Who Are My Neighbors, Mr.Search Engine? 213
Phoe6 writes "'Google's goal is to connect searchers with the information they need whether it's halfway around the world or in their neighborhood,' said company co-founder Sergey Brin, as Google is unveiling its location-based search tool local.google.com.
This is going heads on with Yahoo, as it put its SmartView content on its maps." Phoe6 also points to this AP story carried by the Houston Chronicle about "Verizon Communications' SuperPages.com, overhauled to deliver more useful local results." Google's service seems to work pretty well -- I've just located a few coffee shops with free wireless within easy walking distance. Update: 03/17 18:33 GMT by T : Here's a no-reg link to the same AP story.
misleading title (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, the local search help page [google.com] talks about finding businesses, and mentions nothing of finding specific people.
Why does this need it's own page/interface (Score:5, Insightful)
whether it's halfway around the world (Score:4, Insightful)
The form says: US address, city & state, or zip
US Only? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I choose to mod Google -1, Redundant (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you want to assume that Google can't compete or improve on an existing service or product?
Re:Why does this need it's own page/interface (Score:5, Insightful)
Especially since they're trying to compete with other players in the market with this particular feature, maximum visibility and ease of use is paramount.
My Neighbors Are All A-round (Score:2, Insightful)
If I'm in the center of Europe, the nearest attractions are Io, Ganymede, Callisto, Metis, Thebe, Lida, Himalia...
You want to know your neighbors? (Score:2, Insightful)
Kids these days!
local as in USA (Score:1, Insightful)
but hey 191 other countries don't matter right ?
Re:Needs Work (Score:5, Insightful)
Not available outside the United States of America (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Troll? (Score:3, Insightful)
Aarrrrrgghhhhh (Score:3, Insightful)
It looks like a great service, except for one thing:
Just like yahoo (aka Yahoo Maps) and many other online services, google uses MapQuest to provide directions.
I wish more sites would instead start using the company formerly known as MapBlast/Vicinity. Their Line Drive maps are much easier to use, and their directions are much better, at least based on extensive personal experience.
Granted, they got bought by the Beast, but the technology still works...
I wonder what Mapblast is doing wrong that the consistently inferior service gets consistently greater exposure and linkage?
Maybe one of these days I can figure out a way to turn a link like this [mapquest.com] into a link like this [mapblast.com]
Maybe a combination of a hosts file entry and a quickie PHP script on my personal Web server to parse and redirect... Or would that be considered a violation of the DMCA? *grin*