I got a call from a buddy of mine earlier tonight all excited that Microsoft Live Maps is now compatible with Safari and more importantly Safari Mobile. He insisted I give it a try, so I did. Two minutes into trying to use Live Maps, I realized why I don't use Google's implementation of maps.google.com on the iPhone simply because it is too slow and takes too much work.
So I asked my friend on the phone if he'd ever use the native Maps application on the iPhone. His reply was a quick "heck no." My response was, don't ever recommend another web application to me again until you've used the iPhone yourself. So why am I not happy with Live Maps? First of, it's a web app, and web apps do not stand a chance next to the native application Maps. It's painfully slow to load and requires a lot of work just to zoom in and out to get the damn map to look right. I find it retarded dumb that when clicking on the "Zoom In" control, it zooms in on the center of the map. I bet that if Microsoft wanted to do it right, they could have sized the map to fit the iPhone's screen. If you really want to make it work, the iPhone needs to be in landscape mode. I can't in good conscious recommend Live Maps on the iPhone to anyone at this point in time.
I challenge Microsoft to build a better map Application when the App Store opens up. Is it too much to ask for map that's sized for the iPhone's screen, implementations of pinch-zoom and swiping to move the map around?
I agree that being a web app over a native app causes some problems, and also hope that they release something better once the app store opens.
For now I’ll use the google maps for the basic stuff…
I really enjoy your blog but I was very offended on your use of the word “retarded”
Adam, you’re absolutely right. Changed to “dumb” with my apologies. However, without looking like I’m splitting hair, my experience of using Live Maps fits the definition as stated in the Dictionary. It was a correct usage of the word, and not a slam against people who are mentally challenged, and I must say that retarded is a slam against Live Maps.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=retarded
Are you joking? That word doesn’t even mean the same thing today as it did 10 years ago. Today it means dumbass people or things. Not a mentally challenged person. Get over being offended, everyone says it and it’s not going to stop. I say it all the time, but I also know WHEN to say it and when not to.
As for this blog? Why would we even comment on this? So it’s compatible with Safari Mobile, so what. It’s a junk M$ web app that doesn’t even compete with Google Maps in any way. GMaps is so far ahead of M$ in mapping development it’s not even funny. Also, why would I use a web based app, or for that matter, download another local app when I have a GREAT map software already on my phone? GMaps on the iPhone rocks.
LanPhantom:
Have you ever used Live maps. Have you tried putting it in 3D mode and looking at Denver, Colorado? Why don’t you do that and then see who has the better mapping program. Google has A LOT of catching up to do if they want to keep their customers. In fact, all the web pages I use that require maps use Live Maps. Google Maps is going extinct!!
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