If all goes well, the beta could be the default look of MapQuest in August, though users can still opt to use the older version. Visitors can see the new version by going to if they don't see it right away.įor New Zealand users, many of the bells and whistles are unavailable but it acts as a perfectly servicable street map. 'It's allowing it to be a place of discovery, rather than just a calculator,' said Dwyer, who likened the new version to a 'digital concierge.' It's meant to be a simpler, more elegant, faster, more intuitive version that offers more information to plan a trip, Dwyer said. Once a route is mapped out, a toolbar at the top of the map allows you to search for shops, parks, gas stations or other spots along the way. Users can reorder their directional points by clicking and dragging on icons to get directions from point A to B to C, or from A to C to B. The beta version makes it easier to ask for directions not just from point A to B, but also points C and D. There's also a single box for typing in searches instead of several.

Instead of scrolling down to see a map, visitors see a map right away on the right side of the screen. In its place is a simple font in shades of green and purple. The beta version scraps MapQuest's red logo in squiggly writing that general manager Christian Dwyer calls 'cheap hotel' font. This week, the Denver-based mapping unit of AOL has started is testing a fresh look with features that some might say make it look a whole lot more like, well, Google Maps.

MapQuest was long the leader among websites giving people online directions, but Google Maps surpassed it in 2008.

Street view map quest