Mappoint
In addition to the ever powerful presence of MapQuest in the online map application world, other major companies have also developed their own online maps. Among these are the two powerhouses Google and Yahoo. However, Microsoft has also developed it’s own map tool. MSN’s MapPoint is an interesting offering that might not be the most unique but still gets the job done.
The main note about MapPoint that both contribute and take away from it is its tie to other Microsoft applications such as CarPoint, a site about traffic conditions. While indeed these are useful, the obvious tie-ins and blatant advertising that results can be a bit annoying at times. But then again, this is Microsoft.
The map application itself of MapPoint works very similarly to MapQuest and offers all of the same basic features, although arguably a little more colorfully. One can look up a map by itself, find a route between two or more points, find landmarks or other places of interest, or go more in depth and calculate precise travel distances and travel times.
The interesting feature of MapPoint is the phone direction service. By simply dialing a number offered in the application, the user can mention the current point and the destination and the automated service will read back to the user basically the same information as what the online application would give. This is good for saving time or for when the internet is down.
Although it isn’t necessarily unique, MapPoint is still a solid offering and offers the same basic features at very good loading speeds and is a good recommendation.
The main note about MapPoint that both contribute and take away from it is its tie to other Microsoft applications such as CarPoint, a site about traffic conditions. While indeed these are useful, the obvious tie-ins and blatant advertising that results can be a bit annoying at times. But then again, this is Microsoft.
The map application itself of MapPoint works very similarly to MapQuest and offers all of the same basic features, although arguably a little more colorfully. One can look up a map by itself, find a route between two or more points, find landmarks or other places of interest, or go more in depth and calculate precise travel distances and travel times.
The interesting feature of MapPoint is the phone direction service. By simply dialing a number offered in the application, the user can mention the current point and the destination and the automated service will read back to the user basically the same information as what the online application would give. This is good for saving time or for when the internet is down.
Although it isn’t necessarily unique, MapPoint is still a solid offering and offers the same basic features at very good loading speeds and is a good recommendation.
posted by Wizard at 10:28 AM
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