MapPoint B2B
09-15-2007, 04:48 PM
<P>Superpages.com recently launched their new "<A class="" href="http://yellowpages.superpages.com/mapbasedsearch/mapsearch.jsp?STYPE=S" mce_href="http://yellowpages.superpages.com/mapbasedsearch/mapsearch.jsp?STYPE=S">map-based searching</A>" using Virtual Earth. The site looks, oh, too familiar - almost as a replica of <A class="" href="http://maps.live.com/" mce_href="http://maps.live.com">Windows Live Local</A>; however, there some more aesthetically pleasing portions of the site. </P>
<P> Pros:</P>
<UL>
<LI>The site is very clean; great colors for the UI and pushpins.</LI>
<LI>I love the "saved" and "recent" map searches features. This is slick for when I want to go back and search for the same thing again.</LI>
<LI>Keyword searching - not just category searching, but keyword searching adds a level of relevance.</LI>
<LI>The AJAX movement of opening and closing tabs on the left is slick and intuitive.</LI>
<LI>Guided Tour - I love this. I get so much hate mail from people who want us to bring back MSN Maps and Directions. This levels out the learning curve for those who don't like change.</LI></UL>
<P>Cons:</P>
<UL>
<LI>It looks too much like Windows Live Local. Not that I'm ashamed of our UI, but I was hoping to see something different to change the game a bit.</LI>
<LI>I want to be able to re-order the tabs on the left and I can't. </LI>
<LI>I want to be able to close some tabs on the left and I can't. </LI>
<LI>No pan/nav refresh of results. When I move the map I want the data results to change - this is mandatory!</LI>
<LI>No right-click menu. </LI></UL>
<P>So, some good things, some bad. Overall, it's just another map-based searching site which seem to popup quite frequently. I do like the site, I just was hoping to see Superpages change the game a little more. </P>
<P>CP</P><img src="http://blogs.msdn.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1875839" width="1" height="1">
Click here to view the article. (http://blogs.msdn.com/mappoint_b2b/archive/2007/03/13/superpages-com-maps-powered-by-virtual-earth.aspx)
<P> Pros:</P>
<UL>
<LI>The site is very clean; great colors for the UI and pushpins.</LI>
<LI>I love the "saved" and "recent" map searches features. This is slick for when I want to go back and search for the same thing again.</LI>
<LI>Keyword searching - not just category searching, but keyword searching adds a level of relevance.</LI>
<LI>The AJAX movement of opening and closing tabs on the left is slick and intuitive.</LI>
<LI>Guided Tour - I love this. I get so much hate mail from people who want us to bring back MSN Maps and Directions. This levels out the learning curve for those who don't like change.</LI></UL>
<P>Cons:</P>
<UL>
<LI>It looks too much like Windows Live Local. Not that I'm ashamed of our UI, but I was hoping to see something different to change the game a bit.</LI>
<LI>I want to be able to re-order the tabs on the left and I can't. </LI>
<LI>I want to be able to close some tabs on the left and I can't. </LI>
<LI>No pan/nav refresh of results. When I move the map I want the data results to change - this is mandatory!</LI>
<LI>No right-click menu. </LI></UL>
<P>So, some good things, some bad. Overall, it's just another map-based searching site which seem to popup quite frequently. I do like the site, I just was hoping to see Superpages change the game a little more. </P>
<P>CP</P><img src="http://blogs.msdn.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1875839" width="1" height="1">
Click here to view the article. (http://blogs.msdn.com/mappoint_b2b/archive/2007/03/13/superpages-com-maps-powered-by-virtual-earth.aspx)