Microsoft adding features to Live Search Maps

Microsoft is rolling out a few changes to its Live Search Maps services in the coming weeks. It looks like the new page will offer a bunch of new features making it easier to find and print driving directions. Here are a few of the highlights:

• A new display mode will let you compress the first few or last few directions. If you're tired of wasting paper by printing out the 5 step directions for getting out of your driveway, this feature could make your day (and prolong your printer's days).
• The two-box search bar at the top of the page will be transformed into a single search box with multiple tabs.
• There's a new option to select the best route to avoid current traffic.
  
• A new 1-click directions feature will let you search for a location and then get directions to that location from the North, South, East, or West.

It's interesting to note that while Google Maps lets you know how long your trip might take in traffic, and lets you reroute your trip any way you'd like, Live Search Maps might be one-upping Google by giving you something more useful: directions that will actually help you avoid traffic. In theory, anyway. We'll see how well this feature works once Microsoft launches the new Live Search Maps.

Tags: google-maps, live-search, live-search-maps, maps