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Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

joemorrison.substack.com

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Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#161

Post by y-c-o-m-b »

larrymyers wrote: post #90

I really want to use Apple Maps full time on my iPhone, just because of how much clutter Google Maps has accumulated on the screen. If anything tells me Google is losing the ability to innovate it's the newly added pill buttons for pre-set searches and branded POIs on the map. I remember when this was added to MapQuest circa 2010, and was the transition from trying to have an excellent mapping experience to just addi…

> how much clutter Google Maps has accumulated on the screen

I have to use Google Maps "Go" (the light-weight version) on my phone because of all the clutter in their mobile version. Granted I have an older phone - Galaxy S7 - but for something that worked just fine on even older devices, I don't think that's a valid excuse for it being nearly unusable on an S7 now. Thankfully Maps Go is pretty quick, but the biggest feature I miss out on with the Go version is offline maps.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#162

Post by dasil003 »

jimktrains2 wrote: post #132
antipaul wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also _want_ to like Apple Maps. But I always need to double check business hours using Google.

I usually check the store's site or call. I've had enough entries on Google be wrong to blindly trusy it either.

Store sites tend to be less reliable than Google. Just last night I was searching one and the website had been out of date for months and yet Google had it right.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#163

Post by julianlam »

notsureaboutpg wrote: post #129
ashtonkem wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s incredibly clear from the outside that Google is an organizational mess that struggles to make product decisions and keep them. From the surprisingly bad UX of a lot of their services, to the random creation and destruction of services and apps. It all reeks of bad political infighting.

Is Google Maps an example of this? I think it's very clearly an app which dominated the market by offering best-in-class service for untenable prices (Maps API used to be free for developers up to an absurd amount) and is adding monetization elements now that it dominates the market. That's every VC's dream isn't it?

Yes, of course, except that the decision-making has shifted towards priorities that do not benefit the customer, though they used to.

I have no interest in seeing where the nearest McDonalds is, unless I search for it. POI markers for places I need to go (via bookings/appointments) are good, but POIs for places I have never been are bad.

For whatever reason I can never see the street name I want to see anymore. Between the excessive labelling, there is simply no space, and Maps decides to prioritise other labels instead of the STREET NAME.

When I am navigating, I really _really_ need to know the street name.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#166

Post by julianlam »

matkoniecz wrote: post #31
akmarinov wrote: post #5

Apple is so far behind outside of the places they prioritize that it'll take decades at this pace to get on Google Maps' current level. It's really useless in places like Eastern Europe, where Apple has no interest in supporting and isn't likely that it'll turn that around any time soon.

In Eastern Europe being eaten by OpenStreetMap is plausible. For example, see random part of Poland: https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/52.1081/21.1167 Main power of Google is live traffic data.

> Main power of Google is live traffic data.

Does Google not rely on Waze for this?

Granted, Google now owns Waze, but they may have an API.....

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#167

Post by Lio »

nikodunk wrote: post #131
larrymyers wrote: post #90

I really want to use Apple Maps full time on my iPhone, just because of how much clutter Google Maps has accumulated on the screen. If anything tells me Google is losing the ability to innovate it's the newly added pill buttons for pre-set searches and branded POIs on the map. I remember when this was added to MapQuest circa 2010, and was the transition from trying to have an excellent mapping experience to just addi…

Since they added biking directions in the city I live, I've managed to switch to Apple Maps full-time! Just recently completed a cross country drive with only Apple maps - works really well. Of course now I've locked myself even further into the Apple's ecosystem, but at least my maps are smooth and minimal for now...

Apple’s approach to cycling directions is second rate IMHO.

It’s only available in certain media city locations. If you stray out of those areas you’re out of luck.

Basically Apple seem more interested in rolling this out as a tick box item for journalists than helping me get to work.

This tells me that Apple is not serious about its Maps app.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#168

Post by mccaller »

captain_price7 wrote: post #24
partingshots wrote: post #2

Anecdotally, a potential counterpoint: https://www.justinobeirne.com/google-maps-moat And the discussion that came with it: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15965653

If you click on the first link, it says "This essay no longer reflects the current state of Google & Apple Maps".

I'd love to see his take on the OP's post and if Google still has a moat in mapping.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#169

Post by sildur »

dschep wrote: post #85
sildur wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, they now have the same detail OSM had five years ago. Who knows, maybe some day they will be on par.

That was my first thought when I just saw "sidewalks" & "crosswalks" too. But AFAIK OSM doesn't have anything remotely like that level of sidewalk shape data. And while stairs on paths are mapped, I don't think outdoor building stairs are mapped.

Here, in OSM, I can see stairs shape, type of pavement, stairs direction, and amount of stairs. Not sure about sidewalks, though. OSM is pretty detailed altogether. It depends on user input, but the tools are there.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#170

Post by oarsinsync »

berdario wrote: post #52
saberience wrote: post #18

I live in London and for commuting around via public transport OR walking I always use Citymapper, which is massively superior than Google Maps for directions. I suspect they are using Googles APIs underneath it all, but their UI is better than Google maps and also their recommended public transport directions are orders of magnitude better than Google Maps. Citymapper will get you between any two locations in London…

Citymapper is nice, but I disagree that it's massively superior: 1- When I was living south of London, Citymapper was completely pointless, since it only showed commuting options with SouthWest trains, and not Southern trains (my station was served by both). I suspect Citymapper might've fixed this since. 2- Maps also gives you all different options, and since some time ago they also started to offer mixed ride-haili…

> 1- When I was living south of London, Citymapper was completely pointless

Agreed. Citymapper is only good when you’re in a city. When you’re not in a city / travelling outside the city, the experience is subpar.

Fortunately the clue’s in the name. Like the OP (and sibling), living in zone 2 and rarely venturing outside of my z1-2 bubble, nothing comes close to Citymapper.

When I do venture out, I’ve now switched to Apple Maps, as I’m typically driving. Voice notifications are intrusive to music & audiobooks, and having to regularly look at the screen is distracting and dangerous. Apple’s restrictive APIs for the Apple watch means it’s the only mapping platform that can give me haptic feedback when it’s time to turn, and that’s extremely valuable driving in and out of London.

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