Google Maps vs Blackberry Maps
GPS Apps Showdown
Okay Blackberry users here is a review for you of Google Maps versus Blackberry Maps. With millions of blackberry users around the world and more and more applications it can sometimes be daunting to figure what the best options are. Well here is a quick assessment of Google Maps and Blackberry Maps.
Blackberry Maps is the standard mapping and GPS application that many blackberries come with. The application uses loaded maps and connects them to your built-in GPS to show you in real-time exactly where you are in the world. Blackberry maps are very simple to use and the application has a clean interface. Clicking the trackball or track wheel gives you the option of either zooming in/out of the map or panning around the map. The menu has options including getting directions from one location to another and adding locations to your favorites. One of the great options is that you can actually send your current location to someone else so they can see, on a map, where you are. All in all, Blackberry Maps is simple but effective but is fairly limited in the bells and whistles.
Google Maps, on the other hand, is actually quite feature packed with options and abilities. GMaps has all of the features of blackberry maps that I listed above, but in addition GMaps has all the same features that you see in the computer based online version of Google Maps. This includes, clean basic versions of maps, along with satellite views that you can zoom right down to the buildings on. If you are looking at cities in the United States you can actually switch to street view and see what the street looks like where the address is. This is great for familiarizing yourself with a route or a neighbourhood. You can actually make the street view full screen too! Another great feature of GMaps is you can click on a point or building on a street and it will show you the address of that street.
Probably the coolest part of GMaps is Latitude. Latitude is free signup which allows you and your friends to be able to visually track each other on your GPS blackberries. It notes each of your locations and places it on GMaps for you to either help give directions when someone is lost, see if someone far from arriving or just to cheat at hide and go seek. To add to GMaps is actually a traffic monitor that shows how bad the traffic is on certain roads so you can plan your route better.
Search Near By is an extremely handy feature of GMaps. With this tool you can search for restaurants, businesses, gas stations, doctors, etc that are in close proximity to you. So if you are running out of gas in your car it will pin-point the closest gas station for you to fill up. Or if you are out with the family and you can’t make up your mind about a restaurant, this could help you make the decision.
The last awesome part about Google Maps is that not only can it give you driving directions, it can also give you walking directions or transit directions. So if you are in a new city and you have to get somewhere on the bus it will tell you what lines to take and when to change lines. It will find you the shortest or quickest routes. As well, if you feel like walking around town and want to check out a historic site you can plot in the two points and it will map out the best walking route for you. Pretty cool app.
Although Blackberry Maps does the job, it really doesn’t compare to Google Maps. The best part of it all is that Google Maps is FREE! And is a relatively small sized application. Now, the next question is probably, “How can I get it?” Well, here is the best way to get it.
Text “GMAPS” to 46653 and Google will send you a link to download the application right to your Blackberry!
Lastly, even if you don’t have a Blackberry you can use this application. Google Maps are made for many PDAs and Smart Phones. Give it a try and let me know what you think of the application.
