Bing Gets OpenStreetMap

Bing Maps has added “OpenStreetMap” as the newest layer available to its online mapping service. It’s also available as a standalone Bing Map App from the Bing Maps gallery. OpenStreetMap (OSM), for those of you unfamiliar, is a project to create an open-source, freely editable map of the world…sort of like the Wikipedia of mapping.

The data in OSM comes from people who record it using GPS devices as well as from free satellite imagery. Once online, it can then be edited by anyone who may know more about a particular area or spots an error. At present, there are around 250,000 users contributing to the project.

By adding OSM as a layer in Bing Maps, you can now easily access this rich data from a f amiliar source: Bing. The data hasn’t been modified in any way, except to fit into the “tile schema” of Bing Maps, explains Chris Pendleton via blog post. Also of note, the data is being hosted on Windows Azure CDN, which is designed to support globally distributed apps such as this.

Bing Gets a Cab Fare Calculator

How much will that taxi ride cost you? A new Bing Maps application can give you the answer. The Taxi Fare Calculator app was developed by Ricky Brundritt for the King of Bing Maps competition.

As you may imagine, the app lets you enter in a starting address and end address and then see what the cab fare may be, as well as the shortest route. (Quick, we need a mobile version of this for tourists! )

Fare estimates are based on rates for cabs in the area, and include pick-up rates and by-the-miles costs, as applicable.

This map app is actually one of many great entries in the contest, several of which are featured here. Other apps include a “World of Football” app, a data viewer app, a pharmacy finder and more.

But the cab fare is my favorite, maybe it’s yours too?

Microsoft Tag

Microsoft Tag connects almost anything in the real world to information, entertainment, and interactive experiences on your mobile phone. Tags are a new kind of bar code that can be displayed anywhere. You can add a Tag to your ads, posters, product packages, flyers, display it on your website, billboards, clothing…the list is endless. When you scan a Tag by using the free Tag Reader application on your mobile phone, it will automatically open a webpage, display a message, or dial a number – there are no long URLs to type or SMS messages to send.

Anyone can create Tags. Put them on your materials or your webpage and you decide what your customers will experience. Unlike other kinds of bar codes, Tags are fully customizable. You can decide to create your Tags in black and white, or you can create colorful Tags that visually represent your business or personal brand in a spectacular manner. It only takes a few minutes to start working with Tag and it is free to scan and create Tags.

5pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">· Use a Tag to instantly link to a mobile website or video.

· Scan a Tag on a business card to instantly add someone to your address book.

· All the Tags you've scanned to-date are saved so you can retrieve them later or share with others.

· Create your own Tags using our Tag Manager and view reports on how frequently they are scanned.

Microsoft Tag vs. Other 2D Codes

Linking real-world objects to deeper experiences on mobile phones started in Japan with QR Codes. Microsoft Tag provides a next-generation solution that offers many useful improvements.

Tag is an end-to-end system that provides many capabilities beyond simply opening a URL, and is built upon an architecture that allows for new functionality to be added over time. Instead of just opening a URL, the Tag system leverages dedicated client software and a cloud-based back-end to provide functionality that just isn’t possible with earlier QR Codes. For example, the Tag system has built-in reporting to let you know how your Tags are being scanned, and enables you to provide integrated solutions that span multiple Tags and sessions. And over time, it can provide many other value-added services.

The new bar code format itself also provides many advantages. Tags can be created in a much smaller size than older bar codes and can be read faster and under a wider range of lighting conditions. Tag provides the option to make Custom Tags that full integrate your brand’s personality into the Tag itself, creating colorful, visually exciting codes that don’t distract from your message. Learn more about how to create Custom Tags.

Here are just some of the reasons to use Microsoft Tag:

Adaptable Size

Tag's small size makes it a perfect choice for use in printed materials and visual media forms.

Customized Look and Feel

It's easy to customize the look of a Tag to reflect the personality of the person or a brand.

Single Source

All Tags report back to a single source, ensuring a high consistency in user experience across multiple devices and platform types.

Reliability of Reads

Overcomes limited camera phone optics, resolution, and processing power.

Advanced Analytics

Captures the number of click-throughs and scans of a particular Tag, as well as the resulting responses.

The Tag Reader application runs on all the major phone platforms, and users can instantly download the app from a single site. Even better, unlike older formats, every Microsoft Tag can be read by every Tag Reader, so there is no consumer confusion that results from incompatible solutions. Tags just work.

More about tag visit... http://tag.microsoft.com/

How to Scan Barcodes with Bing for iPhone

Earlier, the Bing iPhone app was updated with a barcode scanning function, meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes. If you’re wondering how this works, the Bing blog has just provided a handy how-to.

However, I noticed a couple of things about the way the instructions were written over there that may be confusing to new users. For one, you don’t “click” anything – you “tap.” Also, the camera is not an icon, it’s text. And you only tap to take a photo when you’re scanning cover art, not barcodes.

Based on my experiences with the Bing app, here’s how I would explain it to new users:

1. From the Bing’s homepage, tap the word “camera” at the bottom of the page. This launches the iPhone’s camera.
2. Point the camera at a barcode or, if a book, CD, DVD or video game, you can just point the camera at the cover art.
3. If a barcode, the app will automatically recognize the code and perform a search. For cover art, you’ll need to tap to take a photo first.
4. Bing will then search for results. When it finds a match, it’s displayed in a box at the bottom labeled “1 result.” (I’ve yet to scan anything where it finds more than 1 result, but that could happen, I suppose).
5. Tap the thumbnail to see the result details. Here, you’ll find a description, images, rating, reviews and links of where to buy.

First Microsoft Hohm Gadget Has Launched

Microsoft is launching its first Hohm-enabled gadget courtesy of a partnership with Blue Line Innovations, a Canadian-based company which sells energy monitoring and management devices. Hohm, for those unaware, is a web service designed to help consumers monitor and analyze their energy consumption and then make recommendations for cost-savings measures.

Previously, using the Hohm website, the Q&A section would have to be filled out based on what you knew about your home – but unless you already had energy-monitoring gadgets installed, your answers were estimates in several cases.

Now, with the new Hohm PowerCost Monitor and WiFi Gateway, you’ll have hard data.

The device hooks up to your home’s power meter (no wiring required!) and reads actual usage. The details are transmitted to your Microsoft Hohm account which displays the data in near real-time graphs and charts (delays are 30 seconds or so). You can also view the data from a mobile device, if desired.

This is only the beginning for Hohm-enabled gadgets: Microsoft plans to connect Hohm with smart plugs, thermostats, HVAC systems, electric vehicles (it’s already in the Ford Focus Electric) and more.

The Blue Line PowerCost Monitor and Wi-Fi Gateway are available today from Blue Line Innovations and through select retailers like Frys, Amazon, and Microsoft stores. The complete package of PowerCost Monitor and Wi-Fi Gateway is available for $249, the Wi-Fi Gateway is

also sold separately for $159.