March 04, 2005

Google Maps Update!

Looks like they integrated it--and it look great.

Do a search for an address in Google, and you get offered Google Maps, Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps, with the default being Google Maps.

A Google Map also appears in local search.

Barry from RustyBrick (who I went to high school with) is concerned with the URL displayed for local search/map results and that the info presented is sometimes out-of-date.

I think the important thing to remember here is that Google is a search engine, local a yellow pages directory. The URL presented is just one of the many sources used to find something at a certain location. Google Inc may be found through digitalpoint.com, just as I am found at Did-it.com via eMediaWire.com. And because the address info is taken from these source sites, if they are out-of-date, Google will be out of date.

Posted by eli at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2005

Google Maps Go Beta!

It's about time. Google has long shown maps from Mapquest and Yahoo! (a competitor) in order to offer searchers integration that includes maps and directions. It's quite a sacrifice to send users to a competitor's page just to keep them happy--but's that Google for you.

Now Google has its own Maps technology, and like everything Google has done recently, it looks great. The maps, provided by NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas, are the clearest available online yet. I especially like the whole pseudo-3d, shadow effect stuff.

Google does do things differently, though. Because the maps are meant to integrated into the search bar (eventually--Google is still using Yahoo and MapQuest now), Google provides one line to enter a full address, instead of separate spots for address, city, state and zip code. That means even for driving directions, you will have to enter "200 west 60th st, 10023 to orlando, florida" to get directions.

Also: Google has integrated the maps with local search, which means you can expect to soon see ads there. It also makes map search smart--powered by Google's local search index. Which means a search for "feldblum, ny" finds Did-it.com. Impressive, no?

I'm hoping to see Google integrate this with Keyhole, the sattelite imaging company they purchased. Not because it would be so helpful, just because it would be cool. And Google is a company that understands the value of cool.

It's in beta so there are still some kinks. Some boxes (the map is divided in sections) don't show in Firefox. And it can't find Google headquarters in NY...

EDIT: Looks like the look/feel came from Map24

Posted by eli at 06:11 PM | Comments (3)

February 02, 2005

Searching for MSN

MSN officially released its new search engine technology yesterday, in Microsoft's hope to actually be a contender in the search engine wars. Despite a rigorous index--you may have noticed the new MSNBot spidering like crazy recently--MSN starts off very weak, mostly because Gates and the MSN team don't understand the success behind Google and Yahoo!

What MSN lacks most profoundly is integration. This may seem semantic, but people use Google and Yahoo! to FIND, not to SEARCH. Most users want to put into the search box the information they want to find and have the search engine return the answer to them. They don't want to use multiple engines, or advanced features. They want everything integrated into the Engine. Google and Yahoo! understand that, integrating news, images, definitions, shopping, maps and even desktop search into those results. MSN has these capabilities, but doesn't capitalize on them--to its detriment.

Consider the following searches:
A. "Travesty" A single word search, wherein the searcher either wants a definition or the travesty brand, in this case a humor paper.
MSN finds the paper, but Google and Yahoo! offer definitions. MSN does not.
B. "Tsunami Images" Searcher is obviously looking for images of the tragedy.
Yahoo! and Google offer links to image results, MSN does not
C. "Tsunami Pictures" Again, looking for pictures. More subtle term.
Google offers images link; Yahoo! links to news photos of the disaster; MSN does nothing
D. "200 West 60th St., New York, NY" This is the search that upsets me the most. Microsoft has its own map software, mappoint, which once powered MapBlast. It's a feature on MSN. It may not be perfect, but why not feature it when a searcher is obviously looking for a map?
Google does--even though it has to feature a competitor! Yahoo! does. All MSN offers is an option for local search
E. "1ZA7228W0317720386" My package from Amazon which should be arriving Friday, but instead is coming today. I want to know where it is.
Google and Yahoo! tell me. MSN is clueless

MSN may have a number issues to work on before it can really compete with Google and Yahoo!, but if it doesn't start looking out for the searcher's needs, it won't even make it that far. Microsoft is reknown for its ability to learn from competitors and to improve its own products. Here's hoping the same thing happens to MSN Search.

Posted by eli at 03:34 PM | Comments (1914)