Review by P. Scott Pope

While I have been a big fan of Streets and Trips since the 2002 version, this latest release is a disappointment. This is due to accuracy problems and the competitive landscape. Since S&T 2005 was released, the big news in map software is Google’s launch of Google Earth, which includes over twelve (12) terabytes of satellite data. Microsoft has responded with a less robust product, MSN Virtual Earth, which has some connectivity with Streets and Trips 2006.

The latest release of S&T 2006 has the same fast, robust interface as previous versions and some new features such as a night mode (which itself is of dubious value). However, my limited testing has uncovered glaring errors in the map data. Specifically, the NYC subway system depiction has several erroneous or omitted subway stops in Manhattan alone. While this may seem trivial, the NYC subway is the busiest in the United States. Moreover, some of the errors are grossly inaccurate, such as showing a B/Q Subway stop at Lexington and 63rd. Neither line passes within a half mile (quite a long distance in Manhattan) of this location. Other less egregious errors include an omission of a 28th street stop on the ¹⁄₉ train.

There has always been a poor representation of the public transportation system in Streets and Trips, severely limiting its utility for urban users of the software. The Chicago Transportation authority (CTA), for example, has online point-to-point directions that include walking, buses and subway. S&T has no such feature, nor does it even have walking directions that overlook one-way streets. At least there should be plug-ins for different metropolitan areas, if not including built-in overlays of train and subway infrastructure that appear with a simple toggle. Even worse, many of the subway stops that are correctly positioned in Streets and Trips do not show at magnification levels that clearly depict stops that are farther from the viewing center of the map. Such visual anomalies can cause much confusion for users. This problem appears to be worse than in previous versions.

My major complaint with earlier editions of Streets and Trips was that it didn’t integrate with other location-specific data sources, such as Citysearch, Craigslist or metropolitan traffic web sites. Microsoft’s integration with MSN Virtual Earth is a nice start. However, the map quality and features are below that of Google’s offering. Moreover, it uses a less robust web interface, which [the lack of] is the main reason users like Street and Trips in the first place.

Streets and Trips 2006 is still the fastest map software with the smoothest interface. However, Microsoft needs better quality control and bug reporting. Longer-term, Microsoft needs to create an ecosystem around Streets and Trips with various entertainment, travel and transportation data sources included in a real-time format. Otherwise, Google is going to drive it off the market.

Prosn*Speedn*Some interactivity with MSN Virtual Earthn*No advertisementsnnConsn*Lack of integration with third-party datan*No available data for other continentsn*No map or point-of-interest updatesn*Quality control and difficult bug reportingn*No plug-insn*No bookmarksn*Lacking non-driving (cycling, walking) maps and public transit grids