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maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

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Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#211

Post by nolok »

dpryden wrote: post #195

I recall from my time in Google Geo years ago that the idea of integrating Search and Maps was a big part of the "New Maps" release that happened around 2014. The rumor I heard was that someone (possibly even Larry himself) wanted to be able to have interactive maps directly on the search results page, so that the navigation from a search query to a map wouldn't involve even a page reload. So the big Maps frontend re…

This makes perfect sense product wise, if I'm searching "bakery" on my mobile phone I probably want the ones around me and not the generic location-agnostic google search of it, just like I would if I was searching on map. Matter of fact, this is actually something I do a couple times a month, search then clic the maps tab to see localized results then from them click the website result to find their webpage.

As a techie I hate any direct change to the user-agnostic absolute search, but as a user I get it.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#212

Post by Bud »

__michaelg wrote: post #185
hooby wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. The change does exist (although it apparently has been live for quite some time in some regions at least) 2. The change does have the effect of Google gaining more permissions (and subsequently more data) than previously 3. The author assumes that (2) is the (main) reason why (1) was done in the first place Regardless of whether (3) is correct or completely wrong - and regardless of whether the author truly believ…

Upvoted, this looks more correct than what I wrote.

No post body was provided.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#213

Post by kevincox »

account42 wrote: post #210
akudha wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My default mode is to trust everyone until they break my trust. Now that I am old, I have realized that trusting everyone by default is not a good idea, especially big tech. In cases like this, I think it is better to assume malice, even if we are proved wrong later. This is not our fault, this is big tech screwing with us repeatedly for years, with no shame or conscience

The way I see it, people deserve the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their motivations but corporations don't.

Exactly. If you trust people you will often be rewarded by friendship and future help. If you trust cooportations they just exploit that to maximize shareholder profit with no value to me.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#214

Post by Crosseye_Jack »

vetinari wrote: post #197
Crosseye_Jack wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I presume they are talking about the DNS "leak". google.com/maps would result in a DNS request for google.com so anyone monitoring DNS would know they are connecting to a google service but wouldn't know which one. maps.google.com would result in a DNS request that show they are connecting to maps.google.com and could presume they want some maps. DoH (and ESNI on the server side) would fix it, but iirc Chrome (the mo…

Chrome uses DoT, if you have configured one of the well-known resolvers that do support DoT. Otherwise, it respects your local settings.

My point about Chrome is not that it can’t do DoH but by default it doesn’t so relies on the system settings which for the vast majority of users (not us geeks who explicitly opt in) never change and use ISP supplied values so DNS snooping is still a thing for the majority.

Should a browser override system settings? That’s another question, because doing so can impact other things for the avg Joe. For example my mobile providers self serve website plays up when I use custom DNS, free hotspots with captive portals also can be an issue when you override the DNS provided by the access point.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#215

Post by tomschwiha »

SanjayMehta wrote: post #124
KronisLV wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also had some success with HERE maps: https://wego.here.com Their Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.here.app.m... Their Apple app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id955837609 The performance is good (especially on a budget Android device, better than the recent versions of Google Maps, even), they're reasonably accurate (I'm in Eastern Europe) and include navigation, traffic information, pub…

One of the best features of HERE maps is the ability to download entire countries' maps and turn off data. This was a life saver when roaming when data charges were really exorbitant.

Google Maps Android also supports offline maps downloading of selected regions. However the download is only valid for a year.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#217

Post by hbn »

gatefun wrote: post #61

As others have noticed, this is not a new move. For the past several years I've been accessing Google Maps simply by typing in maps.google.com and it has always redirected me to google.com/maps.

Even more confusing and a regular cause of annoyance for me that's been ongoing for a while now is there's like a knockoff version of Google Maps built into Google search that it'll kick you into if you click a map from search results. e.g. you type "gyms near me" and it shows you a map in the search results, and you click it to expand. It's still at the google.com/search domain and while you can zoom and pan around, there doesn't seem to be a way to arbitrarily jump into street view wherever you want, which I frequently want to do.

I'm constantly ending up in this view, fighting with it before remembering I need to go to real Google Maps and do my search again.

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#218

Post by pimlottc »

dpryden wrote: post #195

I recall from my time in Google Geo years ago that the idea of integrating Search and Maps was a big part of the "New Maps" release that happened around 2014. The rumor I heard was that someone (possibly even Larry himself) wanted to be able to have interactive maps directly on the search results page, so that the navigation from a search query to a map wouldn't involve even a page reload. So the big Maps frontend re…

This reminds me of how Google integrated Maps into Calendar as a sidebar a while ago, a move that I absolutely hated. And instead of providing a preference setting to disable it, you have to “hide” the sidebar in a non-intuitive way [0]. I had to search to figure it out.

0: https://www.howtogeek.com/695504/how-to-stop-google-calendar...

Re: maps.google.com now redirects to google.com/maps

#219

Post by ignoramous »

mrjin wrote: post #160

It looks like the result of the arm race with DNS based ad/tracker blockers. This move will for sure force the users to make a hard decision of "all or nothing".

If this ever was a race, it was always a losing one.

DNS-based content-blocker are woefully inadequate. I'd know since I co-maintain one and the barrage of complaints I get make it plenty clear where unaddressable limitations lie.

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