You can share any map and directions search with the world. Here is how it's done...

Location searches

From Live Search Maps, click on 'Locations' and search for any town. I am thinking of heading to Palm Beach this weekend (if the rain stays away!). OK I found it on the map, and I want to show a friend on Messenger where it is. Simple...

Click 'Share' in the top right corner:

You will see the query string has parameters calling out Palm Beach. I just press 'Copy to clipboard':

And I can paste it into Messenger, or anywhere else! It is copied to your system's clipboard:

 

You can also go to 'Share' and press 'Send in e-mail', this will launch your email client with an email messaging containing a link to the map.

 

Driving Directions searches

Perform a Driving Directions search and perform the same process above to share a directions route.

So now you can share!

Totally off the topic of local search, this post is in participation of the Learn About Poverty Blog Action Day from World Vision Australia. In doing so I will preach to you what actions Microsoft take to fight poverty. First, some online campaigns which donate to charity just by using Live products.

i'm Initiative

http://im.live.com/

Over US$1.8million has been raised since March 2007. If you are a participant, every time you use Messenger or Hotmail, Microsoft will share a portion of the advertising revenue with the chosen charity.

Search and Give

http://www.searchandgive.com/

Every time you use Live Search to search the web, a 'penny' will be earned for your cause. Microsoft makes annual donations to your selected organisation. This one is USA residents only and has raised US$399,000 since September 2007.

Donations

In 2006 an annual company meeting was held, at which the announcement was made that since 1983 Microsoft has donated over US$2.5 billion to charity.

With my Microsoft alias I see weekly, the great work which Microsoft employees do for charity. Recent trips to Africa to lend a hand in aid of poverty, participation in charity runs and many more...

Microsoft Open License for Charities

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/open/opencharity.mspx

Non-profit organisations can obtain multiple software licenses at reduced prices.

Xbox Red v Blue campaign

Sadly the great HaloFore viral game and Red v Blue campaign site are no longer alive. In September 2007, Xbox Australia ran a promotion to coincide with the release of Halo 3 on Xbox 360. I do not recall the final result, something along the lines of AU$50,000 were donated to Australia charities. Mission Australia in particular helps homeless people and in a sense fights local poverty.

Following on from the success of the campaign, Xbox Australia donated a further AU$2,000 to charity for amnesia to hold an internal fundraising game - Red v Blue Designer Tennis.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/

In a way connected with Microsoft, works hard on Poverty and Development in the areas of Agricultural Development, Financial Services for the Poor, Housing and Homelessness and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.

 

And there must be many more examples of what Microsoft does for poverty. Makes me feel good being an employee!

So if you want to take action, go to join the i'm Initiative. If you are in Australia, submit your email and this will make the justification to release the campaign in Australia all that more important.

---

This post is part of Blog Action Day 08 - Poverty

With the release of the Virtual Earth Web Service and Map Control 6.2, is the arrival of weather integration in 3D. The weather data is near-real time. A tad cool in New York at the moment, with random clouds about...

Looking outside of the ninemsn office, I'm thinking those clouds are playing a big role in keeping the heat around!

Note - there are more than 3 buildings in Sydney central business district. Bring on more 3D imagery!

 

Try it out for yourself, just head to Live Search Maps, find a location and toggle 3D on.