Recently Google announced the enhancement of Google Maps Australia by enabling business search and what they describe as "driving directions".
In a move I find surprising, the map data they are using is terrible inaccurate, to the point that it is useless, as no sane person would (should) rely on it.
In a simple task of navigating a few suburbs, (North Epping to Pennant Hills in Sydney's North West) Google Maps Australia selected a route that included a large shortcut that saves kilometres of travel by suggesting that you navigate several hundred metres through bushland followed by no less than two non-through roads, all in less than 10km.
The accurate shortest route is this one
Google Maps Australia has this disclaimer:
These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, or other events may cause road conditions to differ from the map results.
How about reality may differ from map results?
All this is a shame as their Google Maps for Mobile is otherwise a killer mobile app. (By the way where is Google Talk for Mobile?)