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Google Maps has become an eyesore

fastcompany.com

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Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#381

Post by contravariant »

hgsgm wrote: post #356
fnordpiglet wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know, because they tried to sell it to me when I was at a megacorp, they resell the real time location and local data correlated to user characteristics, as data service to large discrete customers. This includes constant real time information about where people are traveling to, businesses being frequented by demographics, with a sophisticated query interface for asking relatively complex questions of maps derived…

Anywhere you put your data can be read by the people that run the place, regardless of what other products they make.

I mean sure, but that doesn't mean I expect them to sell it to other people.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#382

Post by ce4 »

runiq wrote: post #280
tlocke wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OpenStreetMap does hold opening hours of businesses. Here are the details (including opening hours) of my local cafe https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/485163917 I go round entering OSM data using the StreetComplete app. It's slightly awkward if a shop doesn't display their opening hours, because then you have to go in, and I feel I need to buy something and then ask their opening hours.

I do that too (in Germany), and I just… ask them if I may enter their opening hours into OSM. I've never been refused. Sometimes an employee takes an interest and then I take the chance to explain a bit. It's a win-win for both sides, after all—the map users and the shop owners.

Why ask the owner in the first place. Its public information anyway. Google does not ask either.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#383

Post by esperent »

reportgunner wrote: post #350
esperent wrote: post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh, I have uBlock on mobile and I still got the video - which is not an ad, it's just really shitty web design.

uBlock Origin is the correct one. I'm on firefox with uBO and have no video playing.

Yes, I have uBlock origin on Kiwi browser.

Seems like people with uBlock are split between getting it and not, so maybe it's just not served to everyone?

A/B testing or regional variants maybe.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#384

Post by coldtea »

Knee_Pain wrote: post #355
coldtea wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably because 99% of normal people "don't refill their water bottles" (and surely not off of water fountains), just buy bottled water and/or drink when they stop at cafes and restaurants? Not saying it's good. In fact, it's quite bad and harmful. But it just is.

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Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#385

Post by laurels-marts »

I've fully bought into Apple ecosystem but I refuse to use Apple Maps. Not sure how good they are in US but in Europe they are dismal. When they announced the release re-designed maps in Netherlands I gave them a shot but it honestly wasn't a big improvement. I took a screen of my area in Google Maps and the same screen using Apple Maps and the side-by-side difference was shocking. Google maps had orders of magnitude more detailed and precise topography, cycling paths, canals, traffic etc.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#386

Post by seb1204 »

Gigachad wrote: post #177
afavour wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to like Apple Maps but their reliance upon Yelp for useful information infuriates me.

Reviews and user submitted content are an absolute nightmare. I can’t imagine how much of a legal headache it is for google.

Is this legal issue for Google? I think it is as many of the under maintain or moderated points of engagement just a service desert.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#387

Post by laserson »

tananaev wrote: post #22

Probably not a popular opinion here, but I like Google Maps. Sure there's some clutter, but it's pretty good at navigation, public transit and searching for places. I don't know any better alternative.

I’ve found Citymapper to give far more realistic routes and commute times on the NYC subway.

Re: Google Maps has become an eyesore

#390

Post by ju-st »

Ycdr4thfdd wrote: post #332
l33tman wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah it's weird, very often a venue on a street is simply not visible unless zoomed in TO THE MAX. And then it's not any weird obscure thing, it's a restaurant or coffeeshop that's been there for years.

What's even worse is that often I'll click "restaurants", zoom in all the way, and then click "Search this area", yet Google will still refuse to show some popular restaurant, even when there are no other restaurants displayed in the window. The only way to get those restaurants to show up is to search them by name. Not sure if they're intentionally penalizing certain restaurants, but it's pretty bad.

I get much better results by clicking on the text input field and pressing enter every time after moving/zooming instead of clicking on "search this area".
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