Your real-world discovery genie

You've never seen Maps like this  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Babbel log]()​ Time for a quick bit of brutal honesty: Lately, I've been slightly obsessed with maps. It's not a wistful nerd fixation, either — I promise. (Though I certainly do have my fair share of those!) Nope: This obsession is all about practical benefit and some splendid ways our modern mapping technology can help us. We [talked about little-known map-centric tricks]() in the Android Intelligence newsletter​ last week and again on Monday, when we reviewed [a reader-submitted tip](=) about an off-the-beaten-path system for advanced location sharing. But today, I want to go broader yet and show you a really cool tool I stumbled onto that takes some of the best bits of Google Maps and remixes 'em into an even more useful form. It's a resource you'll almost certainly appreciate, no matter what kind of phone or computer you prefer or how much you're obsessing over maps at the moment. And it couldn't be much easier to use. [JR Raphael, Author of Android Intelligence] JR Raphael​ Author of [Android Intelligence]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- Google Maps, reimagined For a quick bit of context, the timing of this tool's appearance on my metaphorical radar was almost uncanny. After all the aforementioned Maps chat as of late, I was just in the midst of a chat with one of our [Intelligence Insiders]( about how helpful of a discovery tool Google Maps has become. The Insider, Ken, pointed out to me how he now turns to Google Maps instead of regular search when he's looking for a restaurant or another place of interest — because within Maps, whether you're gazing uponst it from a phone or a computer, you can see all sorts of pertinent info about virtually any place, anywhere. And the info is actually succinct and reliable. It includes basics like the business's hours of operation, busiest days and times, and even a menu (when relevant). But most helpful are the reviews. And that's where today's Cool Tool comes into play. ➜ It's a purely web-based resource called, rather fittingly, [Top-Rated.online]() — or just Top Rated for short. ⌚ It'll take you all of seven seconds to start using, though fair warning: You will likely spend many more moments exploring it over time. The concept behind the site is simple: You plug in the name of any city, anywhere, and Top Rated then pulls in, processes, and organizes publicly available Maps data around the most favorably reviewed places in that locale. It then presents all that info in a way that's easy and even enjoyable to ingest. Here, for example, is what comes up when I search for the best places in Kansas City: [A screenshot showing the best-ranked businesses in Kansas City] ​ As you can see, it's a bit of a mishmash to start — with a mix of every possible public place thrown in and jumbled together. Where Top Rated really gets useful is when you use the category options to drill down into more specific terrain, like restaurants within your selected area. [A screenshot showing the best-ranked restaurants in Kansas City] ​ From there, you can get even more specific and pick a particular type of restaurant (or a more specific subcategory within any other designation). And when you click or tap on any individual place in the results, you'll see a handy summarization screen that shows you key info about the establishment along with an AI-aided overview of the business's key details and review trends over time. [A screenshot showing details and review trends around a specific KC business] ​ Top Rated has all sorts of options for refining your searches and focusing on factors like overall ratings, hidden gems, or even recent discoveries for any given area. It really takes all the best parts of the Google Maps discovery process and reimagines 'em to create an even more effective and enjoyable experience. And no matter where you are, it's well worth hanging onto and keeping in your virtual toolkit for the next time you need to find somewhere new. 📌 Top Rated is completely web-based and [available to use in any browser, on any device](). 💰 The site is free and ad-supported. 🕶 It doesn't require any sign-ins or the sharing of any sort of personal info. Now, while we're thinking about top-notch tools for smarter real-world exploring... ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE Ditch the tourist talk and master the local lingo 🗣️ [Bugs Bunny running to a plane with suitcases.]()​ Whether you’ve been planning a big trip for years or just decided at the last minute to catch a flight to The Exotic Destination Of Your Dreams™, [Babbel]() can help you ditch the phrasebook and engage in real conversations with locals. And readers of The Intelligence newsletters can [get started for 55% off]()! Here is how you can learn a new language in just three weeks with Babbel: ⏲️ Short, effective lessons — just 10 minutes a day — seamlessly fit into your schedule 😌 No stressful grammar drills 🗨️ Focuses on practical phrases you'll actually use, like ordering food, asking directions, and navigating local customs ➜ [Break the language barrier and explore the world confidently with 55% off Babbel.]()​ [TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL ➜]() ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz Which of the following Google Maps facts is not, in fact, correct? Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [The first version was created in 2003](=) [It was originally designed as a downloadable computer program](=) [It was created by two Danish brothers and acquired by Google](=) [It was created by Larry Page himself](=) Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which feature did Amazon’s first-generation Kindle ereader not have when it launched in 2007? A color screen. Amazon’s first-generation Kindle had a black-and-white E Ink screen. It did, however, have a full physical keyboard for typing, an SD card slot, and free cellular data so you could buy and download ebooks from anywhere. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up](=) [Thumbs Down]( Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? 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