TMW Ideas

So, Google have lauched Google Maps, with a Map function (groovy). And Microsft Live is looking good, particularly their ariel photography of major cities.

Here are two exaples of them in action - first, BMW's new “Lifestyle” (sigh) portal for the 1 Series - 1off They used Google maps as their weapon of choice, and very nice it looks as well. I wrote a review of Bodega's and it made it very easy to put on the map - I just had to enter the postcode.

Second up, Visa's “Love every day” promo (www.loveeveryday.com. sigh..I'll come back to that) uses Microsoft Live to invite people to post up their “Daily Discoveries”. You have to use a push pin to mark the location on the map, but apart from being mind-numbingly slow it's fairly easy.

The thing I can't get my head round is why anyone in their right mind would
a. Post a load of Club/Bar reviews to either of these sites
b. Ever, ever use these as reference, when their are a host of organisations whose job it is to list all bars/clubs in London, and rate them.

(BTW, the loveeveryday.com thing - why not just have it as the main thing on Visa.co.uk? Admittedly, there is a prominent link, but this does lead to the strange case of having Visa say “Discover how we can help you Love Every Day”, followed by “Chip Cards and New Solutions” and “Card Safety and Budgeting”. Love every day through careful budgeting! I do like the old fashioned clock at the top though.)