Android News
Google’s Places Directory app finds local businesses
June 3, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka
Android Apps, Free apps
John’s in a new city and is both hungry and bored. Sure, he could check the Yellowpages or find out what his hotel’s front desk recommends, but maybe he wants to know where the locals go to find a good meal and something to do on the weekend. John then fires up Google Places Directory to find some food and fun.
The name Places Directory is a point-blank description of what functions it performs. The app organizes locations into categories that can be browsed or searched. A business that sparks someone’s interest can then be called, brought up in Google Maps to get directions, or added to personal favorites.
The app currently supports US English and Chinese results in the following categories:
- Attractions
- Restaurants
- Banks
- ATM’s
- Movie Theaters
- Hotels
- Bars
- Coffee
- Gas Stations
- Hotels
- Medical services
- Parking
- Shopping
- Taxi services
If you aren’t a fan of Places, you may want to consider similar apps like Where, which searches for some of the location types in Places. Restaurant Guide (BooRah) and the Yellowpages suite of apps — Yp.com Mobile Local Search, Have2Eat, Have2Drink, and Have2Snack — may also be somewhat of an alternative .
No weather? That's one of the things I like about Where. How do you rate it, compared to Where?
It's a little early to say because I've used Where for weeks and Places for only a day. I like it though. It lists Cafes/Coffee places besides Starbucks and separates Bars from Restaurants. One thing I don't like is that it lists gas station locations/numbers but not their prices like Where does. I have to use it a little more before I can decide if I'll replace Where.
I find the gas prices on Where pretty unreliable, and inconsistent. The stations that it lists frequently change, even though my location hasn't, and the prices are sometimes several days old. I almost always buy my gas at the same station because experience has taught me their gas is the best quality and price in town. I have a feeling that information is hard to come by, and I'm surprised there isn't a feature in Where to report the prices you are seeing at the pump, and/or add a "favorite" station.