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The New Google Maps

maps.google.com

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Re: The New Google Maps

#91

"Request an invite". Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.

It could be worse, they did the same thing with Glass but then charged $1500 for the benefit of being chosen.

That said, I think it makes sense. Ask Apple how it feels to make a drastic change with maps.

Re: The New Google Maps

#92

"Request an invite". Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.

That was my first thought as well. Nope. Not going to go begging for a Google invite this time. I can see throttling your users to help test the product, but it's a Maps app for goodness sake. Maybe something other than "Invite" would be more palatable, like "Sign Up for Beta" for instance.

Re: The New Google Maps

#93
post #29

Does it feel odd to anyone else that you click the "Request an invite" button and it doesn't ask who you are? Also nowhere on the page does it show my identity.

It was odd indeed. And I checked to see which account I was logged in under, and it wasn't my "normal" account. So I switched to my Gmail/Google+ account and re-clicked, and then it said "you've already requested an invite." Odd.

Re: The New Google Maps

#94
post #32

"Request an invite". Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.

Facebook has consistently done the same thing with all of their new features (Graph Search, Timeline, etc). I fail to see why this is so egregious?

The first person to comment sets the narrative.

Re: The New Google Maps

#95
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook has consistently done the same thing with all of their new features (Graph Search, Timeline, etc). I fail to see why this is so egregious?

It's the disconnect between what Google is (the 800 pound gorilla that can roll out a new product like an appliance manufacturer can roll out a new toaster), and how Google sees itself (the brave disruptive startup launching something cool in private beta). It's the same disconnect that we know from Microsoft, that couldn't see itself as the monopolist they were, because their self-image was still that of the little…

I don't know why you assume that an invite system is something that's "cool" or only a viable strategy for small companies. It's a good and reasonable way to scale a new product.

Re: The New Google Maps

#96
post #49

This is a straight up attack on yelp, targeting local commerce. Their goal is that instead of searching yelp for massage therapy, you search google maps. That sort of query is extremely valuable (trust me - my company pays for it every day). It makes a lot of business sense - it's probably the most lucrative way to monetize maps, and get people to use google reviews more.

Yelp built a community around top reviewers and incentives people to review. Google Places doesn't really offer incentives for people to review or to spend time reviewing.

Google has Search to promote their stuff, even if it's inferior. Put theirs on top, meaning other reviews are much harder to find (people click on top links). That's how many people installed Chrome for example

Re: The New Google Maps

#97

"Request an invite". Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.

That was my first thought as well. Nope. Not going to go begging for a Google invite this time. I can see throttling your users to help test the product, but it's a Maps app for goodness sake. Maybe something other than "Invite" would be more palatable, like "Sign Up for Beta" for instance.

Exactly. I don't need to see it rolled out at maps.google.com for the world to start using, but I'd at least like to be able to follow a link to TRY it after seeing it in the keynote.

Re: The New Google Maps

#98
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook has consistently done the same thing with all of their new features (Graph Search, Timeline, etc). I fail to see why this is so egregious?

It's the disconnect between what Google is (the 800 pound gorilla that can roll out a new product like an appliance manufacturer can roll out a new toaster), and how Google sees itself (the brave disruptive startup launching something cool in private beta). It's the same disconnect that we know from Microsoft, that couldn't see itself as the monopolist they were, because their self-image was still that of the little…

The difference between a software launch and appliance product launch is that not everyone immediately goes and buys that new product. It slowly penetrates the market and feedback from the first buyers gives the manufacturer a chance to make minor modifications and deal with any issues. If Google flipped the switch and enabled the new maps with a flaw that went unnoticed until consumer use, they could potentially bring the whole service down.

Also, your negativity makes you sound very disgruntled.

Re: The New Google Maps

#99

"Request an invite". Dear god, Google still thinking it's a cute little startup. It really is the Microsoft story all over again.

It seems legitimate that they'd want to stagger the release of this. I think it's better for everybody that they do it in a way that those who want it, will use it and are interested get it first. Have you seen what the average user thinks when Facebook redesign things?

Re: The New Google Maps

#100
Bing Maps are quite aware of the zip code change that happened to my neighborhood more than a year ago and can map my address quite well. Google Maps are still pointing to a location that does not exist in real world unfortunately. I'd have hoped that they fixed these things first.
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