Microsoft continues its push into local search by renaming the Virtual Earth service to Windows Live Local and adding new images and features.

The beta of Windows Live Local will look familiar to users of MSN Virtual Earth. Microsoft has renamed the service and popped it online with a few updates.

Most notably present are the Bird’s Eye Images, which are available for a select number of major metropolitan areas in the US. Murdok was thrilled to see its homebase of Lexington, KY, make the initial list. No Chicago or Dallas yet. The service uses images from Pictometry, and lets users see building detail from four directions.

Windows Local Live can generate driving directions and allows users to customize how they print out the route, either by directions only, map only, or both. The size of the map, and road or aerial view style can be selected.

The familiar pushpins can be customized with a title and notes for a location, added to the Scratch Pad, and emailed to others. It would be a good way to let out-of-town visitors know where to find a certain hotel for a meeting, for example.

Right-clicking on the map brings up a menu of options, where users can create driving directions, add a pushpin, or zoom in for a closer look. By center-clicking (or using Alt+left-click with a two-button mouse), users can draw a zoom-in box on the map and be taken in for a closer look.

David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.