| By Neil Smithline | Article Rating: |
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| December 10, 2007 02:45 AM EST | Reads: |
7,730 |
Neil Smithline's "My Geekdom" blog
It seems that Google Maps are a bit broken right now. In the "Screen Shot 1" you can see that I got two hits for the same store, differing only that one has the word "The" in the name. Excluding abbreviations, their addresses are the same although one has the unit # while the other just the address. One also lists a local number while the other an 800 number.
These are a few minor problems. But the major problem is first that only one of the items is selectable. If you look at the "B" entry you can see that it is a red circle and not a push-pin shape it should be. But even worse, the "B" entry is shown about a dozen blocks away from correctly placed "A" entry. 
Screen Shot 1
Click here for full-screen version
The second picture shows a bigger problem. First, if you look at the listings, you'll notice that "A" and "E" are the same addresses and appear to differ only in the phone number and the exact name ("Walgreens" vs. "Walgreen Drug Store"). A similar problem exists for listings "B" and "F" except that they have the same phone number and address but a name and a different city. You might also notice on the map that "B" and "F" are shown over 10 miles apart. Furthermore "B" is a push-pin on the list and on the map but "F" is a circle on both the list and the map.
Screen Shot 2
Click here for full-screen-version
Perhaps the strangest problem is that in Screen Shot 2 I have selected the "A" entry. You see the familiar pop-up from the red push-pin for "A". But if you look at Screen Shot 3 where I have selected the "E" store with the same address, you'll notice that the "E" push-pin appears directly on top of the "A". So, at any zoom level, only the "A" or "E" can be viewed. 
Screen Shot 3
Click here for full-screen version
I'm sure Google will get this straightened out soon.
This post appeared originally on Neil Smithline's "My Geekdom" blog. Republished here in full with the kind permission of the author, who naturally retains copyright.
Published December 10, 2007 Reads 7,730
Copyright © 2007 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
Syndicated stories and blog feeds, all rights reserved by the author.
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More Stories By Neil Smithline
Neil Smithline's main focus has been in optimizing the software life cycle from a product's initial concept through its retirement. This has included tools that affect development, programming techniques, software patterns, development processes, developer training, internal and external. For the past nine years he has directed these efforts almost exclusively to application security. He was the BEA Security Architect for over eight years. In this position Smithline co-designed the security framework for WebLogic Server that is now incorporated into most BEA products and becoming part of many Oracle products. During his tenure at BEA, he had the opportunity to interact with hundreds of customers; helping them develop their security architecture, processes, and strategies.
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MapChap 12/13/07 02:13:59 AM EST | |||
The release of Google Maps was a "Wizard of OZ"/Technicolor moment for web developers everywhere BUT there is a solid engineering underpinning to AJAX that has nothing to do with special visual effects. |
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DR 12/12/07 05:59:23 PM EST | |||
What the heck does this blog post have to do with AJAX?? The maps themselves are not "broken". The issue is in Google's ability to de-dupe a very large directory of name, address and phone data. This is classic ETL (extraction, transformation, load). Posting a headline re: a widely used service is sure to draw eyeballs. Shame on SYS.CON for planting a very inflammatory, but highly disingenous, article. |
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queZZtion 12/10/07 02:58:33 AM EST | |||
Are google maps available on ALL mobile devices yet? |
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