Today, you can simply type the name of a destination and instantly get a map with turn-by-turn directions to get there. These advancements predated the smartphone, thanks to a service called MapQuest.
What Ever Happened to MapQuest?
- Thread starter Amir Shoam
- Start date
yRaz
Posts: 6,638 +9,975
Oh, man, that period in internet history was a dumpster fire but it was beautiful at the same time. Noone had figured out the best way to do things yet and wacky 90's styles were on every website everywhere.
I feel like the crazy "the internet is a new a wonderful place" journey ended around 2005 and it just became a ubiquitous service in 2008-2010.
I remember my parents teaching me how to use the road map in the car. I also remember my dad printing out mapquest directions when they came out, it felt like sci-fi tech at the time.
I feel like the crazy "the internet is a new a wonderful place" journey ended around 2005 and it just became a ubiquitous service in 2008-2010.
I remember my parents teaching me how to use the road map in the car. I also remember my dad printing out mapquest directions when they came out, it felt like sci-fi tech at the time.
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That's right! MapQuest was a real trailblazer in the online map world. Back before smartphones, it was a go-to resource for navigating unfamiliar places.
It seems like MapQuest might not be as popular these days, though. Smartphones and apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps offer a lot more convenience and features, like live traffic updates and even street view. Those features, along with being free and pre-installed on most phones, probably contributed to MapQuest's decline.
It seems like MapQuest might not be as popular these days, though. Smartphones and apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps offer a lot more convenience and features, like live traffic updates and even street view. Those features, along with being free and pre-installed on most phones, probably contributed to MapQuest's decline.
p51d007
Posts: 4,066 +4,011
Used mapquest once in 1999 to travel to Grapevine Texas. Since I was by myself, it was a pain either having to memorize a few locations, then pull over and memorize a few more.
Boy, traveling by car these days is so much easier.
I remember back in the 60's having that paper map in the car on traveling with my parents. One of the first things my dad would do when starting off would be to make sure the gas tank was full and the paper map was tucked in the glove box.
Boy, traveling by car these days is so much easier.
I remember back in the 60's having that paper map in the car on traveling with my parents. One of the first things my dad would do when starting off would be to make sure the gas tank was full and the paper map was tucked in the glove box.
As far as I know, MapQuest is still the only service that offers OPTIMIZED multi-destination routing.
If you type multiple destinations for one trip into Google Maps, it will simply bounce you back and forth across town in the order you entered them. So much for Google's vaunted "technology."
If you type multiple destinations for one trip into Google Maps, it will simply bounce you back and forth across town in the order you entered them. So much for Google's vaunted "technology."
BigMeatyClackers
Posts: 52 +63
Wave of the future dude, 100% digital.
TomSEA
Posts: 3,393 +2,286
That was a great write-up. One of the many early apps that blazed trails (pun intended), but were ultimately lost in the shuffle.
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