Map24 may not
have the prestige or tools
available to it of the larger
map applications on the net,
however it still manages to
offer a unique experience and
implements certain new, fresh
features that make it an
intriguing offering. Namely,
Map24 offers Java-based
interactive maps that offers
some sleek results. While some
map applications can be tedious
and hard to load, Map24’s maps
load quickly and the zoom
features load seamlessly and
effortlessly upon clicking them.
The toolbar is to the point and
not filled with useless
features. The toolbar in Map24
includes options for navigating
to the map's origin point, a
brief zoom out for orienting
oneself, a pan vs. centering
mode, basic zoom in and zoom out
options, and a maximizing of the
map to fill your entire screen
(making the map much easier to
see).
Also, the map is full of useful map
points marking different locations. These map points are
part of a nice process that allows the user to click any
two points on the map and view the travel distance
between those two points. This interactivity makes
Map24, at the very least, a solid map application.
The print options are a fairly
unique aspect of Map24. When printing, one can simply
print out the basic map or route with the bare minimum
of roads and landmarks listed. However, the user can
also specify to include other landmarks and to include
the turns on the map itself to easily show the driver
which way they have to turn. On top of these useful
printing options, Map24 also offers plenty of “Less,”
“More,” and “Don’t Use,” options involving toll roads,
ferries, highways, etc. In addition to this, the user
can also specify driving speeds if they want to
manipulate them away from the default. All of this can
lead to very customized and precise estimate travel
times.
While filling out all of these
extra options can take time, they can definitely be very
useful and contribute to the value of Map24. On the
whole, it doesn’t contain as much quality or precision
as some other tools, however it offers good
customization and interaction which make it a good map
tool to use.
