I’m in New York City right now for Internet Week and considering I haven’t been here in eight years, I’m fairly lost most of the time. I’ve gotten by just looking out for big groups of people with iPhones to figure out where I should be going, but when I’m by my lonesome and just looking to get a quick bite to eat, I basically have no idea where to go. So it’s awesome that Google has just launched a new Android app that lists the places around me.
Places Directory is a straight-forward app created by some Googlers as their 20% time project. When you launch it, it looks up your location and gives you a directory of the types of establishments around. If I click on “Bars” for example, I’ll then get a list of the bars around me complete with a thumbnail image, the location’s distance from me and a star rating. Clicking on any of the listings will take you to a page with an overview of the place, including its address and phone number. You can also read reviews of the place by Google local users and see more pictures of the place.
While there are no shortage of apps on the iPhone that do basically the same task, there are less available on Android. And while some of the apps that do exist focus mostly on restaurants, Places Directly can also find things like ATMs or museums. And even the best apps out there that do these place listing suffer from a lack of information in smaller towns. That won’t be an issue in NYC, but could be in my hometown of Pepper Pike, Ohio. But Places Directory has Google’s huge database of information at its disposal, which means that even in remote towns, you’ll likely have some information about local places.
You can find the app here, or in the Android Market. It’s available for free.
Cool and useful app. Imagine what the world would be like if Google wasn’t around. Thanks Google
http://www.twibeo.com
Say what you are up to using text, photos and even video.
Dang, I thought of this first! Shoulda got a patent.
http://www.anonboard.com – Anonymous Forum, No Rules
That’s really useful, a shame it’s only for android.
Yet again,
MG = Mostly Google
Are they giving me reasons to keep my Ion? =)
This is a good option for Android phones. I wonder if they will incorporate into the Google Maps application – I can get most of the way there without actually downloading the app, but if this was integrated into maps, I would be more interested.
Buzzd is the place for real time reviews, however.
not too shabby Google
http://www.slicefinder.com
How is this different than yelp or some of the others out there?
I think this one uses the GPS of the phone.
To what extent is this different from the Around Me application on the iPhone? I also get all that information there and (I believe) it also pulls its data from Google Maps.
It’s no different! Just someone who didn’t find AroundMe first and has gone gaga for Google. Harumph.
the only difference I see is the listings have a live compass pointer showing the direction to the business and ratings from citysearch or other sites.
Relax, guys, no one is dissing your precious iPhone. But, there are other platforms out there.
FTA “While there are no shortage of apps on the iPhone that do basically the same task,…”
It’s about time someone made this application. I’ve been saying it for a while now. I’ll have to grab this later today.
do developers get bonuses if google ends up using their 20 percent project?
(spam)
anyone care to help us betatest our location-based service at http://askaround.me ?
good thing, goodle always do better and easier life for people and internet users, tnaks for google that you are exist=)
Probably Goldman Sachs realized this App potential and raised Google Share-Price Estimate to $486
http://www.bloo...W8&refer=us
omg, this idea is not new or innovative…
there is (at least) already a similar app based on the qype db out for use
some of u guys should establish a google curch and believe that there is nothing else than google
killing competition; their raisn daitre
But what if you are about to have terrible pizza, and you search the app, will it show you the http://www.worstpizza.com reviews we did?
No, because worstpizza is a crap website / service
Um, that was the program I am developing for the Android competition. What should I do now?
you should improve it…
- show only pois that are in the direction of the user…, or if the user specifies: “i want to go to xyz”, show only results that are near the shortest/fastest path…
- take time into account: in the mornin donuts, some dinner at noon and bar/lounge at dawn
- this article says that u get a user star rating from all google users… but this is crap! Establish a trust-network: “googlers i trust” and only take their opinion in account! I know lots of well rated places i would never join!
we wrote a paper about this some month ago, but unfortunately its in german…
good luck… lbs is a important trend… slowed down by this crappy crisis
Nice app for the US but for the Europeans there is still a larger database and community. It’s build up for years now. As already mentioned it’s Qype.com were you can find any sort of location based information’s that you could need as a traveler…
Qype offers very smart applications for any sort of mobile device including iPhone and Android.
This app in not very useful until it doesn’t connect distance with the information about terrain and transport. 0,5 km on the same street is not the same as 0,5 km on the opposite side of the river.
The same idea about transport. 3 km by bus or subway is not the same as 3 km on foot (if bus or subway is not available for this direction).
So, there is a plenty of possibilities to improve this piece of shit.
Nice prog. I wonder how good it works outside the US. I am going to try this out in the netherlands…
Places Directory gives amazing results in Germany. Google’s databases are really good!
Qype.com (from Hamburg, Germany) can only compete on recommendations and doesn’t show as many places as Places Directory does.
Oh Wow! You go Google! I stil lam not ready to trade in my IPhone just yet!
RT
http://www.real...nonymity.pro.tc
Cool app, Google!
Well it sounds like Yelp for Android, but in a more primitive version. What is extraordinary about it?
Awesome!!!
A piece of software that combines GPS, Cellular Phone & Places Directory.
It’s like a life belt for me.
Is it working at the Amazon’s rain forests??
I can’t go anywhere without my morning coffee!
If you’re in NYC, why is the screenshot showing bars located in downtown Mountain View, California?