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TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

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Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#211

Post by genocidicbunny »

mosburger wrote: post #182
genocidicbunny wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Gonna be the lightning rod of hate here for a moment) > And still the rest of the car industry doesn't "get" good UX. Le sigh. Imho, a giant 17" touchscreen that replaces most physical controls in a car is also not good UX for a car. Why do you need high-res satellite imagery of your route on a screen in the center of the car? Just look out the window! I'll grant that most other manufacturers also do a poor job of a…

no hate here - the "replace everything with an iPad" movement of car dash design has been generally, IMO, a horrible change. When driving, you need tactile feedback when adjusting things like the cabin temperature so that you can keep your eyes on the road. Replacing knobs with GUI sliders on a screen that you have to see to manipulate is a step backwards. I would love it if auto manufacturers came to their senses an…

I think part of the problem is also the expansion of functionality in infotainment systems, especially if you're using android auto or similar. You end up needing to have a touch screen for some things like text entry (or having a much clunkier input method) and once the touch screen is there, the temptation to cut costs by replacing physical buttons and switches with some software is just too great.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#212

Post by leadingthenet »

Aeolun wrote: post #205
Dinux wrote: post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

I agree that GMaps still reigns supreme, but Apple Maps is now definitely better in some regards, including the actual maps and transit directions for my city.

Probably due to all the OSM data they include, in fairness.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#214

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

Aeolun wrote: post #205
Dinux wrote: post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

> I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality

How will that happen realistically? The truth is it's impossible to compete with ad-funded tech giants in the current state of affairs.

For that to change two things are needed:

1 . government intervention to break up Google ads from their maps and other businesses, leveling the playing field for their competitors who aren't making money via ads (not really gonna happen in the US, but maybe ... wink wink EU)

2. consumers now being OK with having to pay market prices for subscriptions to essential services like maps, email, etc. that they got used to getting for free through their personal data monetization (also not really gonna happen because people don't like paying for stuff they used to get for free and also many people can't afford to pay)

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#215

Post by zelphirkalt »

dmd wrote: post #194
amachefe wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't have any problem with your daily itenary beinf tracked, then no explanation will be good enough for you. Just respect the fact that people don't want their daily activities available to 3rd parties

But that's exactly what I'm trying to understand. What is the problem people have with it? Maybe if you tell me, I'll feel the same way!

It is not only you. The more people are OK with this, the higher the danger for other people, who are not OK with this, because data adds up and usually becomes more information than the sum of its parts. Tracking and spying are a danger to people, whose work requires them to not be tracked and found. People like journalists in oppressive regimes. While people run around merily sacrificing their privacy for the reason, that they are uninformed about these issues, they indirectly play into the hands of those, who want to make journalists shut up and disappear.

Privacy is vital for a functioning society. If not for you personally, then for others. By adding yourself to the mass of people, who do not care, you are helping in creating an environment, where privacy is not valued. Seen as something "only a few radicals want". Quickly abolished by governments in the name of "but think of the children!" or "but think of the terrorists!" and similar nonsense.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#216

Post by joking »

bloak wrote: post #164
Dinux wrote: post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

In my experience, here in the UK, openstreetmap.org is more accurate and more up-to-date than Google Maps, though I still use Google Maps as a way to access Google Earth or Google Street View, which tend to at least be accurate. (I wonder if they've thought about using an AI to guess what the countryside and streets might look like. Could be cheaper than using real photos? :-)

there is a better option, public data from guvernamental entities, data available to open street map, google maps or tom tom, that could be able to enrich it as they wish, but the base should be open.

wishful thinking, I know.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#217

Post by danielvaughn »

Aeolun wrote: post #205
Dinux wrote: post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

I always thought this, but recently I used Mapbox for the first time. I specifically was looking to build a geo-data analysis application, and was running into performance issues with gmaps. Mapbox absolutely knocks it out of the park when it comes to that kind of thing, I was very impressed.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#218

Post by dmd »

zelphirkalt wrote: post #215
dmd wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's exactly what I'm trying to understand. What is the problem people have with it? Maybe if you tell me, I'll feel the same way!

It is not only you. The more people are OK with this, the higher the danger for other people, who are not OK with this, because data adds up and usually becomes more information than the sum of its parts. Tracking and spying are a danger to people, whose work requires them to not be tracked and found. People like journalists in oppressive regimes. While people run around merily sacrificing their privacy for the reaso…

OK, that's a great argument. Thank you.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#219

Post by nicce »

leadingthenet wrote: post #212
Aeolun wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

I agree that GMaps still reigns supreme, but Apple Maps is now definitely better in some regards, including the actual maps and transit directions for my city. Probably due to all the OSM data they include, in fairness.

Apples Maps just is not very available globally. It is heavily U.S. oriented, while Google seems to offer similar features everywhere. Maybe some day Apple catches a bit.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#220

Post by joking »

Dinux wrote: post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

maybe for the consumer google maps could be better, but for a business, using google maps is shooting yourself on the feet. Just take a look to the mapsplatform pricing and start searching for an alternative.
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