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To me the Google Maps and Earth might be the most impressive piece of software in existence. To see it working on standard web technology on competing browsers

To me the Google Maps and Earth might be the most impressive piece of software in existence. To see it working on standard web technology on competing browsers is awesome.

basch 7y ago
It was so amazing when XMLHttpRequest was a somewhat obscure thing, and they had fully interactive maps while the rest of the world was Mapquest, and "click" "new page" "click" "new page" to be able to scroll and have new images load. I think google jumping on the AJAX train and trailblazing is under credited in the history of their rise. Thank you Microsoft and OWA teams for inventing XMLHttpRequest. Anyone coming into web/development now missed the evolutionary leap from HTML to DHTML/AJAX. Google owes the OWA team a thank you for sneaking that feature in under the radar.
- nexuist 7y ago
  As someone on here aptly described it, AJAX was a "historic own goal" by Microsoft, who was desperately attempting to separate IE from all other browsers by giving it unique features.
  - basch 7y ago
    My understanding was, the IE team didnt really want (or know about or understand) XMLHttpRequest, and the Outlook team snuck it in last minute.
modeless 7y ago
Have you tried Google Earth VR? I highly recommend it.
- Rebelgecko 7y ago
  Seconding this recommendation. Google Earth VR almost brought me to tears (in a good way)
- cameronbrown 7y ago
  +1. I've used it before going on trips or journeys. When I'm using VR, it causes my brain to remember it as if I've been there. When I'm finally there it just feels like revisiting, and I know where I'm going.
pjmlp 7y ago
Nah, they are still catching up with what we had in 2011, and took it away from many of us that actually enjoyed using it. https://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/ https://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81BrnktI4Gg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81BrnktI4Gg

To me the Google Maps and Earth might be the most impressive piece of software in existence. To see it working on standard web technology on competing browsers is awesome.

basch 7y ago

It was so amazing when XMLHttpRequest was a somewhat obscure thing, and they had fully interactive maps while the rest of the world was Mapquest, and "click" "new page" "click" "new page" to be able to scroll and have new images load. I think google jumping on the AJAX train and trailblazing is under credited in the history of their rise. Thank you Microsoft and OWA teams for inventing XMLHttpRequest. Anyone coming into web/development now missed the evolutionary leap from HTML to DHTML/AJAX. Google owes the OWA team a thank you for sneaking that feature in under the radar.

nexuist 7y ago
As someone on here aptly described it, AJAX was a "historic own goal" by Microsoft, who was desperately attempting to separate IE from all other browsers by giving it unique features.
- basch 7y ago
  My understanding was, the IE team didnt really want (or know about or understand) XMLHttpRequest, and the Outlook team snuck it in last minute.

modeless 7y ago

Have you tried Google Earth VR? I highly recommend it.

Rebelgecko 7y ago
Seconding this recommendation. Google Earth VR almost brought me to tears (in a good way)
cameronbrown 7y ago
+1. I've used it before going on trips or journeys. When I'm using VR, it causes my brain to remember it as if I've been there. When I'm finally there it just feels like revisiting, and I know where I'm going.

pjmlp 7y ago

Nah, they are still catching up with what we had in 2011, and took it away from many of us that actually enjoyed using it. https://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/ https://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81BrnktI4Gg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81BrnktI4Gg