Monday, March 23. 2009

Details on ArcGIS Explorer Build 900

Directions Media is not at the ESRI Business Partner/Developer Conferences this week, but in the spirit of "Do what you do best, link to the rest" (Jeff Jarvis), I happily point you to detailed coverage of the latest ArcGIS Explorer release, 900, on the ArcGIS Explorer blog. Read parts 1, 2, and 3 for the big picture. In short:

Jack Dangermond introduced Explorer 900 as "a big step," and of course we'd agree. Jack cited the new user experience, the integrated 2D/3D display capabilities, a variety of basemap choices (including Microsoft Virtual Earth imagery, hybrid, and streets basemaps), and presentation capabilities as important aspects of the new release.

That last bit, about the software becoming a true presentation system (think of it as geo-enabled PowerPoint, with simple live access to AGE's power) highlights for me that "little AGE" is turning into something quite different that I imagined when it was launched as simple visualizer some years ago. ESRI is tuning it, with this feature, to "tell stories" with technology. That harkens back to one of my first geography classes where the instructor explained that maps, thematic maps in particular, tell stories.