New Multimap website

The new Multimap website has gone live! (click on the link on the top left on the current site). IMHO I think this will really move the mapping arena to the next level. I really like the way information is presented to the users in the relevant way, with Points of Interests, ability to store your history and favourites, the useful A4 print friendly pages and some of the old functions that was available of the old site, i.e. booking of hotels, are really useful! The inclusion of eBay is probably another first for a mapping site (disregarding the mashups that uses google maps and eBay API), on top of the hybrid function which Multimap had for years before the rest of the mapping sites decided to do something similar. It might start a new trend of users who want to save shipping costs and use the maps to see where are the nearest items. Users can even select different types of maps by hovering their mouse over the map button (Although I think that's abit of an Easter egg!). The availability of weather, local information on each pan is a real nice feature as well.

Another key feature which is not obvious to the user is the convergence of web and mobile mapping! By indicating your mobile phone number when registering (really works only in UK atm), you will be able to do the same location searches on your mobile phone as well, and even the ability to retrieve what the user has stored as their Histories and Favourites from the web. If you are lost, you can just text a simple message and find out where you are! Extremely useful for those late night outs! I actually find it really useful if you are in need of trying to find a place, which is exactly what happened to me over the weekend I had when I pulled in a map of the flat that I was viewing by texting "mymm [postcode]" and it returns me the exact map that I would be seeing on the web, minus the screen size - which was not that bad on my N73.

I am extremely excited how the new site will be received by the users and look forward to the feedback.

BTW - It even works fantastic in Singapore - see attachment, and not displaying some closest relevant search results like what Google does if they do not find something.

Pics from Croatia trip

Visited Croatia over the Easter weekend, in specific the Dalmatia coast. Arrived at Split airport and rented a simple B&B along the small Postrana town. Rented a car and drove all the way down to Dubrovnik, Makarska, Ston, Trogir and even took a ferry to the island of Brac for a day trip. The driving was pretty fun as the roads were extremely narrow and along the edge, and that makes you have to be 101% concentrated at any point in time. Interesting bit was that we actually have to cross through Bosnia on the journey to Dubrovnik.

Food was kinda boring after the 2nd day as it was constantly pasta, pizza or seafood. Although some of them are quite nice except for the last dinner we had in the Diocletian Palace ruins. Ordered a fish stew and after 1 hour, the plate came out to be more of a steam fish rather than anything close to a stew.

Enjoy the pics

Wii boxing tournament

Family and friends will be keen to watch the following 2 videos from a Wii "boxing tournament" over the weekend. Take extra note how much my gf wanted to knock me out in the first video.