Bing Maps 3D Editor's Review

Bing Maps 3D is a software add-on that provides three-dimensional functionality for Microsoft's Bing Maps platform (formerly Virtual Earth). 

Bing Maps 3D lets you view and explore the world in three dimensions. Zoom all the way out, and you can see the whole Earth as a virtual globe. As you draw in for a closer look, you can see the texture of mountains and rivers. You can really get a feel for the terrain of a region. For someone studying geography, this software could be a real windfall -- it helps to make the study of different landscapes into a living subject rather than a dry academic topic. If you're thinking about a trip out into the mountains, you can study the lie of the land up close rather than trying to gauge what the journey will involve from contour lines on a map. As well as looking down from a bird's eye view, Bing Maps' functionality means that you can come in close and look around at eye level. You can zoom in on cities, see buildings and explore streets in 3D. It's the closest thing to being there. As well as searching for and browsing local information, you can also organise the data that you find so it's easy to come back to.

Pros: Slick interface, detailed 3D maps.

Cons: Still ironing out a few teething problems.

Conclusion: Provides comprehensive, detailed, versatile 3D maps -- very useful in getting a feel for a location.