I know I am probably dating myself just a little… but web map services like G-Maps or Map Quest just blow me away. Whoever found out how to map any block on the planet in 5 seconds has got to be rich… if not they should be.

Check out maps.google.com. Even though they got into the map game just a few years ago, they are now the 1,000 lb gorilla when it comes to maps and directions.

I have been using G-Maps for a quite awhile. Their technology continually improve, and alongside with it, the detail of the maps has improved significantly. There are other key web properties that use geo mapping with great success as well. The big 3 are Google, Map Quest and the granddaddy of them all, Rand McNally.

What follows are quick reviews of G-Maps, Map Quest And Rand McNally maps, reading them should cut down your learning curve when you arrive at the websites.

After years with Map Quest I typically use G-Maps currently (although MapQuest still has one exclusive feature I will let you know about in a moment). My liking for this Google service developed after finally studying their very easy to understand directions.

If Google keeps going like they have they will be in charge of the world in twenty five years. Google has outstanding point-to-point mapping worldwide but their true strength comes in their satellite mapping.

To try and cover all of G-Maps in this review would fail, so let’s look at the vital features of the site and you can discover the rest after you get there.

All of G-Maps is based on earth satellite imagery. You can quickly locate Physical maps, Political maps, Road maps and Topographic maps anywhere on the planet.

You can zoom into Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and actually distinguish tourists walking around or see the cars entering the on ramp of the Golden Gate Bridge. Map overlays can be added for almost anywhere as well.

Another exclusive feature of G-Maps is that it lets you to adjust the route it has laid out for you, simply by dragging the route marking to another position. We often know alternate routes, learned by experience that we want to stick to. The other services will not let you change the path… with G-Maps it’s easy.

Rand McNally has been publishing maps since 1872, if you do the math, what you’ll see immediately is that’s a long time. All truck stops in the US as well as big gas stations retail Rand McNally atlases. They are mostly in the printed map business but also have a website that provides online maps and directions. They are a great way to cross check directions from other services.

Map Quest is the granddaddy of on line mapping having been started in the 1960′s by Donnelly Advertising. They were purchased in 2000 by AOL.

I have used these guys plenty of times and they always deliver. They have remarkable maps for the US, Canada and Europe but are weaker in the rest of the world in their quality and detail. US directions are totally detailed and usually quite accurate. In some growth areas they can be a little behind, simply because of trying to stay current with new growth can be difficult.

MapQuest has a “Gas Prices” button right on the top menu bar that will search for the best prices prices anywhere in the US. This is a real money saver and personally, I check it before every fill up if I can.

Hope this helps you never to get lost again, and safe travels to you always.

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Filed under: Every Day Life

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