google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I honestly never used live search, always just used google maps, what are the pros and cons of each?

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I dunno, dont use live search too much either... google maps just seems much more user friendly and easy on the easy... not so much of an eye sore...lol! I also like sprint telenav if your on the sprint network... Im usually not tooo huge of a fan of sprint apps, but their gps is pretty sweet and very user friendly...

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Moved to the Software Forum.

late,
Coz

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I use both. There is really almost no difference. I happen to like the way Live Search presents traffic view, which is crucial for driving in Southern California. The traffic seems to be updated more frequently and is more visible.

Other than that, to my mind they are exactly the same until you get to street view, as Google Maps has it and Live Search does not. I really don't think Street View is all that necessary.

I recommend you try both and see if one pleases you aesthetically more than the other.

Devin

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Oh, one other difference. Live Search allows you to speak a location while Google Maps has no such function. This speak location is good for when you are driving.

Devin

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

one of the cool things I like abt live search is...SPEAK command. eg.. "Radioshack, NY" and BAM.....list of all the stores...click away...1 touch and u can call the store u want..or map it.

Just 1 of the nicer features that I found useful

:)

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Sometimes it seems like Live search has an extra step which annoys me:

1. Lock on GPS.
2. Search near here
3. Do you want to replace "my location" with your current location?

Like, wtf? "my location" is my "current location" of course I want to replace it!

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Yeah, that annoys me too that there's an extra step for Live Search. I use both depending on my needs at the time. Google Maps loads faster, is more pleasing to the eye, and lets you mark favorite locations on the map. Live Search allows has voice recognition, plus options for traffic, movies, weather, gas prices, and business categories all on the main home screen. They both have street view now since Live Search version 4.0. Live Search also has the option to reroute your directions based on your current location when using GPS in case you miss an exit or something similar.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I use both. They aren't even really the same type of software. LiveSearch works primarily as a search tool, and the maps on Google are better than the maps on LiveSearch.

Ultimately, to get around though, I use a combination of Livesearch to find what I am looking for and then TomTom to get there.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I agree with others in here that both are useful for different things...I use Google Maps for actually mapping out routs, and Live for the movies, gas prices, and voice command for locating businesses near me. I wouldn't say one is better than the other in entirety, but they really compliment each other well on a device!!

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

i like how live will reroute for you

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

both.. live search for nav., gas station pricing, restaurants, and services search while on the go. Google maps for it's "street view" feature when I need land marks for pre-arrival nav.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I use both of the above and also amazegps and google Navigator. Google Navigator locks on to sats the fastest. I agree that live search has some strange steps to add your current location to a search. I would like a program that uses my current location and then lets me either find a business from there or give me directions from that spot. Both do it, but take a step or two to do that . I would love basic command that gives a couple of choices that allows one to do that. Btw, amaze works very well for navigation, but takes even more steps to do what you want, but is a fully n/c program

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I use google maps only, iam very happy with it...

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

i've been using the updated version of livesearch for everyting but directions with no problems. and using google maps for directions, like syrguy1969 said. with the livesearch update there's a birds eye view(i guess to compare to street view on google maps). but they both do go excellent with eachother. now if i had to choose one, i wud choose livesearch cuz i can search for businesses easier while driving and stuff. plus the GPS loads WAY faster then the older version. IMO
cant 4get about the additional features in livesearch(categories, maps, traffic, and stuff)

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I stand by my statement that I think they work well together and compliment each other on a device, but if forced to chose (which I think was the object of this thread) I agreee with skeegcpp, Live Search is the one I would chose, and for the same reasons..buisness, movie + gas look-up are very useful additions to a mapping app!!!

(good thing we don't have to chose though......isn't it?)

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

thanks for all the great feeback guys, I am not convinced to give win live search a try. I cant seem to update to the latest version (4.0 right?). When i go to Microsoft website to download it keeps installing the same version (think it was 3.6 or something)

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Other thing to know not mentioned here yet is that Livesearch gives you the distance left before the turn in real time and counts down as you get closer to it. Googlemaps does not. It also gives you a beep before the turn and a chirp as you make the turn.

If they were to only have th directions always facing north on the map it would be perfect, that and 3d mapping.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Here is the latest CAB I got from the site. I installed it and it installed as version 4.0.12158.1, so I think it is the one you need.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

i went to the outer banks this past august, and figured i would see how well livesearch and google maps mapped out my trip. i was coming from ohio, traveling to the outer banks, so it was a good all-day, long distance trip. and, keep in mind- this is from august so the mapping features may have been a bit different as they are now (although i really doubt it).


with livesearch, it gave me the logical route (it was not the "shortest" route, but it was the fastest- as it used bigger highways, and therefore less total roads to travel on). it was basically the exact route that we took.

googlemaps mapped out the shortest route, following along the lines of "the shortest route from point a to point b is a straight line. the problem with googlemap's approach was that it wanted me to take a number of those 2-lane, country roads, which just isnt logical for long distance traveling.

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I like both however use TOMTOM all the time. Live search just gives you better search results for gas stations and all that and Google maps is nice if you have the street view.

just my 2 cents

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

I actually like Live Search better, just has more features

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Really...how cool is it to just push a button and say "PIZZA", and 10+ locations close to yours with phone numbers pop right up. I gotta go with Live Search on this one. It has simplified my life many times.:headbang:

Re: google maps vs. Microsoft live search
 

Definately agree... both need a direction travelling as up... most annoying it cant do that...