Google Maps

I have used Google Maps in the past for driving directions, but I usually use Mapquest instead because Google has given me inaccurate directions more than once. Also, I have compared driving directions to the same location and I found Mapquest's to be superior to Google's (yes, they were different directions to the same place!). However, I do think Google Maps is quite nifty for all of the other things that it can do. I was amazed when I watched the video- I didn't realize it could do THAT much!

For this exercise, I chose to get driving directions from my house to the Boston Public Library (central). I don't think I'll be driving there anytimes soon- it takes one day and five hours, according to Google Maps! After reading through the directions, I clicked on some of the camera icons throughout, and was impressed to have a driver's point of view of the actual location. The only thing I did not like about this feature, is that the picture of my house is an old one, so it has our old, dilapidated mailbox in it. We have installed a much nicer one- I wish they would update it.

I used the "traffic" feature, and it appears that at this moment, most of the highways and streets I would be traveling, are clear and traffic is moving along nicely. What a relief to know that I actually would make it there in a day and 5 hours if I were to leave now. I love the street views and how you can look all the way around. I spent some time just looking at downtown Boston with this feature. That was so cool! Then I tried altering the route my dragging it from George Bush to 121. I may switch back to Google Maps from Mapquest now. I just hadn't played with it enough to know how fabulous it is. Finally, I clicked on "more" next to "traffic" and looked and bicycle routes, transit, and video (some interesting local things posted here from campouts to car washes- I wonder if people purposely post their videos on Google Maps or if GM just "finds" the videos on youtube? So much to explore on this site- here is a link to my directions and map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1228+Stillwater+Trail,+Carrollton,+TX&daddr=700+Boylston+Street,+Boston,+MA&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.910968,78.662109&ie=UTF8&z=5