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Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

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Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#31

Post by seanp2k2 »

joenathan wrote: post #11
codeka wrote: post #4

> Internet Explorer 10 for Windows Phone 8 uses the same rendering engine as the desktop build of Internet Explorer 10, which is certainly capable of loading and running Google Maps. This argument makes no sense. Google Maps desktop works on IE10, but Google Maps mobile is clearly a totally different site. I think people are jumping to conclusions here.

>a totally different site. Did you really just type that?

Loads WAY different JS resources:

Mobile: http://www.webpagetest.org/result/130105_QH_4GR/1/details/

IE10: http://www.webpagetest.org/result/130105_WY_4H7/1/details/

It's the same /URI/, not the same code behind the scenes. What you seem to be suggesting is analogous to saying that because two businesses share the same physical building, they're the same business (think skyscrapers).

EDIT: While I don't work for Google, I bet it's not even the same team that works on the mobile maps site vs. the desktop maps site.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#32

Post by lostlogin »

garuda wrote: post #7
ghshephard wrote: post #3

I'm very confused. Isn't it in Google's best interests to have everyone in the world using their mapping product? Why would they want to get people on new platforms used to using alternative maps, like, say, http://www.bing.com/maps/ ? Something doesn't sound right here...

They see Google maps as a strong enough brand that they think people will avoid Windows Phone if it doesn't have it. I think it's a good move. The last thing we need is our one chance at an Open Source OS being undermined by Microsoft.

Whatever ones views on Android's openness, this is one interesting way to defend open.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#33

Post by starmole »

garuda wrote: post #17
starmole wrote: post #9

The real problem is that it is a slap in the face for html. What does Google think it is? Is it a presentation layer standard with ideally many implementations or is it a file format for web kit?

It's just a platform they use to deliver their services to their customers - the same way that everyone else does.

Not quite that simple. Google does at least partially own the platform and made a lot of noise about html being a better platform for being open before. Everybody else just makes a business decision what they need to support. Native, Flash, HTML, browser variations. For Google this is more of a power play, and a bit of a bait and switch as HTML was sold as being free of those power plays.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#34

Post by azharcs »

First they block access to Youtube API. Now they decide to block access to Google Maps. Free and Open Web BS is just going too far. I don't think there is absolutely any part of the web which is free and open. It is conveniently used from time to time to convince people to contribute to their platforms.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#35

Post by garuda »

starmole wrote: post #33
garuda wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a platform they use to deliver their services to their customers - the same way that everyone else does.

Not quite that simple. Google does at least partially own the platform and made a lot of noise about html being a better platform for being open before. Everybody else just makes a business decision what they need to support. Native, Flash, HTML, browser variations. For Google this is more of a power play, and a bit of a bait and switch as HTML was sold as being free of those power plays.

Google gives away all their client platforms as open source (i.e. Chrome and Android), so it's hardly a power play when compared with the other options.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#36

Post by gisenberg »

Tuvaloon wrote: post #20
untog wrote: post #12

The Windows Phone browser does not send touchstart or touchmove events. This alone makes it damn near impossible left to implement decent maps, so the claims that its the equivalent of IE10 is incorrect. Its a pretty huge oversight by MS given that WebKit, Firefox and Opera do it just fine.

Ugh, yes, makes all HTML/Phonegap apps horrible. They haven't fixed that yet? Does WP run IE6?

PhoneGap's plugin system makes it possible to hook into the native touch events and mimic touch events in the browser.

IE9 on WP7 is genuinely awful, though, and an app in that environment is guaranteed to be horrible. IE10 on WP8 is a vast improvement and is viable for HTML-based applications, though.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#37

Post by mistercheese »

dkulchenko wrote: post #24
recoiledsnake wrote: post #22

What I am totally flabbergasted by is the fact that Google is redirecting to Google.com without even a simple message saying that your browser is not supported. That makes no sense whatsoever to me. Can anyone explain the reason that Google can possibly have for this? Edit: >For the record, here is Google’s formal statement on the issue: >The mobile web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as…

Probably for the same reason iOS app crashes are just an exit to the home screen (compared to Android's visible "force close" message).

Except this isn't a crash, it's something that Google is explicitly doing on their end from the reports.

I too can't help but feel like I'm missing some context, seems like Google would at least warn the user.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#38

Post by garuda »

lostlogin wrote: post #32
garuda wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They see Google maps as a strong enough brand that they think people will avoid Windows Phone if it doesn't have it. I think it's a good move. The last thing we need is our one chance at an Open Source OS being undermined by Microsoft.

Whatever ones views on Android's openness, this is one interesting way to defend open.

They're just trying to avoid having a single company, Microsoft, dominate the industry again.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#39

Post by ok_craig »

azharcs wrote: post #34

First they block access to Youtube API. Now they decide to block access to Google Maps. Free and Open Web BS is just going too far. I don't think there is absolutely any part of the web which is free and open. It is conveniently used from time to time to convince people to contribute to their platforms.

"Free and open web" doesn't mean unfettered access to private parties' services, it means unfettered access to the internet itself. I.e. access to the services on the internet that private parties are willing to let you use.

Re: Google Maps redirect issue on Windows Phones is a matter of competition

#40

Post by dkulchenko »

nirvdrum wrote: post #29
Tuvaloon wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or its a no one uses wp8 issue that applies to all of gooogle's portfolio. Google didn't keep maps of iPhone, even though that could have sold 10 million androids.

AFAIK they did keep turn-by-turn directions off iOS though. It's been a while since I've used an iPhone so I can't readily verify that.

They didn't, it's fully featured. In some ways it's even better than the Android app, more beautifully designed. They mentioned in their blog they'll be bringing much the same to Android soon.
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