Bing Maps: New User Interface Now Available
Throughout the course of our SEO blog, we have been keen on sharing updates about improvements on Google Maps. Unbeknownst to many, other search engines have been perfecting their own version of this online navigational tool. One case in point is Bing Maps, which has recently undergone changes to its user interface. According to Dan Polivy, Senior Manager for this product, “We’ve consolidated actions that were previously scattered throughout the page, and concentrated them along the top, where you expect to find them. We’ve included text labels for most of the buttons. And, most importantly, we’ve focused on making the controls accessible while still allowing the map to be the focus of the page.” To get a better feel of the changes that were made, take a look at the screen shots below.
Figure 1. This Bing screen shot shows the old user interface. As you can see, the icons can still be found on the bottom left portion.
Figure 2. This new and improved Bing Maps offers a more streamlined look with the bottom icons now arranged into neat tabs at the upper portion of the page.
In addition, Bing has also improved the current access that users have to their unique Maps imagery types. Finally, if you have a browser that can support W3C Geolocation API, you will be able to find nifty little button on the left that, when clicked, will be able to centre the map on your current location. Expect results with amazing accuracy, complete with a pin and approximate radius. For more information, click this link http://www.bing.com/community/site_blogs/b/maps/archive/2011/07/11/a-new-user-interface-for-bing-maps.aspx
