Comments on: Exclusive: MapQuest Plays Catch-Up With Launch of Beta http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/ Startup and Technology News Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:08:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: There is no way you could ever get lost… | Concepts, Ideas, Thoughts & Bullsh!t http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-2061348 There is no way you could ever get lost… | Concepts, Ideas, Thoughts & Bullsh!t Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:25:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-2061348 [...] Exclusive: MapQuest Plays Catch-Up With Launch of Beta [via Zemanta] [...] [...] Exclusive: MapQuest Plays Catch-Up With Launch of Beta [via Zemanta] [...]

]]> By: MapQuest reveals new beta map site | Bullroarer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1796450 MapQuest reveals new beta map site | Bullroarer Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:18:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1796450 [...] information on the new beta are available at Mapquest blog entry and TechCrunch. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...] [...] information on the new beta are available at Mapquest blog entry and TechCrunch. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

]]> By: Fresh Mexican Food Fan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1712802 Fresh Mexican Food Fan Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:45:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1712802 Let's see. (*) Mapquest offers me the ability to avoid any particular maneuver of my directions, just by clicking "Avoid" against a maneuver. This isn't easy in Google Maps if not impossible. For example, see - http://snipurl.com/1sxdo (*) "Avoid Toll" option, very important especially for people in toll happy states like NJ. Mapquest had this for ages; they removed it for a while and now it is back for almost a year. Google, Yahoo, MS doesn't offer this feature. See - http://snipurl.com/1sxdf (*) "Avoid Highways" was available in Mapquest for ages. (http://snipurl.com/1sxdd); took a while for Google to have that feature. So, fanboys need to learn to give credit when and where it is due, instead of simply saying "MQ sucks". FYI, Map24.com has better features than Mapquest and Google Maps. That's all. Let’s see.

(*) Mapquest offers me the ability to avoid any particular maneuver of my directions, just by clicking “Avoid” against a maneuver. This isn’t easy in Google Maps if not impossible. For example, see - http://snipurl.com/1sxdo

(*) “Avoid Toll” option, very important especially for people in toll happy states like NJ. Mapquest had this for ages; they removed it for a while and now it is back for almost a year. Google, Yahoo, MS doesn’t offer this feature. See - http://snipurl.com/1sxdf

(*) “Avoid Highways” was available in Mapquest for ages. (http://snipurl.com/1sxdd); took a while for Google to have that feature.

So, fanboys need to learn to give credit when and where it is due, instead of simply saying “MQ sucks”.

FYI, Map24.com has better features than Mapquest and Google Maps.

That’s all.

]]> By: Live Search Maps Getting Better http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1709827 Live Search Maps Getting Better Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:33:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1709827 [...] post), I love all the competition going on in online mapping between Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and even MapQuest. The latest in the feature race comes from Microsoft’s Live Search Maps. In addition to [...] [...] post), I love all the competition going on in online mapping between Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and even MapQuest. The latest in the feature race comes from Microsoft’s Live Search Maps. In addition to [...]

]]> By: Liam http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1681248 Liam Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:11:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1681248 Thanks for the info Claire, this so called "soft launch" is awesome! i can't wait to see what is to come on this site, it's much better than Mapquest's effort - less advertising! Thanks for the info Claire, this so called “soft launch” is awesome! i can’t wait to see what is to come on this site, it’s much better than Mapquest’s effort - less advertising!

]]> By: Dougie FRESH http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1677192 Dougie FRESH Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:24:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1677192 It really is amazing. Iif we're all pretty much in agreement that even the new Beta SUCKS versus gMaps, how they hell does MQ have such a large margin in user base? It must just be that the techies, the same ones that read TechCrunch, were blown away by the gMaps launch - whereas the average user never knew it even happened. Hence they stick with the name they know, MapQuest. But that is not a sustainable advantage... Poor people, MQ has sucked for years - a perfect example of a company resting on it's laurels: "Oh we DO maps! We're the one! Our interface is PERFECT!" While it just takes another company to ask - "How can this be done better..." Too little, too late. It really is amazing. Iif we’re all pretty much in agreement that even the new Beta SUCKS versus gMaps, how they hell does MQ have such a large margin in user base?

It must just be that the techies, the same ones that read TechCrunch, were blown away by the gMaps launch - whereas the average user never knew it even happened. Hence they stick with the name they know, MapQuest. But that is not a sustainable advantage…

Poor people, MQ has sucked for years - a perfect example of a company resting on it’s laurels: “Oh we DO maps! We’re the one! Our interface is PERFECT!” While it just takes another company to ask - “How can this be done better…”

Too little, too late.

]]> By: Claire http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675794 Claire Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:55:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675794 A smiliar story is playing out in Austraila. http://www.whereis.com is the current market leading mapping website (though Google is gaining). They've just launched a very soft beta which you can see at http://beta.whereis.com. This is also their first drop with plans to increase functionality over the coming months, before turning the old site off. A smiliar story is playing out in Austraila. http://www.whereis.com is the current market leading mapping website (though Google is gaining).
They’ve just launched a very soft beta which you can see at http://beta.whereis.com. This is also their first drop with plans to increase functionality over the coming months, before turning the old site off.

]]> By: Rocky http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675253 Rocky Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:43:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675253 I forgot to disclose that I used to work on AOL's local products, though not directly on MapQuest. I forgot to disclose that I used to work on AOL’s local products, though not directly on MapQuest.

]]> By: Rocky http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675251 Rocky Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:41:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1675251 MapQuest has a very loyal user base and people go there without thinking about it -- the same advantage that Google has in search over newcomers, MapQuest has in mapping. The current beta shows very little that's new and certainly nothing that's innovative compared with the competition. I did an in-depth comparison of MapQuest to Google and Yahoo's offerings: http://redesign.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/a-new-mapquest-beta-with-not-much-new/ Given that MapQuest is a bare bones mapping site and does the job (even if it's not pretty) for most people, it's biggest threat in the U.S. is really sat nav systems. The prices have been plummeting, with many portable nav systems available under $200. I bet by Christmas you'll see a few units at $99. When your car can provide the basics, that's when the tools that Google and Yahoo offer will make a real difference. MapQuest has a very loyal user base and people go there without thinking about it — the same advantage that Google has in search over newcomers, MapQuest has in mapping.

The current beta shows very little that’s new and certainly nothing that’s innovative compared with the competition.

I did an in-depth comparison of MapQuest to Google and Yahoo’s offerings:
http://redesign.wordpress.com/.....-much-new/

Given that MapQuest is a bare bones mapping site and does the job (even if it’s not pretty) for most people, it’s biggest threat in the U.S. is really sat nav systems. The prices have been plummeting, with many portable nav systems available under $200. I bet by Christmas you’ll see a few units at $99.

When your car can provide the basics, that’s when the tools that Google and Yahoo offer will make a real difference.

]]> By: Scoot http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1674413 Scoot Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:21:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1674413 I like mapquest, I hope they don't mess up here and try to get too fancy and slow everything down. I live in a rural area and mapquest works the best out here. I like mapquest, I hope they don’t mess up here and try to get too fancy and slow everything down. I live in a rural area and mapquest works the best out here.

]]> By: ThePlaz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1674073 ThePlaz Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:45:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1674073 Well at least the old site dosn't make you refresh the entire page when you want to pan up or down - at least that is AJAX. I don't really see much of a difference to having it all on 1 page. I just care for the AJAX panning and zooming Well at least the old site dosn’t make you refresh the entire page when you want to pan up or down - at least that is AJAX.

I don’t really see much of a difference to having it all on 1 page. I just care for the AJAX panning and zooming

]]> By: Jim http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673979 Jim Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:07:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673979 It is slow as molasses, which is a kiss of death for a mainstream consumer need like mapping. I also think that they got it wrong, if the goal is mainstream users: It is neither a leader in ease of use nor good at exposing the new functionality in a well-executed manner. Also, the tabs on the top suck as an idea. I think they will do nothing to stop the Google Maps not-so-gradual erosion of their market share. Won't take long, with Google Maps growing at 26% annually! It is slow as molasses, which is a kiss of death for a mainstream consumer need like mapping. I also think that they got it wrong, if the goal is mainstream users: It is neither a leader in ease of use nor good at exposing the new functionality in a well-executed manner. Also, the tabs on the top suck as an idea.

I think they will do nothing to stop the Google Maps not-so-gradual erosion of their market share. Won’t take long, with Google Maps growing at 26% annually!

]]> By: Kyle http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673938 Kyle Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:19:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673938 New beta has been available for awhile. I don't much care for it. UI is overcomplicated and feels heavy, and the maps visually are too noisy for me to look at. For maps, I usually bounce between Yahoo and Google. I find Google's interface easier to use, while Yahoo's tends to provide more useful information(i.e., I can see neighborhoods in major cities). Also odd is that I find Yahoo maps to visually have less noise the more I zoom out (say, city or state level), whereas Google's seems imminently more readable at the street level. There are only 2 other things I like more about Yahoo, which is the zoom feature is much more useful then Google's, and I occasionally benefit from the user reviews and local information Yahoo is able to provide, which seems more helpful than Google's occasional aggregate reviews. New beta has been available for awhile. I don’t much care for it. UI is overcomplicated and feels heavy, and the maps visually are too noisy for me to look at.

For maps, I usually bounce between Yahoo and Google. I find Google’s interface easier to use, while Yahoo’s tends to provide more useful information(i.e., I can see neighborhoods in major cities). Also odd is that I find Yahoo maps to visually have less noise the more I zoom out (say, city or state level), whereas Google’s seems imminently more readable at the street level.

There are only 2 other things I like more about Yahoo, which is the zoom feature is much more useful then Google’s, and I occasionally benefit from the user reviews and local information Yahoo is able to provide, which seems more helpful than Google’s occasional aggregate reviews.

]]> By: Jay http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673769 Jay Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:28:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673769 I thought they were playing catch up with Web 2.0 by adding "Beta" to their logo LOL. I thought they were playing catch up with Web 2.0 by adding “Beta” to their logo LOL.

]]> By: Richard Tsai http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673633 Richard Tsai Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:18:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673633 Mapquest still sucks even the Beta version is. I can't believe it's over Google Maps. Mapquest still sucks even the Beta version is.
I can’t believe it’s over Google Maps.

]]> By: whoopie http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673242 whoopie Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:16:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673242 who are the idiots? the people using mapquest or valley types who can't grasp that over in flyover country people treat websites the same way you treat a stapler. they pick it up, they use it, they put it down. there is nothing more frustrating for johnny startup than an audience that doesn't even care if his site is better. stay frustrated children. ten years from now, AIM, hotmail, yahoo and mapquest will still likely have millions of users, and more obnoxiously, they will retain most of them with minimal investments to copy innovative features four years late who are the idiots? the people using mapquest or valley types who can’t grasp that over in flyover country people treat websites the same way you treat a stapler. they pick it up, they use it, they put it down. there is nothing more frustrating for johnny startup than an audience that doesn’t even care if his site is better.

stay frustrated children. ten years from now, AIM, hotmail, yahoo and mapquest will still likely have millions of users, and more obnoxiously, they will retain most of them with minimal investments to copy innovative features four years late

]]> By: Boomer http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673140 Boomer Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:49:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673140 I agree, MGZ -- it boggles the mind why anyone still uses the old Mapquest. Then again, San Francisco's Google Map still has the Central Expressway. I agree, MGZ — it boggles the mind why anyone still uses the old Mapquest.

Then again, San Francisco’s Google Map still has the Central Expressway.

]]> By: PXLated http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673114 PXLated Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:15:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1673114 If I recall correctly it's even worse (sadder) than no changes since 1999. The first real estate site to feature MLS listings (CyberHomes) used it to map properties way back in 96-97. Wasn't called MapQuest but was the same company, same technology. Back then, they were the only thing going. Any site that wanted/needed mapping of any kind (location, proximity, etc) had only one choice, them. They've been milking their contracts ever since. A lot of ecommerce sites contracted with them during the first bubble. If I recall correctly it’s even worse (sadder) than no changes since 1999. The first real estate site to feature MLS listings (CyberHomes) used it to map properties way back in 96-97. Wasn’t called MapQuest but was the same company, same technology. Back then, they were the only thing going. Any site that wanted/needed mapping of any kind (location, proximity, etc) had only one choice, them. They’ve been milking their contracts ever since. A lot of ecommerce sites contracted with them during the first bubble.

]]> By: Fake Richard http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672985 Fake Richard Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:50:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672985 when it comes to maps Google rocks, especially now by integrating youtube on maps.... that is freakin awesome....Google Maps rock http://vidsonly.blogspot.com when it comes to maps Google rocks, especially now by integrating youtube on maps…. that is freakin awesome….Google Maps rock

http://vidsonly.blogspot.com

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672950 Jason Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:28:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672950 What's Mapquest? Seriously, I had never heard of it. Are it's loyal users mostly US or something? What’s Mapquest? Seriously, I had never heard of it. Are it’s loyal users mostly US or something?

]]> By: Fake Fake Meg Whitman http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672878 Fake Fake Meg Whitman Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:20:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672878 What does this have to do with Facebook? What does this have to do with Facebook?

]]> By: NB http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672868 NB Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:02:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672868 But this does go to show you the difference in between what is considered to be true (Google Maps is #1) versus what the traffic numbers indicate. Do you all think that GMail is #1 as well? But this does go to show you the difference in between what is considered to be true (Google Maps is #1) versus what the traffic numbers indicate.

Do you all think that GMail is #1 as well?

]]> By: Your Daddy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672860 Your Daddy Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:52:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672860 Weak - not even any TRAFFIC on it! Weak - not even any TRAFFIC on it!

]]> By: Sean Coonce http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672839 Sean Coonce Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:28:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672839 Yikes - its still pretty hokey. Yikes - its still pretty hokey.

]]> By: Support this story on Stirrdup http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672832 Support this story on Stirrdup Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:24:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/12/exclusive-mapquest-plays-catch-up-with-launch-of-beta/#comment-1672832 <strong>Exclusive: MapQuest Plays Catch-Up With Launch of Beta...</strong> This story has been submitted to Stirrdup. Your support can help it become hot.... Exclusive: MapQuest Plays Catch-Up With Launch of Beta…

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