Entered CNET Catalog: 11/05/2005
SKU: SERVGOOGLELOCAL
Manufacturer: Google
Product summary
The good: Searches reveal relevant information such as phone numbers and addresses; easy pan and zoom features; lets you find types of businesses in a particular area; step-by-step driving directions; click-to-dial feature in Google Local for Mobile.
The bad: Google Local for Mobile works only on Java-enabled phones, leaving Verizon users in the cold, and you'll need a data service plan for your phone, which will put you out $60 to $80 per month.
The bottom line: Google Local and Local for Mobile give you a handy visual view of locations you're interested in, plus let you search the surrounding areas for other items of interest.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/07/2005
Google's map and directions service, Google Maps Beta, is out in a full release version called Google Local. Google Local rolls the phone book, maps, and driving directions into one big, interactive ball that's handy and just plain fun to use. Taking it a step further, today Google released Google Local for Mobile (in beta), which brings the features of Google Local to your Java-enabled (J2ME) cell phone. What's the cost for all this functionality? Zip. Like most of Google's products, it won't cost you a thing, aside from a data plan to get your phone online--more on that later.
Google Local employs a split-screen layout: on the right is the interactive map, and on the left is the directory information. The maps are viewable in three modes: standard map; satellite imagery; and hybrid, with street names overlaying the satellite view. Click and drag the map to zero in on the area of interest and use the zoom tool to get the level of detail you want. Using the satellite view, you can actually pick out individual buildings, which is both fascinating and inexplicably creepy.
With Google Local, you can search on address, types of business, or specific businesses by name, or you can find directions from point A to point B. We searched for the name CNET Networks, and a bubble on the map pinpointed CNET's headquarters in downtown San Francisco (among other hits that come up in a Google search). The information bubble displayed CNET's address, phone number, and Web address, as well as the option to get directions to or from this location. Next, we searched on the term Mexican restaurant, and the map was quickly populated by bubbles pinpointing Mexican restaurants in the vicinity. Clicking each bubble revealed the business's relevant information and links to any reviews found. Searching Google Local for directions gets you step-by-step directions on the left side of the screen and a marked route on the map.
Google Local for Mobile is a downloadable application that brings all the features of Google Local to any Java-enabled cell phone, with a few additional tricks. Namely, when you search for a business and the phone number comes up, you can click to dial, which is a very handy feature when you don't have pen and paper handy. Also, Google Local for Mobile keeps a history of your most recent searches, allowing you to cut down on keystrokes for your common searches. The Mobile application does away with the split-screen layout, due to limited screen acreage, but we found navigating the application (via menus) to be intuitive and easy. You can pan around the map using the phone's directional keypad and zoom in and out quickly; the map redraws itself acceptably fast. Driving directions are doled out one step at a time, which makes sense if you're driving. While the service is free, you'll have to purchase a data service plan through your cellular provider, which can run between $60 and $80 per month for an all-you-can-eat plan. You can get cheaper plans where you pay by the kilobyte, but if you plan to use Google Local for Mobile, you're better off with an unlimited data plan, because downloading the maps will eat up those kilobytes in no time. Currently, Google Local for Mobile works with most Java-enabled phones but doesn't support BlackBerry or Palm devices or BREW phones, which means Verizon users are out of luck (Verizon phones are BREW-based).
As with almost all free software products (and in fact, many paid software products) support options are limited. Still, Google provides a Google Local-specific help page with FAQs and a searchable help section, as well as an in-depth tour of Google Local.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11out of 11 user reviews
Google map review spam hurts the great google brand.
Pros: Great maps with a lot of useful information. I love the MY MAPS feature.
Cons: The reviews are mostly spam. Either to promote the business or to harm the business under review. I think it degrades the google brand and should either be improved or discontinued.
out of 11 user reviews
quite informative maps
Pros: Directional indications are impressive
Cons: Maps seems to be not reveiwed preodically
out of 11 user reviews
Could not have moved without it!
Pros: Directions are always on the money, and the traffic information provided in the Traffic layer is very useful when navigating around anywhere you aren't familiar.
Cons: Sometimes the blue line can drag to strange places.
out of 11 user reviews
Unable to advise Google of errors in their directions
Pros: For the most part Google has excellent accuracy, easily followed written directions and excellent map graphics which are all pluses. The quick business reference section is also very well done.
Cons: The biggest problem with Google maps is there is no opportunity to correct their errors when a user discovers one. this has led me to rely more on my Garmin than Google.
out of 11 user reviews
Much better than mapquest
Pros: Ability to modify your route on the fly, acess to alternate routes, very easy to use
Cons: None found. None.
out of 11 user reviews
Google Maps is all you need!
Pros: fast loading times
Cons: a little slow
out of 11 user reviews
Pretty neat program
Pros: Free! Easy to use and lots of fun.
Cons: Need to update maps.
What I do not see is the new 250 housing development a quarter mile down the road thats been under construction for over a year and a half. I have found this in other area in states that I am familiar with.
This is not meant to be a slam on this program, just a side note that the maps need updating.
My opinion was in regard to GOOGLE EARTH 4 Beta and not Google MAPS, which is a 10.
My opinion was meant to be in for the GOOGLE EARTH 4 BETA only, please disregard.
As for Google Maps it's a 10
out of 11 user reviews
good overall, no GPS coordinates
Pros: good meld of aerial and symbolic info
Cons: no way to input GPS coordinates or view them
out of 11 user reviews
Can not zoom in on Florida.
Pros: At least it is free.
Cons: I live in Florida and Florida maps are not available.
out of 11 user reviews
Best map and directory service available
Pros: Provides excellent mapping features, phone numbers, addresses. Very fast.
Cons: Still being rolled out in other countries (not necessarily a negative, but worth noting).
out of 11 user reviews
Love it I've been using it for a couple of months now
Pros: Quick, cheaper than using 411
Cons: Can't save searchs ...............
