China Unveils State-Run Online Mapping Site
China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) today unveiled a state-sanctioned and produced online world map, called simply “Map World” that an official predicted will, “In the near future, Map World will grow to be a famous Chinese brand for online map services with proven reliability.”
Comparing the satellite imagery between Map World, Google Maps and Bing, China’s new mapping site doesn’t allow you to zoom-in as close, but has much clearer imagery:
Map World:
Google Maps:
Bing:
Google Puts Brand Logos Into Maps
The idea, Google says, is to help users find familiar brands and help businesses promote themselves. “By helping users identify popular businesses, we’re making it easier to browse the map and navigate the real world.” It’s available in the US on desktop browsers from today, with mobile phones following soon.
I love having more detailed branding as long as it doesn’t intrude the search process. But I imagine Maps will eventually have space for customizable AdSense subscriptions within the maps themselves. (Do they already?)
Microsoft Street Slide.
