Google Unfolds New Look For Maps

Some little tweaks at Google Maps uncluttered the interface and added larger maps to the service.

The key to local search includes delivering the best results in a way people can use them best. Major Internet companies like Google and others quickly realized local search and mapping technology belonged together.

Google Local became part of Google Maps, which recently picked up some changes aimed at making its presentation more streamlined. The Google Lat-Long blog noted the changes recently.

The tabs that used to be present below the search box, offering options to look for locations, businesses, or directions, have been retired. The search box works as it always has; doing a query for directions from A to B returns those as Google Maps always does.

Google also made the maps a little bigger. And through the persistent wonder of Ajax technology, a single click on an arrow at the top left of a map widens its view across the screen. Another click returns the map to its usual size.

The removal of the tabs under the search box may look counter-intuitive, but Google measures details like clicks on those tabs closely. We doubt Google would remove them if they received heavy use, but since people tend to start typing when they see a search box, it’s likely those tabs didn’t pick up a large percentage of clicks.