We're often asked why our Pictometry Aerial Photos don't work on Macintosh computers and other web browsers besides Internet Explorer.
Our Pictometry application is based on an ActiveX control viewer provided by Pictometry International Corporation. Unfortunately, ActiveX technology does not provide equivalent function for browsers other than Internet Explorer on Windows.
Pictometry now offers newer server and viewing technology that is more browser and system neutral. While it would be nice to have, it doesn't offer signficant benefits for the county at this time. Until such time as the Pima County may purchase this software, viewing Pictometry using Internet Explorer is what we have to work with.
A good option for Mac users is to to actually run Windows and Internet Explorer by booting Windows or using virtual machine software on your Mac. Virtual machine software allows you to install and use the Pictometry Viewer ActiveX Control with all features using Windows in a virtual PC environment. Examples of related software for Intel-based Macs include Boot Camp from Apple, VMware Fusion from VMware, and Parallels Desktop for Mac. Or, find a Windows PC when you need to see the Pictometry photos.
If you can't use Internet Explorer on Windows, then the best you can do is to use Microsoft's Bing Maps to see Pictometry photos of Pima County using different technology. Their map viewer isn't as versatile for showing Pictometry as our web site is and may not show the latest Pima County Pictometry imagery. It's also not as well integrated with our Pima County MapGuide Maps.
We wish the Pictometry Viewer worked with Macs, Firefox and so-on too. We look forward to that time as we do with our MapGuide maps as well. The reality is that it won't be as soon as any of us would like.