Sure, but do the challengers have real time traffic prediction? [0]
[0] https://deepmind.com/blog/article/traffic-prediction-with-ad...
Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
71–80 of 442 posts
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#72I live in London and for commuting around via public transport OR walking I always use Citymapper, which is massively superior than Google Maps for directions. I suspect they are using Googles APIs underneath it all, but their UI is better than Google maps and also their recommended public transport directions are orders of magnitude better than Google Maps. Citymapper will get you between any two locations in London…
Citymapper is so much better in Paris where Google Maps is very poor for public transport. I'm extremely impressed.
It can not only tell you which exit you need to take (extremely important in Paris) but also which car to board to be the closest to the proper exit or line change.
Multimodal routing is also extremely impressive. They properly implement the city bike sharing system including how much bikes and empty spots they are available at each station.
As most of this is public data, I don't understand why Google is not exploiting it. My guess is that Citymapper originated in London and therefore as a deep understanding of this way of using public transport while Google Maps is mainly developed in the USA.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#73I traveled to Beijing and Shanghai and Google maps was effectively worthless. Apple Maps on the other hand was accurate and included accurate mass transit directions.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
I thought that's because Google stopped doing street view because of German privacy laws. Without the street view cars roaming around there's a lot less street level data to be had.
I'm not sure how important Streetview is for street level data. I was always under the impression that "paved" (or similar) streets were pretty easy to get right (and can possibly be obtained from a governmental agency?). For smaller footpaths I always assumed that they were using movement data (the same they use for traffic forecasting) to detect where they are. They also resumed Streetview in parts of Germany this…
I figured they had a tracker on the cars that would produce actively captured data that could be compared to phone data to understand what roads are around, etc.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is a joke.
An simple outlandish claim doesn't make constitute a joke unless it's referencing something. I think that reference is what GP is asking about.
As bizarre as this may sound to your generation there are, in fact, such things as standalone jokes.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#76These street maps are becoming insanely precise, probably helped by the competition. I see that Google Maps is now testing "detailed street maps" in some cities: https://www.justinobeirne.com/google-testing-detailed-street... Just a thought: maybe they are scanning cities for their self-driving cars and are also using this data for Maps?
Thanks for the link. I hope they allow switching between both version. I know the one on the right on your link gives more information, but it looks too crumbled. I dont need most of the information there.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#77Apple is so far behind outside of the places they prioritize that it'll take decades at this pace to get on Google Maps' current level. It's really useless in places like Eastern Europe, where Apple has no interest in supporting and isn't likely that it'll turn that around any time soon.
> ...it'll take decades ... I'm very literal. Google maps was released in 2005. The upper limit on how long it would take Apple to build the whole thing from literally nothing is 15 years, if they are investing to improve their service. Let alone with computer vision, satellite imagery, hardware improvements and the ability to lazily copy the interface Google has created which would speed the process up.
> if they are investing to improve their service
You’re hinting at the same thing here, but you ignored the key phrase ”at this pace” in the OP’s comment.
Even Usain Bolt won’t do an impressive 100 meters run if he’s walking.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#78Great article, but I think the conclusion about Google Maps languishing because it’s a low margin product is wrong. While Google Maps as a distinct product has a bottom and top line I think the author underestimates the value that the underlying places data has for Google’s core search product. The local place data is _massivley_ important to search. I don’t see any foreseeable way Google let’s the product that gener…
Yep. This. I use a couple of different services (primarily Apple Maps and HERE maps) interchangeably _when I know where I am going_. But when I don’t know where I am going (e.g. looking for a type of store or restaurant or whatever) I use Google Maps. Their places data is just still so much better.
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#79What’s up HN?! Always fun to find an article of mine on here. What I’ve learned so far:
I’ve underestimated the important of their place data to the rest of the search apparatus, and likely underestimated the relevance of Maps to their autonomous vehicle strategy.
What I remain curious about that I’d love your speculation on: why do they bother with the Google Maps Platform at all? They have plenty of ways to monetize with ad targeting, so why go through the headache of opening it up to other businesses?
Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating
#80Great article, but I think the conclusion about Google Maps languishing because it’s a low margin product is wrong. While Google Maps as a distinct product has a bottom and top line I think the author underestimates the value that the underlying places data has for Google’s core search product. The local place data is _massivley_ important to search. I don’t see any foreseeable way Google let’s the product that gener…
Thanks for the thoughtful response! I don’t have anything interesting to add. I suspect you’re right!