Google Maps Lookup by Longitude & Latitude Now Requires LOC Prefix

Jun 24, 2009 - 8:28 am 1 by
Filed Under Misc Google

According to at least two Google Maps Help Threads, Google Maps changed how they handle looking up a specific location by longitude and latitude.

Supposedly, in the past, entering in the longitude followed by a comma and followed by the latitude, it would return the location on Google Maps. Now, it shouldn't work - but honestly, it currently does for me (maybe, I am on a different data center). The way to get it to work, is to prefix the longitude and latitude with loc: (for example, enter in loc:37.425866,-122.085743).

This works for me on both my iPhone and Safari browser, so maybe it is Blackberry specific? I am not sure.

Google's Tom from the Google Mobile Maps team said:

I've checked with a few teammates, and they've informed me that we've made slight adjustments to our search algorithm: In order to pinpoint a location on a map, please use the prefix "loc:" in the search bar before entering in the lat/long. For example, the search "loc:37.425866,-122.085743" will drop a pin directly on the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA, USA.

Again, this seems to be Google Maps Mobile specific, but maybe not iPhone or Android specific?

Forum discussion at Google Maps Help Threads.

 

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