Monday, January 17, 2011

Map Apps-Google Maps, Bing Maps, and MapQuest

This is a review on features and on how easy to use these three map clients are. This not a review on how good of directions they give.  


When you first visit MapQuest they have a map ready to go of your general location. This mapping site was the only to start so zoomed in. MapQuest has a list of different types of stores, shops, hotels, ect. that you can add to your map. MapQuest was slower than both Bing and Google in loading their maps. Also MapQuest's zoom capability was the worst because they had less zoom factors to choose from so I could never get a screen size I liked.


Bing Maps best feature is by far their birds eye view which shows you a satellite view until you zoom in close enough to where you can see the buildings in 3-D. While Google Maps offers this, you have to download something first to be able to use it. Bing has a multitude of Apps for their Maps but it seemed not very user friendly to me.


Google maps is my favorite because of how simple and easy to use it is. Google maps loaded the fastest for me, they had the best labeling of towns, parks, ect. and they had the best zoom ability out of the three. Although Google Maps did not have any apps to show restaurants, shops, hotels, ect. 


1. Google Maps


2. Bing Maps


3. MapQuest