Post Archive
› February 9, 2005
"Whoah!"
That is everyone's reaction to Google Maps. What is truly impressive is it's speed. It's fast. Way faster than any other mapping utility I have used AND it loads it's tiles inside to outside. So the info you are most likely to need, loads first.
My only gripe, the zoom and directional widgets get lost a bit. What I think would really be nice is if a modifier key could enact the zoom and pan (much like QTVR) and the ability to reference saved addresses.
All in all... for a "Beta" it rocks. Kudos to Google - they have redefined yet another web utility. In it's current state, Google Maps works only with IE 5.5 (Win), FireFox 0.8 , Netscape 7.1 and Mozilla 1.4.
Comments
1. February 9, 2005 11:01 AM
2. February 9, 2005 11:08 AM
Charles Martin Posted…
It is pretty cool... I will note that I was just using it with no problems in Firefox 1.0. I, too, discovered the drag/pan ability and fell immediately in love with it.
3. February 9, 2005 11:16 AM
Ed Knittel Posted…
Not to mention that the plus (+) and minus (-) keys let you zoom in and out while the arrow keys move you in any direction on the map. Once I used the keyboard I never had a reason to play with the widget again.
4. February 9, 2005 11:26 AM
5. February 9, 2005 11:32 AM
Posted…
I know I was pretty damn amazed when I found it. I haven't tried the driving directions yet, but I like the map and interface as much as (or more than) any commercial mapping software I've tried, and the seach is phenomenal.
6. February 9, 2005 01:34 PM
Jason Posted…
Google Maps is nice, but I really like Map24.com Even though it is a Java applet, it works really great for US street mapping.
7. February 9, 2005 03:42 PM
Andreas Posted…
"As simple as possible, but no simpler" has an interesting dissection of the Google Mapping service.
Note the author's concluding remark (emphasis mine):
I also think it bears noting that Google is pulling out all the stops to build rich web apps, no matter how weirdly they have to hack the browser to make them go. And I strongly believe that this is a trend that is here to stay -- XHTML Strict/CSS/etc be damned. At the end of the day, what really matters to users is compelling apps that let them get their work done quickly."
I'm afraid he's right... Hmm, food for thought.
8. February 9, 2005 06:31 PM
Aegir Posted…
Looks lovely. It'll be nice when they do other areas of the world, such as the most obsessively mapped region on Earth: The British Isles.
Of course, the fact that that's where I live wouldn't be influencing my thinking at all.
9. February 12, 2005 10:06 AM
Scott Partee Posted…
I think this is just one of the first steps (see also the Keyhole app and the A9.com-style "streetfront" technology Google is rumored to have) in Google using the power of thier "cluster" to create an information-overlayed representation of the real world.
Karl Swedberg Posted…
"My only gripe, the zoom and directional widgets get lost a bit."
Agreed, but if you click and drag on the map, it will pan without your having to use the widget. Nice!