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Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

joemorrison.substack.com

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Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#91

Post by maxerickson »

mmaurizi wrote: post #87
afavour wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see this as something different: the sign of a mature product. What are competitors doing that Google Maps isn’t? Maybe I’m missing something but I see no significant features. (Not to mention, the Maps API != Google Maps the product)

Google Maps the consumer product is far ahead of any competitors, but the Maps API lacks many features available in Google Maps (vector maps, 3d acceleration, real-time styling). These feature disparities between the API & the consumer product were annoying at first, but now that the competitors to the Maps API all have had them for years they're simply baffling.

Map api is a shitty business, they don't care about it.

No one wants to pay, brand risk if the customer implementation sucks, etc.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#92

Post by pbhjpbhj »

htfu wrote: post #75
aikinai wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Could you give an example? Even puns stand on aspects of language to acquire their potency.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#93

Post by qalmakka »

I tried opening Apple Maps, and they are still way behind Google in almost everything where I live in (EU, Italy). For instance, Apple Maps correctly pins my parent's house but they show it as being several hundred metres away from the street (it's not). Look around also isn't available in my area, and as far as I could see it's not even available in Milan (there's 3D available, though). The only areas I saw the binoculars icon turning on was while hovering over London and Dublin, which puts it firmly at least 10 years behind what Google's been offering in Europe, which has close to complete coverage of rural areas, including in certain parts even roads not fully paved.

I think that outside the USA (and China, where Google maps isn't available) it will be a while before people will actually consider switching. The only thing I'm sure of is that I haven't seen any iPhone user using Apple Maps in my area since, I don't know, ever.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#94

Post by saberience »

berdario wrote: post #52
saberience wrote: post #18

I 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 nice, but I disagree that it's massively superior: 1- When I was living south of London, Citymapper was completely pointless, since it only showed commuting options with SouthWest trains, and not Southern trains (my station was served by both). I suspect Citymapper might've fixed this since. 2- Maps also gives you all different options, and since some time ago they also started to offer mixed ride-haili…

This is all your opinion. As someone that literally lives in Zone 2, I rely on Citymapper literally every day and in my actual experience as a Londoner, Citymapper beats Google every day. If Google were better, I'd use Google, but it's not.

Also, another major benefit of Citymapper over Google. Citymapper does a much better job of orienting you when walking. Google Maps seems to be slow, or maybe have UI issues when I'm trying to work out where I am and which direction I should be walking in. With Citymapper I never have an issue, it seems to use the IPhone compass functionality better than the Google Maps app.

The other major, major issue with Google, is the Directions UI on phone just seems half baked, like it was an after-thought. It has never felt nice to use and I'm often struggling trying to work out how to make it do what I want. I struggled when I first moved to London getting around until a co-worker advised I use CityMapper and then I never went back, it actually made me travel around London more because I felt so much more comfortable with how to get around.

E.g. On my phone I just tried to make Google show me a route from my home to a pharmacy in central London. The result: "Can't find a way there."

Google Maps can't, at least on my phone (11 pro) with the latest version, show me routes involving buses AND trains. It only shows me trains and not buses. If there is a way to make it show both it doesn't make it obvious.

In Google Maps I can only click on one option, walking, trains, car, etc. There is no option to just show me all methods and then compare them. This is one of the things CityMapper does incredibly well, it shows you every option possible and does so in a very nice presentation. Google Maps assumed you already know which SINGLE method of transportation you want to use and you have to choose it to begin with, which in my opinion is a poor way of handling this situation.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#96

Post by runako »

joejoebags wrote: post #79

What’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 monetiz…

> why go through the headache of opening it up to other businesses?

Such a platform is obviously necessary for the Internet; Google exposing Maps (& related APIs) makes it less likely that another company will build the default platform for map APIs on the Internet.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#97

Post by morsch »

marbu wrote: post #82
morsch wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Maps just isn't very good for hiking. But it's not just a map, it's got the yellow pages, Yelp, and, depending on where you are, various other things like hotel booking and public transport routing thrown in. My recent favorite feature is the live estimation of how crowded a store is, very useful during the pandemic. Much of this is stuff the software based on OSM isn't even trying, or doing so only very half…

Mapy.cz covers most of other use cases as well, including business info, public transport and other details. I personally find mapy.cz more tailored to pedestrian/public transport navigation within european city. The only feature which I go to google maps is the mentioned estimation of how crowded a place is (as this comes from android data, and google has an clear edge there).

The software supports the use cases but the data isn't there. Certainly for where I'm living. Most of the information is missing -- eg apparently there are no pediatricians in my city, many opening times are missing, in my area there are no photos, no reviews; other stuff is wrong. It's more comprehensive in Prague, though from a brief look Google still has more of everything.

I'm not saying that OSM (and other projects, but particularly OSM) can't catch up, especially when it comes to factual information. It has already shown that crowdsourcing can do better than Google at pure mapping.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#98

Post by echelon »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #86
echelon wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thankfully (1) there just aren't that many useful websites anymore. Most content lives in walled gardens. Negotiate a few deals to get around CloudFlare for those select few and you're set. [1] I'm being sarcastic.

'Many a true word was said in jest' as the aphorism goes. IME useful information has become somewhat concentrated into nodes, instead of trawling blogs for info it's all on stackoverflow/Twitter/whatever (depending on subject).

For certain populations of data and authors, it's true that centralization aids in discovery, distribution, discourse, maintenance, etc.

Unfortunately many of these channels are hooked up to hyper-growth valuation needs and this necessitates volume over quality.

Look at Quora, Pinterest, Medium, and LinkedIn. And I haven't even mentioned the biggest offenders.

I don't think I'm better served in 2020 than I was in 2008.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#99

Post by acomjean »

bobviolier wrote: post #7

These 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?

They are. I’ve been geotagging 100 arts locations in Somerville ma for a decade.

A volunteer who likes to bike checks out the locations. There used to be some that were quite off, now it’s really spot on.

Re: Google Maps' Moat Is Evaporating

#100

Post by aikinai »

htfu wrote: post #75
aikinai wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I honestly don’t even know what generation you’re assuming I’m from and referring to. Is this supposed to be something old people don’t understand? Or young people?

Of course you can have standalone jokes, but “I’m six years old” is not one.

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