internet maps...Google vs. Yahoo!

I am a huge fan of Google Maps but I just discovered that Yahoo! has a similar service now called Yahoo! Maps...and I like the features that it has better than what Google offers.

A lot of companies, including Yahoo!, have been playing catch up to keep up with all the innovations that Google introduces. Personally, I think that Yahoo! has caught up to and leaped a little bit ahead of Google for once. You can read more about the features of Yahoo! Maps here.

Here are the features which set Yahoo! Maps apart from Goggle Maps:

1. There is a small collapsable overview map inset in the top right hand corner to quickly move to another area. Also allows quick zoom.
2. Live traffic reports and construction updates.
3. You can display the locations of areas of interest on the map. Categories include ATM's & Services, Entertainment & Shopping, Restaurants, and Travel. Those familar with Google Maps knows that it does this too but I think that Yahoo! has done a better job of it. When your mouse floats over the list of locations (such as all Mexican restaurants), the location is highlighted on the map. You can click on the location (in the list or the map) and immediately get the phone number and address (very useful info!).
It provides quick links for driving directions and to top it off, you can rate the restaurant and view other peoples ratings and comments about the restaurant (very cool and useful!). You can even filter the list of restaurants by rating if you like. Everything you can view in the list is also viewable directly in the map too. Changing the visible area of the map to a different area causes the list to be updated.
4. Ease of entry when entering address, just like Google maps. You are not forced to tab through a form and enter all the address info. For example, in one text box you can simply enter "7426 Beechmont Ave # 206 Cincinnati OH" without any commas. This is the address of my favorite fast food Mexican restaurant, Moe's Southwestern Grille..."Welcome to Moe's!" These guys do burritos right and are much better than Chipotle (I'll save this for another blog.) For my Kentucky friends, there is a new Moe's located in the new Crestview Town Centre (near Dillard's.) I'm getting hungry! Anyway, after the directions are displayed you can hover over top of each step and the section of roadway is highlighted in the map (very cool!).
5. When getting driving directions you can easily enter multiple stops along the way. This is something that Google can not do. What is really cool is you can search for something like Wendy's or Shell Gas and drag-n-drop the the map pinpoint to the driving directions area and very quickly add it to your list of stops. So you don't even need to type out addresses anymore!
6. One place that Google Maps has Yahoo! Maps beat is the ability to overlay a satellite image. Although this does not help you too much when you really just need infomation or directions. It does however let you checkout what is in your neighbors backyard :-) So this tends to be a toy feature.