Since its beginning, Google Maps has always been the best web mapping program out there. Everyone was amazed when Google introduced draggable maps that actually filled your screen rather than some tiny portion of your browser that was enclosed by ads. Then shortly after they wowed us again by introducing Satellite images. Then a great thing occurred on the 19th March 2005 when Great Britain was added to the Google World. Of course since then Google have done a fantastic job of improving the parts of the world covered, the road data in more countries, the improved driving directions, better local business listings, traffic info etc. But one thing that I’ve always thought was missing ever since I started to use Google Maps was being able to save customised data to your maps. The most obvious example is storing a collection of saved locations. Other programs have been able to do this long before Google Maps introduced it a few months ago. Finally, more recently we’ve seen the addition of stored routes along with detailed HTML descriptions and also the ability to share your custom mapping information publicly. This makes a welcome improvement as a lot more information can now be given by allowing people to write about their local area and share the information via a map. As an example, I’ve created a map showing the route I take to cycle to work.
But I believe there are still many improvements I’d like to see from Google maps. One thing is the ability to see the length or a route. At least that way I could actually see how fast I cycle when I go to work. It would also be nice to be able to list all the businesses on a particular street and see where they are. That way you could go browse the high street shops without having to walk along it.
The profusion of 3rd party programs based on the Google Maps API demonstrates the capabilities that the Google Maps technology has. I hope we haven’t seen the last of the new developments to this great program.