Bing takes on Apple, Google with redesigned Maps experience

See more of your trip at once on Bing Maps.

See more of your trip at once on Bing Maps.

If you’ve ever tried to plan a trip using one of the big two digital mapping systems from Apple or Google, you know what a pain it can be to flip back and forth between the different parts of your excursion. A multi-destination walk becomes an exercise in frustration when you add in searching for food, entertainment, and the like in one app.

Microsoft’s Bing has got your back with a redesign of its own navigation system, Bing Maps. This new upgrade will let you search for directions, find locations you need, and offer access to sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp, all on the map itself.

“We heard that people want one experience that brings together the best content in one view, that fully reflects what they are planning, not just their last search,” writes the Bing team on their blog. “Users want a map experience that is fast and easy to use, and makes the most of the visually rich data that maps can bring to life.”

As you can see in that video above, color coding and an integrated user interface may have you reaching for Bing Maps more often than the other two, especially if you need to search for several different location types in planning a trip.

Bing has improved search and directions features, too, with enhanced features like predictive traffic routing that takes into account what time and day you plan on traveling. Along the Route lets you know where hotels, restaurants and gas stations are located on your way, and the split-screen view lets you see street views without leaving the map itself.

All of your searches are saved, so returning to what you were looking up before is a snap. You can also share your travel plans easily using Bing Maps, which can be a benefit to groups that want to travel together without having to caravan.

Bing Maps is an opt-in service, so you’ll have to navigate to https://www.bing.com/mapspreview on your computer or smartphone to get the full experience. The team is looking for your feedback, too, so be sure to hit them up with the button in Maps, at Bing Listens, or tweeting them at @bingmaps.