WebProNews

Thanks to the release of a new 3D modeling system, Microsoft Virtual Earth is a step closer to achieving parity with its main rival, Google Earth.  Google Warehouse, meet 3DVIA.

Not too long ago, a friend of mine moved into an under-construction neighborhood; his house was unknown to just about every program out there (as were the streets around it).  But with 3DVIA, he could have literally put himself (and/or his new home) on the map.

On the other hand, there’s nothing that’ll make 3DVIA users stick to the facts.  “We highly recommend creating completely unrealistic models of your home and nearby buildings and uploading them so that Virtual Earth users will get the sense that you live in Rivendell and not Poughkeepsie,” writes Download Squad’s Brad Linder.

Now that would be fun.  Who would want to hang out in a split-level ranch when they could visit Elrond’s house?

Anyway, 3DVIA and Virtual Earth may still have some catching up to do - in a comparison on Earthware Blog, the duo weren’t liked as much as Google Warehouse and Google Earth.