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Google Maps Hacks

simonweckert.com

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Re: Google Maps Hacks

#221

Post by RileyJames »

AlexandrB wrote: post #115

Navigation apps have mostly settled into a comfortable state of "good enough" mediocrity. In addition to the "red but no traffic" problems highlighted by others I find turn by turn directions are incredibly annoying while driving in areas I'm intimately familiar with and there's no way to say "I know what I'm doing when I'm in this area" or "pause giving me voice directions for 10 minutes". Additionally: * I can't co…

Or, I know there is a faster way, but I want to go via this road.

The number of times I’ve patiently entered multiple points to force a certain route, only to have it ‘optimise’ it for me, on route, without a clear notification, is incredibly frustrating.

It’s not always about the destination, sometimes it’s about the journey. And no, I don’t care that it’s 7 minutes slower!!

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#222

Post by coldpie »

ryanmcdonough wrote: post #119
dangerlibrary wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife and I regularly talk about how "Thanks Google, I'll take it from here" is the best Maps features that doesn't exist.

You mean pressing “end route” ?

Sure, but I'm driving. It'd be nice if it was configurable or automatic, is the point.

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#223

Post by ryanianian »

capableweb wrote: post #107
ryanianian wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is my common complaint with Waze and most driving apps - they optimize for "least time," not "least anguish". I would almost always prefer to spend an extra 5 minutes on my "normal" route (that I have on auto-pilot) instead of saving that 5 minutes by taking confusingly-named side-streets with lots of left turns onto other busy side-streets. I don't know if Apple Maps really gets this any better to be honest.

Sorry for the minor comment but I noticed this part: "side-streets with lots of left turns onto other busy side-streets" Now I live in Europe, presumably you live in the US (sorry if that's wrong). Is there any particular difficulties with doing left turns compared to right turns where you live?

Yes, I'm in the US. Left turns have to cross oncoming traffic so you have to monitor both directions. This is especially stressful if {both roads are busy, there's weather/dark, you don't know the roads}.

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#224

Post by sigmonsays »

RileyJames wrote: post #221
AlexandrB wrote: post #115

Navigation apps have mostly settled into a comfortable state of "good enough" mediocrity. In addition to the "red but no traffic" problems highlighted by others I find turn by turn directions are incredibly annoying while driving in areas I'm intimately familiar with and there's no way to say "I know what I'm doing when I'm in this area" or "pause giving me voice directions for 10 minutes". Additionally: * I can't co…

Or, I know there is a faster way, but I want to go via this road. The number of times I’ve patiently entered multiple points to force a certain route, only to have it ‘optimise’ it for me, on route, without a clear notification, is incredibly frustrating. It’s not always about the destination, sometimes it’s about the journey. And no, I don’t care that it’s 7 minutes slower!!

the best is the complicated left turn on a busy intersection to save a 1 minute. Litearlly, the other route is a minute longer. It seems like a clash of computers versus reality. The reasons a route is optimal is still not known to a gps system.

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#225

Post by H8crilA »

This is really no different than spammy SEO in web documents.

One can only imagine the accuracy of virtual Android simulators running fake GPS and Google Maps if there was money to be made on fooling the traffic analysis.

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#226

Post by bootsbootsboots »

AlexandrB wrote: post #115

Navigation apps have mostly settled into a comfortable state of "good enough" mediocrity. In addition to the "red but no traffic" problems highlighted by others I find turn by turn directions are incredibly annoying while driving in areas I'm intimately familiar with and there's no way to say "I know what I'm doing when I'm in this area" or "pause giving me voice directions for 10 minutes". Additionally: * I can't co…

Honestly i'd love a simplest route option, with minimal turns, especially for areas i dont know well. I'm ok if my driving route takes 5 min longer if I dont have to take a left turn on that 4 lane road, or the weird y intersection, or the very quick left turn followed immediately by the right turn that requires getting across 3 lanes of traffic

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#227

Post by mihaaly »

nudgeee wrote: post #14

I used to work for a mapping & navigation company that offered a traffic API service. It worked by using anonymized cell phone data to predict traffic patterns. I once heard a story that during peak hour, every five minutes or so the jams on a highway would magically disappear then reappear. After some head scratching, turns out there is a train track inbetween the lanes of the highway full of high speed commuters th…

Very good story for promoting mass transit! :)

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#228

Post by ssss11 »

AlexandrB wrote: post #115

Navigation apps have mostly settled into a comfortable state of "good enough" mediocrity. In addition to the "red but no traffic" problems highlighted by others I find turn by turn directions are incredibly annoying while driving in areas I'm intimately familiar with and there's no way to say "I know what I'm doing when I'm in this area" or "pause giving me voice directions for 10 minutes". Additionally: * I can't co…

The left turn (or in my case in Australia, right turn) problem is huge and my biggest issue with google maps (and I expect the others are the same but I don’t use any others).

I don’t want to take a backstreet only to pop out at the freeway where I need to turn over 6 lanes with no lights....

I feel it’s getting worse, it’s like google maps is trying to get trickier about where it sends you but the outcome for me seems to be getting worse.

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#229

Post by jtsiskin »

beefield wrote: post #120
copperx wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit naive to think that Google doesn't have a filtering rule that says "only consider real phones with a true GPS signal".

This may be a bit naive question, but how does Google know that the virtual phone is not a real phone and the signal is not true? In a way that is not spoofable?

They can likely consider only 1 device per IP address. Unless the region is blanketed in strong public WiFi

Re: Google Maps Hacks

#230

Post by wizofaus »

speedgoose wrote: post #30

I wonder whether Google Maps takes into account the various ways of transportation, such as bicycles, public transports, or electric cars driving on the bus lines.

Indeed, I wonder exactly why Google maps thought all these smartphones were in a car at all. Can only assume they were all configured to be following driving directions.
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