MapQuest is one of the better-known online
mapping sites around, and one recommended by Tim Cook for disgruntled Apple
Maps users in his official letter in response to problems.
First impressions of MapQuest are positive,
with the road map visual comparing well with the competition. The main map
dominates the screen and on the left-hand side of the page is a banner
promoting the Discover tool, which I'll look at in more detail later. You can
also enter directions or search for a location on the left-hand banner, while
along the top of the page are a bunch of tabs leading to information including
the beta Local information feature, which presents information on local
amenities, and that Discover app once more.
MapQuest
is keen to push its Discover feature
Unfortunately, these features relate to US
cities, with the UK sadly ignored when it comes to the additional tools
included, such as petrol prices in a selected area. This extends to the
satellite imagery, which fails when zooming in on neighbourhoods in any
meaningful sense. Searches of London and Birmingham do bring up satellite
images, which can be zoomed in on to view key locales, but major cities such as
Leeds are devoid of imagery, greeting you with the message 'Data Not Currently
Available'.
The tabs on top of the map look promising,
but a lack of information on hotels, restaurant and bars, and shopping makes
this particular feature essentially useless for UK users. Attempting to redress
that is the Discover application, which actively encourages user interaction in
bringing together accurate information on an area based on user submissions.
Discover also encourages users to submit photos of a locale in order to present
more information about a region, and all this information can be shared on
social networks. The idea behind the app is to inspire users to go out and
discover the world around them. The problem, of course, is that it entirely
depends on users' input to prove useful, and I found during testing that again
more obvious locales were catered for (London), but that was about it.
The
tabs on top of the map look promising, but a lack of information on hotels,
restaurant and bars, and shopping makes this particular feature essentially
useless for UK users.
Ultimately, this is the problem overhanging
MapQuest online. Its US centric focus means that UK users are missing out on
everything that promises to make this a powerhouse of a tool. The driving
directions during testing were accurate, however, and a few additional options
such as hiding the first or last few directions if you know the local area,
plus printable maps and directions for your route, are nice. Directions can be
shared by Email, Mobile and Facebook, which brings me onto the associated
mobile app.
Unfortunately, despite Tim Cook's letter to
all users suggesting MapQuest's app as an alternative, iOS users actually can't
download the MapQuest app after all (US-only again, I'm afraid). Android users
can download it from Google Play and it's an okay addition to the main online mapping
service for the UK. It offers voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation (all at no
cost and no trial period) auto re-routing if you take a wrong turn and voice
search although my test handset had problems with this feature. There are other
problems too, such as no smart searching for locations, but it's a decent
enough effort.
MapQuest
for iPhone
It's hard to recommend MapQuest for general
location mapping and locale information because UK users have been rather
ignored. Android users should take a look at the mobile app, however.
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Details
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Developer: AOL
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Website: www.mapquest.com
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Required spec: Web browser, mobile app support
for Android
Ratings
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Quality: 6
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Value: 6
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Overall: 6
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