AOL’s MapQuest remains the top brand in online mapping and is still the most visited mapping site, despite recent gains by Google Maps. Donnelley began making maps with computers in the mid-1980s to generate maps for customers. Much of that code was adapted for use on the Internet to create the MapQuest web service in 1996. MapQuest launched a completely revamped site into beta that has a new look and is easier to use, and that includes additional functionality. The site also features a map front and center that can display location-relevant content, such as gas prices, local traffic and current weather. You no longer have to enter your data and click to a secondary screen  because in the new MapQuest beta, the company has finally added a map to the front page. The map will automatically show information based on your preferences or your physical location. AOL sees MapQuest as the most visible and highly trafficked “front door” to many types of local content on its network, e.g., City’s Best (formerly AOL Cityguide). The five modules or boxes at the bottom of the new home page, which will rotate, offer entry points or visibility for that content: Go Mobile; Top Travel Deals; Save your Dollars; City Best Burger; and Whouses Map Quest. Favorite features that were somewhat buried in the “classic” MapQuest were gas prices and traffic, which are now available on the homepage.

You can do all the things you’d expect with the map, like search for addresses or business, zoom in and out, or view arial images. You can also click on a weather link to overlay weather information, or click a gas link to pull up gas price information for various locations. There’s also a traffic button that shows live traffic conditions for more than 85 cities. Some of these features have been available for months. For example, MapQuest introduced live traffic information back in March. MapQuest Beta is more dynamic, more visually interesting and content rich.

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 5:37 am | by Kur-nia-one |