Google Maps: Fresh out of Google Labs

[shor]

Nifty new offering from the hard working (and well paid) innovators at the G.

http://maps.google.com/

Features:
- Map data from TeleAtlas, including very fast map loading/rendering when changing zoom levels. Play around with the zoom tool on the left (I tried to max zoom into the Atlantic Ocean hoping to see some fish, but was unrewarded).

- Integrated (as you'd expect) business listings, which have a red balloon icon displayed over it's geo-tagged location. Try a 'Mcdonalds in New York' search. Mouse-over the balloon and a great pop-up displaying address/phone/name and related businesses will show up.

- Directions (needs a little more work) - currently text based form without selectors, no doubt this will be tidied up.

Is it just me or are G Labs launching new beta products every few weeks. I know their mantra is to excel in one area rather than being good in many, but it seems like G are all over anything to do with 'searching'.

[pulsetoday]

Originally Posted by shor

I know their mantra is to excel in one area rather than being good in many, but it seems like G are all over anything to do with 'searching'.

... or perhaps they are playing it real big on local search market!

[pleeker]

Some of the features are nice. The mapping is good, and the dragging works pretty well. It's certainly cleaner (i.e. - less cluttered) than Yahoo Maps. The pop-ups with business info. are no better than what Y does already.

I've noticed that G lists different driving directions than Y Maps does, and Y Maps appears to be the more direct/accurate set of directions. Anyone else notice a difference?

[Nacho]

Google has just rolled out Google Maps on the regular SERPS along with Yahoo! Maps and MapQuest, check this example:

http://www.google.com/search?q=7445+...jolla+Ca+92037

[AussieWebmaster]

This has been out less than 2 weeks and is getting huge play... here a few opinions/reviews that I found worth reading:


http://libgmail.sourceforge.net/googlemaps.html
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000430031535/
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-02-08-n62.html