I’ve always used Google Maps and love it, so I’ve never really looked for any other map applications. I just discovered last week what I was missing when I stumbled upon Bing Maps. Functionally it seems pretty similar to Google Maps, but the one feature that makes it stand out — and useful — for me is the Bird’s Eye View, which gives you a photo of the area from above at an angle, so you’re not just looking at the top of buildings but instead can see the whole structure. You can also rotate and see the same area from a different direction. I’ve been amazed at how detailed these images are.

Don’t worry, Google. I’m still a loyal user of Google Maps and have no plans to switch, but I do find the Bird’s Eye View in Bing Maps very helpful in gaining a better sense of what’s in a particular area, and that’s where its usefulness for me comes in. We’ve been planning a trip to England, and so I’ve been conducting reconnaissance of the locations that we’re thinking about staying in through Bing Maps. For instance, Google Maps gives me walking directions from a hotel to an attraction, which is great, but it always comes with the “This route might be missing sidewalks” disclaimer, which of course leaves me wondering if these directions are taking me across a six-lane interstate. With Bing Maps’ Bird’s Eye View, I can actually see enough details to determine whether there are sidewalks along the route, how wide the roads are, etc. It also gives me a better sense of how far a walk it is (whether that 15-minute estimate in the directions actually seems reasonable). Also, if I’m looking for something specific — say, a rental car location — I can actually see what the building looks like, making it easier for me to spot it when I’m actually there looking for it.

Bird’s Eye View of an intersection in Bath, UK.