Google Decides to Monetize Maps • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#151

Post by tokyodude » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:50 PM UTC

twothamendment wrote: post #73

technotony wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why should they offer a free maps service? They are a business with shareholder responsibilities, not a charity, and maps must cost them a ton of money to operate.

You are correct. The reverse is true too, why should contribute data to their maps service for free? I've done lot of work to add and correct roads, update business info and addresses in my area. If they want to fill the map with ads they have that right - but when they drive me (and people like me) away, their product will suffer.

I get the use of an amazing map service for which I pay them with my data. I even contribute fixes, reviews, and photos. I'm pretty happy with that price. I don't give them anything for free. They pay me in service.

I actually want the ads too although I want them 100x better than they are and I'm sure Google like Amazon will fail for a while at curating the fake stuff. In an ideal world they'd have inventory and menus of every store so I could search for "pizza with avocados open now" or "1/4inch wrench" and it could tell me exactly where I can get them right now.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#152

Post by Brakenshire » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:53 PM UTC

leokennis wrote: post #64

clydethefrog wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish there was an app using OSM that had at least some usability and design. I tried some but had to quit out frustration.

Also, all of them (on iOS at least) "force" you to download maps for offline maps. I don't want some city I visit once in my lifetime permanently taking up storage...

Just delete it afterwards, the map download is usually only 30-100MB, and downloading it in advance means it will always be there on your trip, without needing data access.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#153

Post by false-mirror » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:54 PM UTC

technotony wrote: post #25

dininski wrote: post #4

I can't stress enough how much of a bad idea this is. I was stunned when a few days ago I was looking up something on Google Maps and started seeing advertised locations/suggestions. Even though I love the product and have been a fan of Google products for the longest time, their current strategy of monetizing everything they can is very off putting. The direction Chrome is taking is also concerning. Don't know what…

Why should they offer a free maps service? They are a business with shareholder responsibilities, not a charity, and maps must cost them a ton of money to operate.

True, but that highlights the very reason monopolies must be broken up. They will only do what is profitable, not what is best for the users.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#154

Post by alasdair_ » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:55 PM UTC

twothamendment wrote: post #73

technotony wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why should they offer a free maps service? They are a business with shareholder responsibilities, not a charity, and maps must cost them a ton of money to operate.

You are correct. The reverse is true too, why should contribute data to their maps service for free? I've done lot of work to add and correct roads, update business info and addresses in my area. If they want to fill the map with ads they have that right - but when they drive me (and people like me) away, their product will suffer.

I’d strongly recommended putting future efforts into Open Streetmap instead - they have a fantastic set of data and tools and are usually (in my experience) more accurate and updated more quickly than Google.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#155

Post by JohnFen » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:57 PM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #129

frosted-flakes wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends what you use it for. For driving directions, there are plenty of alternatives. An excellent one is a standalone GPS device like a Garmin nüvi or a TomTom, which works entirely offline (except traffic reports, which are received over FM radio or Bluetooth). The only time I actually use Google Maps is when I'm at my PC, and Bing maps works just as well.

I think if you tried using gmaps for navigation you’d find it to be a far superior to those devices. Does your TomTom tell you “turn into the driveway after the Vitamin Shop”? Because gmaps does.

Honestly, I don't think I'd call that ability "far superior". If it came without cost, it would have some value, but it's not a game-changer or anything.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#156

Post by newsoul2019 » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:57 PM UTC

dininski wrote: post #4

I can't stress enough how much of a bad idea this is. I was stunned when a few days ago I was looking up something on Google Maps and started seeing advertised locations/suggestions. Even though I love the product and have been a fan of Google products for the longest time, their current strategy of monetizing everything they can is very off putting. The direction Chrome is taking is also concerning. Don't know what…

Don't worry, it's about time for Maps to enter the Google Graveyard....

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#157

Post by samirm » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:57 PM UTC

joshfraser wrote: post #107

Google tracks your exact location every few seconds. They know which stores you visit, which restaurants you frequent, which friends you spend the most time with, how often you go to the gym, who you're sleeping with and much more. The targeted advertising and surveillance capabilities that are possible as a result of this level of data collection are absolutely terrifying.

Is this assuming you have GPS on all the time or are you saying they're actively tracking everyone's locations using other means as well?

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#158

Post by ebg13 » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:58 PM UTC

jfoster wrote: post #67

ebg13 wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you trying to imply that adtech has made the world better? Are you trying to erase the difference between mapmaking and tracked advertising ? My eyes are about to fall out the back of my head, I'm rolling them so hard. Google's core business is tracking you and shoveling ads at you. Every time they pollute one of their side hobbies with their core business, it makes that side hobby worse and worse for the world.…

You dodged my question, but I'm happy to answer yours. I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it.

> I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it.

AKA the "harmful behavior is ok when it's profitable" theory. I don't agree.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#159

Post by moosey » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:58 PM UTC

technotony wrote: post #25

dininski wrote: post #4

I can't stress enough how much of a bad idea this is. I was stunned when a few days ago I was looking up something on Google Maps and started seeing advertised locations/suggestions. Even though I love the product and have been a fan of Google products for the longest time, their current strategy of monetizing everything they can is very off putting. The direction Chrome is taking is also concerning. Don't know what…

Why should they offer a free maps service? They are a business with shareholder responsibilities, not a charity, and maps must cost them a ton of money to operate.

I would say because it will backfire. Huge swaths of humanity using google maps to track their daily lives is beyond valuable.

I would argue that maps is probably already monetized, as it probably improves ad targeting in all of their other apps.

Re: Google Decides to Monetize Maps

#160

Post by newsoul2019 » Thu, Apr 18, 2019, 5:58 PM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #129

frosted-flakes wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends what you use it for. For driving directions, there are plenty of alternatives. An excellent one is a standalone GPS device like a Garmin nüvi or a TomTom, which works entirely offline (except traffic reports, which are received over FM radio or Bluetooth). The only time I actually use Google Maps is when I'm at my PC, and Bing maps works just as well.

I think if you tried using gmaps for navigation you’d find it to be a far superior to those devices. Does your TomTom tell you “turn into the driveway after the Vitamin Shop”? Because gmaps does.

I noticed yesterday while driving in San Francisco it told me to turn left onto xxx street "at the Starbucks"