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My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

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Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#181

Post by mitthrowaway2 »

eCa wrote: post #44
rsynnott wrote: post #21

Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do. Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train…

Speaking of trains, that's another thing they don't do. The auto-snapping of current location consistently snaps to whatever road or goat track it can find nearby, while equally consistently refusing to snap to the railroad they have mapped. Sure, there's not much need for navigation in that situation, but if you're trying to be smart regarding where I am, maybe take into account if I'm travelling at 200 kph before p…

Also speaking of trains, I can't zoom out and look at intercity train lines. I can only see highways. If I'm in Japan without a car, planning a sightseeing trip and wondering where I can easily visit by train, I can't do that with Google maps. The highways obscure everything and can't be turned off.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#182

Post by mc3301 »

_carbyau_ wrote: post #171
kylecazar wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While we're asking for navigation features, I desperately want a "chill" toggle. I drive around the NY metropolitan area a lot. No, I don't want to take the route that saves a few minutes if it involves merging onto I95 at rush hour with 300 feet to cross 4 lanes of traffic for the next exit.

I vote for a "lock it in" feature for motorbike riding. I set up the route, clip the phone onto the quadlock mount, ride down the street and it auto changes the route because of something motorbikes don't care about. Or it rains and that counts as pressing buttons. And now I am riding and with gloves on so I can't fix it. Just "do what I told you" and don't mess with it.

Yeah, I used to ride with a little speaker on one side of my helmet on the inside... nothing infuriated quite like a leisurely fun ride with the audio constantly telling me to make a u-turn or whatever because it found a route that was 57 minutes instead of 59.

I'd love a "I saw your suggestions, I selected one of them, don't give me any more suggestions" feature. This was on google maps.

As for detecting rain, that'd be a whole other algorithm.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#183

Post by mc3301 »

toast0 wrote: post #135
rsynnott wrote: post #21

Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do. Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train…

I'm convinced the people working on google maps have also mostly never driven.

At least not every case world-wide. I do, however, appreciate how good it is for a completely free (I know, I'm the product) tool, though.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#184

Post by mc3301 »

annzabelle wrote: post #140
frereubu wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have tried this, but I run with my phone in an elasticated belt that's just tight enough to keep the phone stable without being uncomfortable. I really don't want to fork out for another device just for running. (I also find a watch on my wrist annoying when I don't wear one normally).

I wear leggings that have elastic pockets down the sides for my phone. Perfectly comfy. Not sure what the men's equivalent would be.

leggings.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#185

Post by xyzelement »

WheatMillington wrote: post #55
juujian wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember Google maps working well for walking around in Europe. Ever since I've moved to America, not so much. Go figure...

Google isn't making arbitrary decisions here - it's reflecting social norms. Americans aren't big on walking. I've seen pictures of beautiful leafy suburbs that don't even have sidewalks.

I don't have sidewalks in front of my house but our neighbors all take walks - and walk to main street. A quiet street that sees a few cars an hour doesn't need a sidewalk to be walkable.

The other scenario of no sidewalk are like rural roads that are very long with nothing in between. So there sorta "no place to walk to".

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#186

Post by dml2135 »

kylecazar wrote: post #154
NoDodgeQuestion wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At risk of summoning an army of vibe coders, I wish map apps were more configurable and let you set "I'm happy to walk 20 min" or "someone can drive me a few miles and drop me off"

While we're asking for navigation features, I desperately want a "chill" toggle. I drive around the NY metropolitan area a lot. No, I don't want to take the route that saves a few minutes if it involves merging onto I95 at rush hour with 300 feet to cross 4 lanes of traffic for the next exit.

This has driven me so crazy it’s about to push me off Google maps. If I’m driving upstate, I want to choose a nice straightforward highway route and stay on it. No, I don’t care if I need to sit in a little bit of traffic. No, Google, I don’t want you take it upon yourself to change my route to a bunch of back roads through Bear Mountain to avoid an 8-minute slowdown. I want you to just take me down the route you showed me when I started navigation.

I’ve had a couple times now where Google Maps has taken me into absolutely terrible traffic jams on back roads in areas where there is limited cell service. What seems to be happening is that there is a slowdown on the main road and a blind spot on the back route with no service, so Google assumes there are no cars there and no traffic, so it just funnels everyone that way until the whole route clogs up. Utterly infuriating.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#187

Post by wat10000 »

annzabelle wrote: post #130
dhosek wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple Maps also does this. It would also be nice to have a configurable transportation choice for the time to leave notice. Because some things I’ll walk to, some I’ll take transit and some I’ll drive and Apple seems to want be to just pick one and only use that. My other map complaint is that there’s no indication of how much tolls are when comparing toll vs non-toll routes. Because if it’s $5 to save ten minutes, n…

This is especially bad in Northern Virginia, where there is a $4 toll road that saves 20 minutes pretty reliably, and also variable priced express lanes that will save time, but can cost up to $50. I want tolls on so it directs me on the Dulles toll road, but I also want tolls off for the $50 express lanes. I wish I could set a dollar threshold.

And some of the roads have a toll only at certain times of day, but they're treated as tolled 24/7. Some are free if you have 3+ people in the car, but there's no way to say "I have N people in the car, adjust consideration of tolls accordingly."

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#188

Post by wat10000 »

Reason077 wrote: post #91
rsynnott wrote: post #21

Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do. Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train…

> ”Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do.” Not with a phone, no. Why would you take your phone with you when you run? It’s bulky and annoying. If you really need to be reachable or to be able to pay for something in emergencies, that’s what smart watches are for.

I'm not paying more money plus an extra monthly subscription for a cellular smart watch when my phone does the job perfectly well.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#189

Post by greesil »

NoDodgeQuestion wrote: post #29
rsynnott wrote: post #21

Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do. Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train…

At risk of summoning an army of vibe coders, I wish map apps were more configurable and let you set "I'm happy to walk 20 min" or "someone can drive me a few miles and drop me off"

I don't think they give a flying fart a about their users anymore, but yes.

Re: My phone detects going on a run as “someone snatching my phone and running off”

#190

Post by chrismorgan »

NoDodgeQuestion wrote: post #29
rsynnott wrote: post #21

Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do. Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train…

At risk of summoning an army of vibe coders, I wish map apps were more configurable and let you set "I'm happy to walk 20 min" or "someone can drive me a few miles and drop me off"

I was thinking to myself “… doesn’t it have that?” then I remembered I was thinking of the Public Transport Victoria journey planner.
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