US-centric: Windows Live Maps has added a new feature called Clearflow, which suggests routes based on traffic conditions with the intention of getting you where you need to go quickly and with a minimum of traffic congestion. Rather than suggesting routes based solely on real-time data, Clearflow also factors in time of day, weather, and even things like nearby sporting events likely to cause congestion. I’ve been testing it on some local routes, and while I’m not sure if its suggestions are accurate, I can say that it does drastically change its suggestions when I tick the “Choose route based on traffic” option. The Clearflow feature is available in 72 cities starting today, so if you give it a try, let’s hear what kind of results you’re seeing in the comments. Live Search Maps [via NYT]
US-centric: Send detailed directions for getting around the city from your browser directly to your cell phone with web site HopStop. This webapp has been around for a while (we even posted about it a few years back), but it continues to add more areas to its coverage of the urban landscape. Offering options like subway-only in conjunction with preferences like “More street walking/fewer transfers,” HopStop covers how to get from a-to-b whether you’re on foot, train, or bus. If you’re an experienced user (it’s not available in Los Angeles, so I’m not), let’s hear how it’s worked for you in the comments.
US-centric: Google Maps mashup Mezzoman finds the perfect meet-up point for two addresses by establishing the midpoint and suggesting restaurants by cuisine nearby. Finding a good meet-up spot can be a bit difficult, and at one point or another you’ve probably felt you’re getting the short end of the stick by driving the lion’s share of the distance to the meet-up point. Mezzoman aims to rid you of that headache, and suggests places you could meet and eat (or bowl) near that midpoint. The only feature missing is pins marking the two addresses you’re starting from, but in all it’s a simple webapp that does just what it says. Mezzoman [via Gmapsmania]
Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): Get directions to and from any address you see in your browser with GDirections, a Firefox extension that saves you the time of heading over to Google or Yahoo maps. After entering up to three pre-defined addresses in GDirections’ preferences (like your home and office), selecting and right-clicking an address will allow you to get directions to the spot from those places, as well as enter the address into any of the sites you’ve installed in your quick search box. For those who regularly wipe out their cookies and have to re-enter their address into either Yahoo or Google Maps, GDirections is a real time saver. GDirections is a free download and works wherever Firefox (1.0-2.0) does.
GDirections [via Linux.com]Google Maps has added a saucy new terrain overlay to its already impressive view options. In addition to geographic terrain, this view also displays buildings in metropolitan areas à la Google Earth. You may also notice that the Hybrid view is now missing from the top row of buttons, but Hybrid view (which displays satellite imagery with street information overlaid) is now the default for Satellite view (though you can toggle the street information).
Google Maps [via Google Operating System]Ever look up an address on Google Maps and find that the pushpin for that address is more than a bit off? Now you can edit where Google pinpoints addresses (provided you’re logged into your Google account) by clicking the Edit link and dragging the pin to a more appropriate location. Moves over 200 meters will need to be moderated before they’re applied, and you can see the original location or recently-moved markers at any time. My parents’ house in Iowa has always been about a mile off the mark so I’ve been dying for something like this, but unfortunately it looks like not all locations are currently supported.
Think globally, mark locally [Google Lat Long Blog via Google Operating System]Here’s something which will be music to the ears of the directionally challenged. While the Tom Tom GPS device is quite popular here in Australia, you can’t buy the software for your PDA over the counter. However the Bleeding Edge blog has discovered that you can buy the software online:
“You can grab a copy of the software itself straight from their website - you just have to buy the maps. To buy the Australian map, click “Maps” on the left of their home page, then “Buy Now”. Select “NAVIGATOR 6″ as your product, then “Map of Australia”, and then go through the usual checkout process. It’ll cost you $150, which is a pretty good deal for such a useful program.”
Sounds like a good solution if you don’t want to buy yet *another* gadget.
Buying Tom Tom in Australia [Bleeding Edge]
