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The New Google Maps

maps.google.com

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Re: The New Google Maps

#121

Post by bowmessage »

coldtea wrote: post #104
duaneb wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like a smart decision to me. I probably wouldn't have cared about GMail if thirteen year old me didn't want an invite more than anything. Anyway, it's still a gradual rollout, just with hype. Seems like a smart decision to me if they don't overuse the gimmick.

> I probably wouldn't have cared about GMail if thirteen year old me didn't want an invite more than anything. A 13 year old wanted "more than anything" a ...Gmail invite of all things?

Speaking as someone who was also 13 around the time GMail was doing their invite thing, yes. I coveted that thing. I listened to TWiT with Leo Laporte and heard them talk and talk about it, and scoured web forums looking for one.

It's not that weird really.

Re: The New Google Maps

#122

Post by sneak »

Spearchucker wrote: post #58
devindotcom wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really think it was stale or stagnated exactly. You probably saw recently a few posts about how much work goes into them and why exactly they're better than Apple's or Microsoft's. It's very subtle and fundamental stuff. They didn't change much, it's true, but that's because the competition was so bad and they leapfrogged them by so much at the beginning. We'll see how the new look works in action - I can't s…

In comparison to http://here.com Google Maps was stale.

Despite not updating Google Voice for HiDPI for what felt like an inexcusably long time, one thing they almost always do right is serve retina stuff whenever and wherever possible (which was probably aided internally a bit by the release of the pixel).

Anyone making graphics-intensive sites (maps, photos, landing pages, etc) that isn't serving @2X versions is now officially Doing It Wrong. The retina iPad has been out for ages, and we now have a sub-$1500 laptop (and of course all of the high-end Apple stuff) on which all of this low-res stuff makes your brand and product look like crap. Seriously, it's not that hard.

Re: The New Google Maps

#123

Post by ShawnBird »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #81
kailuowang wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a very good strategy - testing new features by controlled rollout so that their potential revenue impact can be fully analyzed. Every company that lives on profit should adopt that strategy. Thanks for point it out.

It's the reason we still have the Google Black Bar when they highly publicized a new navigation last year. It hurt traffic to their other properties.

I like the black bar. It is simple and it works.

Re: The New Google Maps

#124

Post by evolve2k »

Once upon a time a new google product being launch was really exciting and I'd sign up however I could. Now I just feel a little scared as I watch new services being offered that aren't really innovations just attempts to devour other businesses. Every new release these days seems to either be reimplementing features available elsewhere on the web by perfectly good sites or a direct affront on my privacy.

Re: The New Google Maps

#127

Post by kbenson »

bowmessage wrote: post #121
coldtea wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I probably wouldn't have cared about GMail if thirteen year old me didn't want an invite more than anything. A 13 year old wanted "more than anything" a ...Gmail invite of all things?

Speaking as someone who was also 13 around the time GMail was doing their invite thing, yes. I coveted that thing. I listened to TWiT with Leo Laporte and heard them talk and talk about it, and scoured web forums looking for one. It's not that weird really.

I think coldtea was implying that there's something else that 13 year old boys (assumption from GP name) generally want more than anything, and it's generally a bit more physical than Gmail invites.

Re: The New Google Maps

#129

Post by Samuel_Michon »

anxx wrote: post #36

I have a tangential question: What screen capture software is this? It's unlike any other I've seen, because the screen looks like it is viewed from an upper left angle (like at 0:10). Really brings the video alive; I'd love to use this software to make some video tutorials.

The search sequences don’t show actual webpages. They are a combination of HiDPI screenshots and vector animations, made in post-production software like Adobe AfterEffects.

You can replicate the look by recording your tour in one of OS X’s HiDPI modes[1] and then adjusting the perspective in a non-lineair editing suite (such as Final Cut Pro) or post-production software (such as AfterEffects).

[1] http://osxdaily.com/2012/01/12/enable-hidpi-mode-in-mac-os-x...

Re: The New Google Maps

#130

Post by manicbovine »

threeseed wrote: post #105
kailuowang wrote: post #4

Google map was the one of the first web applications that revolutionized the web with Ajax. This new Google map could be another one that revolutionize the industry again with WebGL.

Calm down with the hyperbole. I mean have you EVER tried WebGL ? It is not ready for prime time and I shudder to think what people on older machines or laptops are going to experience.

... or just a standard business class laptop without a semi-powerful GPU.
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