Google Maps recently announced via their blog that they’ve added places of interest directly onto the maps themselves. And if you click on a place Google will call up the relevant Wikipedia article. Here’s a example of this in action with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art:
Pretty slick. But that screenshot is from the web, how good does this work on a mobile? I decided to test it out head to head with Lonely Planet’s San Francisco app for the iPhone. What’s better for the iPhone tourist, the Lonely Planet app or Google Maps?
Here’s Google (on the left) and Lonely Planet (on the right) on the iPhone:
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Which one do you prefer? If you find find Lonely Planet’s map a bit cluttered, you can filter out the stuff that doesn’t interest you:
I find Google’s 3D buildings and integrated labeling to be more aesthetically pleasing, but Lonely Planet undeniably provides more information. Furthermore, when you touch Lonely’s Planet’s icons you’re rewarded with some great info. In the case of the Museum of Modern Art, everything you need to know is just a touch away: hours, price, phone number, and if you scroll down there’s a nice detailed description.
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Unfortunately, Google doesn’t currently offer any such information right now. While on the web they provide the Wikipedia article we saw above, the iPhone version doesn’t include any bells and whistles. Is Google ready to displace city guide apps for the iPhone? Eventually, my money is on yes, but right now the answer is a resounding no.
