will probably be fixed before the final version.

Bing Maps (Preview)

• Developer: Microsoft Corporation
• Download it at: Windows Store
• Price: Free
• Category: Tools

Experience the next generation of the Bing Maps app. With stunning 3D world and city views, Bing Maps Preview immerses you in a smart, personalized experience that saves you time and helps you get things done.

Via | Search Blog