Google have extended their brilliant Maps and Local services to the UK. Until now I have only been using it to see how good online services can be. Now I can use it daily to find addresses, get directions and find services (plumbing especially) in London and UK.
Google Maps is a very intuitive way to present maps. Easy zooming, powerful search and smart dHTML like moving the map around are my favourite features. Wonder if Google plans to add satellite images like they do with the US maps.
Google Local combines Google maps with a local directory of services, restaurants, theaters and much much more. Until now I have been using UpMyStreet and it will be interesting to see how well Google Local performs compared with them.
Last but not least, see if Google Local Mobile works with your mobile. It should if it supports XHTML (i.e. not older than 2004).
Having access to free maps, directions and local directory from your mobile is just priceless.
PS The SonyEricsson T610/T630 has problems with the mobile version. Firefox has problems as well, use Internet Explorer if you want to try it from your desktop.
Currently the Yell footer has a bug (omitted quotes in href) which creates a XML parsing error and only sloppy IE can display the results. Stay tuned, should not take long to fix this.
Update May 10th
The error has been fixed. I doubt it was due to the email I sent to Google support (I did get a reply though) but instead due to the official launch of Google Local UK Mobile (GLUM). Have a go!
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Online journal and ponderings about the Internet, gadgets and photography.
Yes, agree with Google Local. I saw this the other day. It is really good. Found my local pizaa place in a jiffy. And shows you the map and directions. Can these guys do no wrong?
-Sukhy
The great thing is that the Google Maps API is available so people can build their own applications based on it. I’ve put my travel photos on a world map (http://www.sean.co.uk/photography/photomap.shtm) and other people are using it for all sorts of stuff. Google Maps Local should extend the availability of this geographically organised information even further. Like nearly everything at Google, it’s in beta so the odd errors occur, but on the whole the maps service is pretty stable.