Thank you to everyone for the incredible feedback on the previous blog entry about interactive floor plans. We're taking into account all the comments, and have already been able to tailor aspects of the product accordingly.
We are pleased to announce a launch date of 15/16th September for both interactive floor plans and another major new product: full integration between Metropix and Google Earth.
You may have come across property displayed in Google Earth before using 'markers' to show the location of each home. This began in the US as early as 2005 and leading agents in the UK have been experimenting with it recently.
As you might expect, Metropix takes this concept quite considerably further by showing each property as a 3D model in Google Earth, complete with interior walls and furniture. As with Metropix 3D Floor Plans and Walkthroughs, this is all generated completely automatically from the 2D Classic Floor Plan.
Uniquely, this technique shows the property in its proper context, bringing together in one place everything from local schools information, to a view of the street, to whether there's really room for a double bed in the spare room. The viewer can zoom all around the property, viewing each floor from any angle.
(Click the images to see screenshots in a pop-up window.)
To view this property yourself, please click here. You need an up-to-date copy of Google Earth, and a computer with a reasonable graphics card. (The majority of home computers and laptops are compatible, but some older office PCs and corporate networks may not be suitable.)
Something we're looking at is bringing together Metropix Plan Bank, an archive of hundreds of thousands of "geocoded" residential floor plans, with this new Google Earth integration. This leads to a number of interesting possibilities for the future.
The upcoming launch of this product has already attracted some attention across the pond, with the Amazon.com Web Services blog dedicating a blog entry to this "really neat way to bring a 2D floor plan to life!". As with interactive floor plans, we would greatly appreciate your feedback as we work towards the mid-September public launch.
Im afraid although a good idea, this service will pass us by. Google maps hasnt reached our small area of East Lothian yet (well not on a good scale), infact we're still waiting on channel 5!
Joking aside looks good, will be interesting to see response
Posted by: Graham White | August 23, 2007 at 13:49
Have you considered other ways to market you content?
Posted by: Paul Bissett | August 23, 2007 at 15:15