Google barred from Sydney flyover for Australia Day festivities

It looks like Microsoft is teh win in this little arms race down under. Both companies planned elaborate flyovers on January 26th, Australia Day, which encouraged people to get creative and get noticed by aerial photographs being snapped, which would later be integrated into the respective companies' mapping software. However, while Google managed to take in a good bit of Australia's scenery, their Aero Commander wasn't allowed to fly over Sydney due to some no-fly zone restrictions. Microsoft's higher-flying plane was able to scan the city and scoop up the festivities, including grabbing some shots of an official event at Centennial Park where Aussies formed themselves into a map of Australia. Some of the disappointed include a company that had spent more than AU$10,000 on a hugemongous sign, and an environmental group that trotted out 200 supporters to form a slogan on a local beach. The change of plans was due to winds which required planes to take off from Sydney Airport in a direction that would've messed with Google's flight path.

[Via El Reg]

[michael @ Jan 29th 2007 11:32PM]

Oh yeah! I use Windows Live Local because it's so much better, and it's great to hear that Google Maps is losing on this one.

BTW: I'm no fanboy, really.

[invincible @ Jan 29th 2007 11:59PM]

In the future, we won't be looking up at the F/A-18s on Australia Day, but it will be the Googlejet that's the main attraction.

[Ellianth @ Jan 30th 2007 12:02AM]

What's this? Mother Nature dislikes Google? Google needs to get back at that b*tch by burning down some rain forests and doing more to aid in global warming.

@Michael - Are you serious? I majority of the windows live stuff is extremely slow for me. Is it slow for you and you're just able to bare it, or is it actually fast?

[michael @ Jan 30th 2007 12:43AM]

It's not slow to me at all. I live in the U.S. and I particularly like Windows Live Local better because I love viewing the cities in 3-D color, seeing things in bird's eye view, and it's not too slow. A little, in some areas, but they are improving on it real fast. I know what you mean on the other Live stuff though. It's only Windows Live Local that I like. And I think the resolutions in some areas are more enhanced than google Maps. I don't know if it's just me, but Windows Live Local beats Google Maps, at least by a few miles.

[Fragger @ Jan 30th 2007 12:19AM]

Man and Google maps kicks ass. Next year get a bigger plane with lasers and shoot down Microsoft's. (I actually don't hate Windows, just their search and maps stuff.) :p

[optV @ Jan 30th 2007 2:07AM]

I'm personally glad the flight was barred, Google should take more steps to prevent spam in their imaging and make an flights so we don't have to stare at stupid .com ads on the ground.

[optV @ Jan 30th 2007 2:09AM]

*I meant to say "unannounced flights" above

[Tom @ Jan 30th 2007 2:18AM]

So typical of Microsoft getting a free ride off a competitor's tail wind (no pun intended). Google was advertising it in the papers and stuff over here in Sydney and no one knew MS was taking our pics too.

[Bargearse @ Jan 30th 2007 7:12AM]

"So typical of Microsoft getting a free ride off a competitor's tail wind"

Microsoft was FIRST with the promotion (http://www.lookupandsmile.com.au/). Google were the ones attempting to get a free ride, plus the SMH only mentioned Google as they are biased against Microsoft.

[Ankur @ Jan 30th 2007 2:19AM]

i totally agree with ur views

my blog at www.airbaseone.co.nr

[Rod @ Jan 30th 2007 2:47AM]

Well, what do you expect from Sydney ;-p

Google would have had no problems flying over Perth!

[Ben Cooper @ Jan 30th 2007 2:55AM]

We were one of the disappointed. A chronicle of the attempt is at http://bgcooper.com/2007/01/26/google-no-show-on-australia-day/

[Ferg @ Jan 30th 2007 5:23AM]

Well they flew over our house just about on time. Will have to see if our little message to Engadget looks OK as we had started packing up after the second pass of the plane.

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 30th 2007 5:38AM]

Google`s Aero Commander? Sounds like a prop plane.

[Intrepid @ Jan 30th 2007 6:35AM]

Agreeing with Michael. WLL beats Google Earth for mapping.

[AdamCogan @ Jan 31st 2007 6:33PM]

Google, a promise they just couldn't keep...
http://techtalkblogs.com/blog/archive/2007/01/31/1841.aspx#comments

Adam
www.ssw.com.au