May 10, 2006 at 1 PM

Google Maps Expand to EU

Hey cool: I just noticed that Google Maps cover all of the European Union now, with what appears to be very good road coverage in most of the countries. They even have a detailed map of the tiny little Breton seaside village I’m going to for a wedding in August.

It’s neat to watch the ever-improving dynamic of online map tools. I wish some of the European competitors would catch up to Google though. They have better mapping data, but far inferior interfaces.

But come to notice it, Yahoo Maps has most of the same data now, at least in their preferable beta edition, which compares very well with Google’s. They don’t pass the Breton seaside village test though.

Still, it’s only a matter of time before they both have the same maps. Both Yahoo and Google are customers of TeleAtlas and NavTeq, so really, each can offer the same information just dressed up in a different interface.

For my money, Google is still a little bit slicker for map reading. Their driving directions for the UK leave a little to be desired compared to, say, MultiMap. But Yahoo doesn’t do driving directions at all outside Canada and the US — on their American site. They have a British map site (inexplicably at maps.yahoo.net rather than maps.yahoo.com) but it uses a completely different system and the interactive version goes slower than your last wait at the doctor’s office. As the British would say, it’s utter rubbish.

Score another one for Google in the intergalactic-domination-through-provision-of-information sweepstakes.

Previously: On Reviewing for Pleasure

Subsequently: All Tomorrow’s Parties 2006

May 2006
the Archives
Home