Google UK Goes Local, Gets Mapping
Posted by dbfriends on 19 April 2005 - 07:53 · 36 comments & 6608 views
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#1 Posted by divadiow on 19 Apr 2005 - 07:57
- google never ceases to impress. keeping it simple and unbloated but very useful
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(1 reply)
#2 Posted by Grunt on 19 Apr 2005 - 08:16
- Google Maps UK is bloody awesome! so much better than multimap or streetmap.
Now my bro cant get lost when trying to come see me. woot!
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#2.1 Posted by ClintEastman on 19 Apr 2005 - 08:50
- Still think i prefer www.uk.map24.com.
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#3 Posted by chanvw on 19 Apr 2005 - 08:29
- still waiting for another version for those down under...
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#4 Posted by koocha on 19 Apr 2005 - 08:57
- Google Maps UK is brilliant. I always used to use Multimap but no more. It's so easy to drag to get the right location. No more clicking west!
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#5 Posted by Yakkob on 19 Apr 2005 - 09:04
- Goota agree about the maps application. Very very slick.
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(1 reply)
#6 Posted by ElikSec on 19 Apr 2005 - 09:06
- This has to be the best still makes me wonder how we all get it free
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#7 Posted by stezo2k on 19 Apr 2005 - 09:07
- Wow, i've used maps/address searches and this is bar the best, so helpful, even jst for looking for info on say computer shops in the area
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(1 reply)
#8 Posted by Phemo on 19 Apr 2005 - 09:26
- Finally, I no longer have to try and remember the names of takeaways when I'm in the UK and I feel like ordering one. Google Local is excellent - turns up a load of results for places I never even knew existed
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#9 Posted by alexwaddell on 19 Apr 2005 - 09:46
- WOW! This is what the Internet & Broadband was invented for - flippin' brilliant. Multimap & Streetmap must be quaking in their boots today...
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#10 Posted by Mikeparkie on 19 Apr 2005 - 10:07
- looks like google keep going from strength to strength
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(1 reply)
#11 Posted by netizen on 19 Apr 2005 - 10:29
- Everyone! Try Google SMS while it's still free, it beats the hell out of browsing WAP pages to find local info and it's damn fast. Maps is just excellent, I knew the mapping itself was good but I didn't expect the routeplanning to make an appearance. I'm amazed, can Google do nothing wrong?*
*Except send the competition out of business
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#12 Posted by L3onheart on 19 Apr 2005 - 10:49
- We want Portugal
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(1 reply)
#13 Posted by Rishdeep on 19 Apr 2005 - 10:49
- Awesome-o. Finally us Brits get this. It would be cool to have satellite images here too but I'm sure that'll be implemented eventually.
I'm guessing that Google SMS is free but you still have to pay the basic service charge from the network (around 8.5p-10p) right? -
#13.1 Posted by SittingBull on 19 Apr 2005 - 11:24
- You guessed correctly
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#14 Posted by AshMan on 19 Apr 2005 - 12:00
- Daddy likie mucho, mucho!
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#15 Posted by Gowcra on 19 Apr 2005 - 12:11
- LOVELY! Its great to be scottish! Or british!
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#16 Posted by Rickie on 19 Apr 2005 - 13:58
- Holy dam, sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
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#17 Posted by welshkid on 19 Apr 2005 - 14:50
- cool
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(1 reply)
#18 Posted by 2xSilverKnight on 19 Apr 2005 - 15:39
- why does it states Google US and Google UK maps ..
Google US one is available for both canada and usa. -
#18.1 Posted by Mystical112 on 20 Apr 2005 - 14:57
- coo i was wondering where canada was
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(1 reply)
#19 Posted by Nitrate on 19 Apr 2005 - 16:05
- Zoom out as far as possible and have a look at googles world.
Awsome stuff, gonna be using this lots!
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(1 reply)
#20 Posted by FloatingFatMan on 19 Apr 2005 - 16:07
- Looks good, but I don't know where they get their map data from! I looked up my place of work and the map is WELL wrong They can't say it's new roads either, they've only had minor changes for the last 80 years around there!
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#21 Posted by RonXdude on 19 Apr 2005 - 16:18
- This is so brilliant! Even gives numbers to most places.
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#22 Posted by njlouch on 19 Apr 2005 - 16:33
- The more I see of google's "other" services, the more I think they will come to be one of the biggest players we have seen. They have yet to bring out a product that doesn't impress me.
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(1 reply)
#23 Posted by zivan56 on 19 Apr 2005 - 17:23
- You forgot to list Canada as well...
Too bad the UK does not have satellite image service. -
#23.1 Posted by Jerichohol on 19 Apr 2005 - 17:57
- Yeah I want to see something like that, Fantastic service
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#24 Posted by gunpowda on 19 Apr 2005 - 17:32
- Completely free broadband connection besides one browser window and I'm finding it loads the pictures quite slowly...
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#25 Posted by tuckeratlarge on 19 Apr 2005 - 18:29
- its sweet, but like said earlier, us englanders want (or would like) satellite images!
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#26 Posted by TheSarge on 19 Apr 2005 - 20:57
- Once again, google kicks ass.
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#27 Posted by Exosphere on 20 Apr 2005 - 12:02
- It's very good indeed and fast, but it's certainly not in the same class as Streetmap and Multimap for detail which shows buildings, parks etc
Google only shows roads right now, but hopefully in time they'll catch up and also add satellite photos as Multimap already has.
it's good for drivers, and it's handy for finding a local taxi or pizza place local to you - just not very good as a true map.
The services appear broadly similar to their US counterparts, and are apparently accompanied at the launch by a UK version of Google SMS. Its subdomain isn't yet active, but a direct link (below) works.
There are a few problems with the mapping data though. Some streets appear fine; however, it appears other areas, particularly where streets have been redrawn, renamed and so on, throw up some pretty strange results. Also, there isn't yet a satellite picture service for the UK.
Posting on the Google Blog, Richard Boardman, Usability Analyst, said: "I guess my colleagues got tired of my moaning, so I'm delighted to introduce Google Local UK and Google Maps UK. The Google UK office and a few of us homesick Brits in California have been helping out with the development."
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