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Paper map sales are booming

wsj.com

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Re: Paper map sales are booming

#211

Post by phaedryx »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #200
massysett wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a lot of ways, electronic maps are still inferior to the Triptik. Even the Rand McNally showed highway rest areas and picnic areas. The Triptik also showed gas stations. Electronic maps often lack this entirely, at least in easy form. The Triptik shows what you need to know while on a long motor trip. The electronic map emphasizes details I don't need. At a glance the paper map tells me whether a road is free limi…

I'm pretty convinced that Google just doesn't understand information economics. In case you haven't noticed, Apple maps are getting better and better and I prefer their turn-by-turn directions over that of Google. The interesting thing is that Apple now offers "explore" vs "driving" maps, I hope they also add "walking" or "Cycling" maps. And because they aren't driven by advertising sales, the maps can be more useful…

I've found that when I'm planning things I tend to use Google Maps, but when I get in the car I tend to use Apple maps. I swear there are little differences like Google instructions will be "In X feet... turn right" where Apple is "turn right at the stop sign" which is easier to follow.

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#212

Post by insane_dreamer »

I love maps. I have a map of the Pacific Crest Trail (which I got at REI) on the wall of my living room - it's beautiful to look at (still need to frame it but it's on the list!), informative (cleverly shows elevation along the trail in a column on the left), and leads to interesting conversations with guests.

We also have metal "night" city maps (from displate.com) of cities my wife and I have lived in, which make wall decorations (i.e, arranged in a pattern of 8) .

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#213

Post by Turing_Machine »

dljsjr wrote: post #49

Anybody remember Triptiks from AAA? You'd go to a AAA office or call them on the phone, tell them where you were going, and in return you'd get a printed spiral top-bound pad with your trip broken down in to multiple legs, the roads/routes pre-highlighted, gas stops and prices estimated in, a list of sites for stopping off at, etc. All human curated and human annotated (the roads on your route were literally gone ove…

The Milepost used to be essential for those who traveled in Alaska and Northwestern Canada. It's still quite useful, given that there are plenty of places there that don't have cellular service or any other kind of internet access.

https://themilepost.com/about-us/

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#214

Post by rascul »

Many states in the US offer free road maps, generally available at welcome centers when you cross a state line on an interstate. Also many states, counties, and municipalities offer free or low cost paper maps. I pick up paper maps whenever I can, and some are hanging on my walls.

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#215

Post by insane_dreamer »

jesterpm wrote: post #171
kypro wrote: post #20

Something I find really fun when traveling in the car with kids is to give them a paper map and ask them to plan a route a for us to get to our destination. Then when you're driving ask them to follow along and give the directions. Obviously they can't be too young and they're not going to be perfect, but if you have a child around 7-13 they'll probably find this quite fun. Being able to use a map is one of those ski…

On our last road trip, I gave our 4 year old a printed map with the route highlighted and lettered milestones every hour or so. I was hoping to give a sense of scale (how far away are we, how far we do we travel in a certain time, etc.) that's harder to convey with a digital map. It also worked to practice letters and cardinal directions (we're at K, what's the next letter? the road turns at M, which direction will w…

> It worked rather well, but probably because he got a gummy bear at each waypoint.

truth :)

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#216

Post by tuatoru »

nemonemo wrote: post #170
massysett wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a lot of ways, electronic maps are still inferior to the Triptik. Even the Rand McNally showed highway rest areas and picnic areas. The Triptik also showed gas stations. Electronic maps often lack this entirely, at least in easy form. The Triptik shows what you need to know while on a long motor trip. The electronic map emphasizes details I don't need. At a glance the paper map tells me whether a road is free limi…

Those two types of maps are targeting different groups -- paper maps targeting the somewhat advanced users who know the basic navigation and have little need to consult the legend. The electronic maps target much wider audience and can be dumbed down since people can interact with the map. Sure, the electronic maps probably can stuff more info to be shown at a glance, but my impression is that they chose not to.

> paper maps targeting the somewhat advanced users

Since when did using a map become an "advanced" life skill? Is "Idiocracy" becoming a documentary?

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#217

Post by tannhaeuser »

criley2 wrote: post #204
ChuckMcM wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty convinced that Google just doesn't understand information economics. In case you haven't noticed, Apple maps are getting better and better and I prefer their turn-by-turn directions over that of Google. The interesting thing is that Apple now offers "explore" vs "driving" maps, I hope they also add "walking" or "Cycling" maps. And because they aren't driven by advertising sales, the maps can be more useful…

Apple's solution isn't a serious contender because it's hardware locked to high end devices that the majority of people don't use / can't afford (the demographics of this community not withstanding). While it's nice that their users can have an alternate first-party experience, that experience is not a publically available map. For example if you go to maps.apple.com you are told "Open this on your Apple Hardware". (…

Apple isn't a serious contender because their devices aren't sponsored by tracking/ads? You can also get an iOS device (partly) included with a post-paid mobile plan, can't you?

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#219

Post by rr888 »

rob74 wrote: post #9
rr888 wrote: post #4

Went hiking while relying on a phone app. Offline, it cached the map no problems, until a few hours in when the TTL must have been triggered then everything disappeared. Bought a real map soon after.

Strange... if you store a map for offline viewing in Google Maps, it will be cached for at least a few months - and when that time expires, it will ask you if you want to update it. But I can't vouch for the various hiking apps which may be better for hiking data, but have worse UX overall. Or you can use an "offline-only" app like OSMAnd and feed it with GPX tracks downloaded from hiking sites, then you only have to…

It wasn't google maps, it was a free version of an app. I should have known better but thought it'd work.

Re: Paper map sales are booming

#220

Post by WalterBright »

What I miss from paper maps is the size. You can spread them out on a table. Good luck with your phone.

I got tired of using Waze, as I found that when I arrived I had little idea of how I got there. I had no notion of which direction I went, or where the destination was.

Now I look at a map on my computer before I go, and sketch out the route on a piece of paper. Then, I tape the paper to the steering wheel and follow it. I know, I know, I'm out of step. But at least I am spatially oriented with this method.

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