Gizmodo
Microsoft's Windows Live Search for Mobiles just went live last night, and we took it for a spin, comparing it to Google Maps for Mobile, which has traffic, maps local business searches and directions as well.
Windows Live Search runs on both J2ME (Java) phones and on Windows Mobile phones, whereas Google Maps only works on J2ME phones.
So which is better? Without a doubt, Microsoft's was the winner.
This matchup could have been a bit uneven. We were running WLS on a Windows Mobile phone, seeing as the Windows Live Search had a "native-app" feel, because it was a native app. Google Maps on Java ran like Java always does. Painfully.
In terms of maps, both apps gave you streets as well as "aerial" view, which is a satellite combined with street names. However, WLS's looked smoother, scrolled faster, and zoomed in and out much better. Google's (above) was, well, sluggish.
Traffic was nicely painted green, red, or yellow, and looked clear even on aerial view. You're going to want to use regular map view unless you really like trying to find your own house.
A nice touch with WLS was the turn by turn driving directions, which are usable if you're a passenger, but probably tricky to finagle if you're the driver. Google Maps also has driving directions, but on the whole, the buggy Java implementation renders it too iffy to use while driving.
Local Business Search in WLS also provided interesting results, with two hits when we searched for ballroom dancing in SF. Google does have a Find Business option, but would just hang the app half the time. When it did come with a ballroom dancing result, the results were presented one at a time instead of on a list, which then in turn would sometimes hang the app. Every time it hangs, a full reboot is in order. We blame Java.
If you're using a Windows Mobile phone, we'd definitely recommend you try out Windows Live Search. The Java-based Google Maps is just too buggy and slow, not to mention clunky, to be useful to us.
Update: Google Maps does have local business and directions. We updated the comparison to reflect that. Thanks to rg and insomnic for pointing out our oversight.
Product Page [Windows Live Search (Visit on your phone)]
Google Maps Mobile [Google]
Comments
The Ir
Google maps is tha best! True dat! DOUBLE-TRUE!
Actually, in this case... no.
Oh the Irony.... A Windows application on a Blackberry!
....It wasn't much of a comparison, since WLS does local business searches and driving directions in addition to just maps and traffic....
So does Google Maps Mobile. I've been using it on my Blackberry for months...
Plus, Google Maps Mobile is not painful on my blackberry, perhaps your talking about it being painful on a Windows Mobile phone, which is to be expected as the entire OS is a bit clunky to begin with.
Google Maps Mobile doesn't do local business searches?
You better look at your menu again... (or update your Google maps app).
i think WLM are kind better, especially with the 3D view, when you look on the desktop.
How does Windows Live compare with Maps4pda (www.maps4pda.com) - I have it installed and it pretty much works perfect. I can have maps from 4 providers, including traffic details. And its all free and works seemlessly with my Bluetooth GPS unit from BuyGPSnow.com (the model is the tiny Holux 240 for all who are interested). I'm all up for an improvement though, so I'll try it in a few days and post back here with my own results.
The only ballroom dancing Windows Live could find in SF was in two Sacramento Suburbs?
Google maps too does (turn by turn) driving direction and local business search. What are you smoking?
You didn't do a very thorough test of Google Maps there. The version I use on my Treo 600 does local business searches and directions! Kind of makes this whole comparison a bust. Try it again man!
This is hot. Just installed it on my Cingular 8125... runs great. Highly recommended.
I'm confused.
Google Maps Mobile has traffic and business search. Why do you say it doesn't? I've been using it all week on a business trip to find restaurants, grocery stores, and retail stores by name and by type.
I meant directions... not traffic. Sorry.
I'm with rg... do the review again.
The J2ME version of this blows syphilitic goats when loaded on my BlackBerry 8100. I'm sticking with Google Maps which does everything you guys seem to say it doesn't. Confused? Absolutely.
The Bastard
Thanks guys. Just updated it with new Goog maps info!
OK, so...oops, Google maps does do the same stuff. So two minutes later you "update" the review...with the same results. This is so "my dad can beat up your dad"!
This...kicks...ASS!
Wow, I am seriously impressed. On wifi on the MDA, it's blazing fast. Awesome.
OMG this thing is horrible on a BlackBerry. Google Maps Mobile does so much more for those of us with BB devices. The J2ME seems to only support phones with an interface similar to a SmartPhone. If you aren't on Windows Mobile, I would save yourself the download and get GMM instead.
I got an 8525 last week and the first thing I did was install google maps... and the first things that happened was what was mentioned above... hannnnnng. (Though I did find killing the app was enough, and a rull reboot of the phone wasn't needed)
Windows live on the other hand kicks some serious ass.
Although I don't have a bluetooth GPS device yet, it supports it and I can't wait to try it out. It has an interesting feature where it uses Wi-Fi to determine your location rather than GPS... the one time I tried it, it failed pretty miserably and told me I was in New Jersey.
Oh, and for those looking for apps like this I'd suggest checking out Maps24. It's a directions/mapping program with some cool psuedo GPS features like 3D perspective and simultaneous directions and maps that rotate to represent your orrientation.
RG already mentioned it, but the Treo version is really a PalmOS native application. So a more apple-ish to apple-ish comparison would be WLS on a Treo 700w and GMaps on a Treo 700p...
Wow, this works great on my WM5 phone. (non-java version) I have been using map4pda which let's you choose your provider. Google, Live, Ask, etc. It also works well with BT GPS, as does this new WLS.
WLS does seem faster though with scrolling, zoom & updating the map.
As previously mentioned, the driving directions are cool, but for co-pilot use only.
A comparison of the Java version of WLS with GMM would be really helpful for people who don't have Windows Mobile phones.
I would love to see a comparison of the J2ME version and GMM. I use GMM all the time and I find the driving directions to work like a charm. Maybe it is just the BlackBerry version? Or because it was designed for a regular phone and not a PDA? Not really sure, but I have never had it hang up on me and being able to thumb threw the search results with the push of a button works fine for me when I am looking for a specific location.
I downloaded the J2ME version for my blackberry and it is pretty much garbage. It won't even work since my phone doesn't have okay and cancel buttons. Maybe if I had a shitty phone...
Comparing the two versions that were unfair since there is a version of WLS that is more comparable to GMM and it is garbage. Yeah, Microsoft designed a piece of software that works well with their own OS, big surprise. The Other version is wonky as fuck and guess what, it is way more buggy and laggy then GMM.
Using WLS on my T-Mobile Dash is a revelation - very fast, and very nice with the big screen. I paired my old Dell Bluetooth GPS unit with my Dash and was able to track my position with WLS just like the nav system in my car. Great!
Google maps take forever to load even on 3g but the Windows live search works great even on edge so for the first time ever windows did something good i know everyone is shocked
This review is comparing apples to oranges. You cannot accurately compare a native application (Windows Live Search) to a Java app (Google Maps for Mobile). That you chose to do so, plus the disparaging comments made about the Java app (with no regard to the app itself) indicates a distinct MS bias.
It looks and works fantastic in a T-Mobile Dash with Windows Mobile.
Well, I have attempted to use the WLS on my 8125 (winMo5) with a bluetooth GPS, and the experience was disappointing.
To start, whose idea was it to name the app "Search", when there is already a "Search" app in WinMo5? So, it installs as "Search(1)". Brilliant.
Next, on EDGE at least, the maps cannot scroll fast enough to keep up with 30-40 mph...
The zoom in/zoom out/reposition options don't work well.
As far as nav goes, it cannot recalc based on current position...and you cannot even insert a destination from your Contacts...
Clearly, it is very, very limited.
However, the bright idea would be to link a traditional NAV program to the online Map/POI database...allowing you to download maps on demand based on current location (50/75/100/500 mile radius, for example).
After all, the only problem with existing NAV systems is that the map/POI databases age too quickly.
Leave it to MS to try and write a new app instead of buying/integrating a current one.
What a ridiculous comparison!
Also, for those trying Live on your Blackberry, it clearly says Blackberry devices not currently supported.
Thus far I have been very pleased with this. Especially integration with being able to call the number listed for a business. Granted, I haven't tried the Google rendition, but at this point Live doesn't seem to be lacking anything I want, and it's working well. The alphabetic region-state-cityname look-up is very helpful as well. and I like that it retains locations as well for future use. All around a great application, I say.
I put this on my PPC6700, and it's been working very well. For anyone who's carrier limits J2ME apps, this will be a godsend. I also really like the GPS integration, which works very well when I've got my data connection going.
All in all, they did a lot of things well that Google messed up, especially in the interface and (surprisingly) business search. Try and find more than 9 businesses of one type on Google Maps? Can't do it.
I'm going to be using this from now on, especially wherever I don't have iGuidance running, or need Live traffic data.
I read you posting about Microsoft Live Mobile with a lot of interest.
I just wanted to let you know about Navizon (http://www.navizon.com) which does pretty much the same thing (indicates your position on a map, search things around you etc...) only that it does that even if you don't have a GPS!
It works with a Virtual GPS that uses Wifi and Cellular signal it also has additional features like the buddy tracker where you can see where your friends and family are on a map and the geotags where you can leave spatial annotations on anything on pretty much anything.
Navizon is free for personal use !
Who will win this battle? Google or WLS ? It will come down to the top 4 things (1 being most important)
And it shouldn't matter which phone/PDA brand you're using such as Blackberry, Sprint, Palm, Att, Motorola, etc (It's up to these device makers to compete & make better/compatible tools…the best will win)
4) Which will be Faster/Fastest to load ?
3 Which will be easier to use (google may wins this since they are known for Easy to Use Apps)
2) Obviously - Which apps uses the least battery life ( You can have the best Map, Direction, Search , Etc..But if all that kills your phone/PDA battery life, it's useless. You just cannot use that stuff with a dead phone/PDA)
1) Price baby …don't kind yourselves--Best /Competitives prices--Will win in the end.
I am using Live Search and Google Maps, different from many of the people above, I am testing both in Mexico.
If you are planning to travel to Mexico, you can forget Google Maps, no maps are available, in the other hand Windows Live Search have maps of most mayor cities.
In my IPAQ HW 6945 both programs run fairly smooth and the GPS works well with both.
Thanks Microsoft and Navteq for remembering the south of the north american continent.
Could someone post a link that better compares apples to apples? Running Microsoft and Google's java apps on the same handset?
Also, as a point of correction, an increasing number of microsoft phones have a JVM included, (finally), like the Blackjack.
I tried WLS Mobile to search "Somerset, NJ 08873" and clicked on Find and seconds later it located 'Somerset, Kentucky, United States' as the only location it found. When I tried to locate a movie theater 'AMC Lowes New Brunswick 18' on Route 1 and tried to map it with Menu->Map All it showed some location near 514/27 and S 1st Ave. I don't see the speed difference that is talked about and I'll stick to Google maps for accuracy.
satellite imagery on WLS is really low on small UK villages and is no better on other countries. I had a look at some places I lived in Brazil (Brasnorte it couldn't find at all, and Carauari it was about the same as Google), and wasn't impressed. I'll stick with Google, where I can see the pond in my brother's garden in remote Essex, and the pool on my friend's block in Recife, as well as the beaches on the Jurua River...
WLS is better than google maps for me, because it works and google maps doesn't. I personally would prefer it the other way around, but fact is the google map software couldnt even locate my gps on my PDA while the WLS picked it up right away. Pharos Traveler 535 by the way, if you havent seen this thing YOU NEED TO GO LOOK AT IT (website sucks but device is awesome). Cant understand all these people buying car gps for 400-500+ to get traffic etc when a Windows CE PDA w/ built in GPS gives you msoffice/IE/this service (which is amazing)/mp3 player/etc etc etc. Crazy.....
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