There’s a nice article in the Washington Post by Stephen Levy about the differences between Google Sky and Microsoft’s soon to be launched WorldWide Telescope.
“Maybe the best way to sum up the differences is that Google Sky is like
going into your back yard and finding that your eyes have been enhanced
by super telescopes. The WorldWide Telescope, on the other hand, is
like importing a multimillion-dollar planetarium onto your desktop,
with dazzling multimedia tours of distant galaxies available on demand,
and a nagging question forming in your head: “Is this on the quiz?”"
The Robert Scoble video featuring his first look at the Microsoft Worldwide Telescope is now up.
“This is the most innovative thing I’ve seen Microsoft do in years. It had a huge emotional impact on me, as I realized the way my son will see the Universe will forever change, thanks to the work of two guys in Microsoft Research (Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay).”
It certainly looks impressive especially having guided tours available for the average man on the street - Can’t wait to try it out. Video after the break.
At the recent TED (technology, education, design) talk Roy Gould and Curtis Wong gave a great sneak preview of the Worldwide Telescope. It certainly whets the appetite for the official release.
Apparently an early demo that Robert Scoble enjoyed of the Microsoft Worldwide Telescope had a big impact on him - it even made him cry! The Scobleizer blog is one of the most influential tech blogs on the net and the writer Robert Scoble was invited to take an early peek at the much anticipated telescope.
“Like I said, sounds lame. How could that possibly be the most fabulous thing I’ve seen Microsoft do in years? And that’s not just me talking. My friends who’ve seen it say that I actually underhyped it. That’s the first time anyone has said I underhyped something when I was trying to be so over-the-top with hype. Read the rest of the post here.
Scoble has also promised an exclusive video of the software in action this week.
On 28th February Microsoft launched the website for the Worldwide Telescope. Promising the launch of the actual application some time in “Spring 2008″. According to the website the
” The WorldWide Telescope (WWT)rich visualization environment that functions as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space telescopes in the world for a seamless, guided exploration of the universe”
The WWT uses Microsoft’s’ high performance visual experience engine which allows you to seamlessly pan and zoom across the night sky. It certainly sounds like it will be a great application.
