I disagree. It's so low contrast, it's hard to see anything. Plus it plain lacks detail. Compare the same view of Manhattan: http://i.imgur.com/2uR67.png http

I disagree. It's so low contrast, it's hard to see anything. Plus it plain lacks detail. Compare the same view of Manhattan: http://i.imgur.com/2uR67.png http://i.imgur.com/2uR67.png http://i.imgur.com/m4tXF.png http://i.imgur.com/m4tXF.png Google's result is actually useful in many ways. It shows street direction, subway stops (very important!), some points of interest. The font's are easily readable. The names of the streets are abbreviated, no need to have the words "street", "east", "west" all over your map.