13:51 by FoxTwo
Goodbye Streetdirectory.com, Hello Google Maps
Yes, by now most Singaporeans would have known about Streetdirectory.com shutting down due to their lawsuit with SLA (Singapore Land Authority).
Many Singaporeans actually depend on this free service, truth to tell. When someone organises a ping.sg gathering at some far-flung corners of Singapore, we'd all head to streetdirectory.com to see how we can get there in one piece. When you get a job in a remote corner in Singapore, you'd head there to see how to get there before your boss screams at you for being late at the customer's location.
However, some of the basic functions can be found in an alternative - Google Maps! The basic stuff like searching for a road name like "Bedok North" will zoom you onto Singapore, since "bedok" is definitely indigenous to Singapore. However, if you're going to search for, say, "Smith Street", it's advisable to include ", Singapore" in your search query to get the right location.
Google Maps also has a mobile version, which I've already downloaded to my phone months ago. In fact I wrote about it here, back in October 2007. Since then I've been using Google Maps when I'm on the move and needed to find a location. In fact I have never loaded up Streetdirectory.com at all when on the move. To me, it feels like Google Maps work faster for mobiles, so I've stuck with it.
So, until Streetdirectory.com comes back up again with new, non-infringing maps, turn to Google as a filler. :)
edit:
Alternative 2 - Can.com.sg (thanks to Wishbone)
Alternative 3 - e-route planner (thanks to joshua)
Labels: Google, Google Maps, internet, street directory
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daphne @ Friday, April 04, 2008 2:00:00 PM but google maps dont give u bus guides.
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FoxTwo @ Friday, April 04, 2008 2:04:00 PM kitty - yeah that's why I said BASIC functions mah. Can see nearby MRTs (which is marked) on Google Maps.
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Yusry @ Friday, April 04, 2008 3:31:00 PM
I love google maps!
Been playing with it on my iPod Touch. Actually, I've always thought that streetdirectory.com is affiliated with the street directory book? Or maybe I'm wrong... Hmmm... -
WishBoNe @ Friday, April 04, 2008 4:13:00 PM
I use Can It shows you where the bus stops are. Although not the bus guides.
Double work but I realise it works better on IE. Darn it. -
joshua @ Friday, April 04, 2008 5:46:00 PM
I found this sometime ago, using it for driving directions. http://www.eRoutePlanner.com. It uses Google Map API, and is a simplified version of the official Google Map.
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FoxTwo @ Saturday, April 05, 2008 2:10:00 AM
Yusri - yeah man I have it on my phone and I use it to get a general idea of how to get to where I needed to go if I'm moving around. I don't think the print version of the street directory is affiliated cuz if you install the digital version from the CD it doesn't say anything about Virtual Maps, which is the company being sued.
Wishbone - on the phone, there's no IE or Firefox. At best, only have Opera, and Can.com.sg loads up as a blank page. Darn it!
joshua - ahhh new URL ... I'll update the entry to include your URL too. -
uzyn @ Saturday, April 05, 2008 6:44:00 PM
http://www.erouteplanner.com/ is lame. It's using Google API to do exactly what Google Map does (click on Get Directions) without adding any extra value.
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MsSheepy @ Saturday, April 05, 2008 10:02:00 PM
i am also very dependent on streetdirectory.com, now i feel so lost without it.... :(
