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
16:48 by FoxTwo
Lost? Let Google Maps Help You!
Some years back, I was just thinking to myself, how nice it'd be to be able to carry a Street Directory in my Palm (back then a Palm 3e, upgraded to a Palm Zire 71, then now a Palm Tx). At the time, street directories were still print-media only. It wasn't until about 2005 or so that they started coming with CDs with digital versions of the maps.
At the time, I remember that I'd happily install the digital maps, run a conversion software and made them into PalmOS versions, and then copy them over to my Palm. It was SOOOOooOooO handy!
Now, Google Maps has appeared! Now, we get REAL-TIME updates (needs an internet connection)!
Yeah there's a Palm version available too, but I don't see how useful that would be on a non-smartphone Palm device like a TX. Basically you load up the software, it'll query Google for your maps. For a non-smartphone Palm device to do that, you need an alternate internet connection. However you can still jury-rig up a connection with your mobile phone with the Palm TX if you know how (I'll probably update this in my Palm section of this website). Otherwise, for those with a TX, you need to look for a wi-fi spot to use the maps.
However, Google also offers the same software for other platforms too, and I proved it by downloading it onto my Sony Ericsson K810i phone. It runs without a hitch and it's pretty dang fast. Word of warning though - any internet connection via GPRS or WAP is going to cost you data charges. If you do not have a data plan with your phone service provider, you will be running up the bills quite fast.
So, if you do have a data plan, go ahead and download it here. The PalmOS version is here.
Labels: Google, Google Maps, maps, real-time, street directory
