Google Maps tests new pop-up ads that give you an unnecessary detour

Man. I almost downvoted you purely outta anger for that idea lmao. Fucking hell.

With gmaps constantly suggesting off-ramp->on-ramp detours at over/underpasses to help you shorten your eta by 1 minute increase merging traffic, I doubt they would have any ethical hesitancy behind it.

Honestly, I imagine they may already have a deal (possibly under the table) with clearchannel and the likes.

This man has manager written all over him! Put him in charge of google maps! - Google probably

Does it have traffic data?

Id recommend osmand over organic maps

Is there any way I can help contribute public transport information to OSM? It's the one thing that Google maps does that I can't replace.

I wish I could get satellite view but I totally get why that's not a thing

But line no go up.

They need the money for the next quarter earnings report.

Is it too much to ask

Are you willing to deliver them consequences if they don't do it the way you want?

Those AI electricity bills don't pay for themselves.

Interesting to observe how our intuition is failing us while dealing with digital products. When someone gives you something for free on the street, naturally you get suspicious and start asking yourself "where is the catch?" But when there's a free app - no second thought. Everyone is using it so it must be ok. Well, Google and Facebook are nothing but glorified advertising agencies. The whole reason of their existence is to make money on ads. Edited: typos.

They used to have a reputation for employing smart people... Dumbass middle managers took over a while back and started making the stupidest decisions.

Revanced on my android.

Google doesn't give a shit if you live or die, so long as their corporate partners at Shell Oil and Sheets checks clear

It is by no means free tho. They are making lots of money from selling your location data and furthering their market dominance by forcing it on everyone by default

It's not a free product, your data is being sold.

clutter-free is OsmAnd (Open Street Map) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/OsmAnd

And unfortunately, for maps, it's basically just Apple and Google. I'm trying to get used to OSM, but it just isn't easy to do the things I want to do: find directions to a store.

Wait dude, you interrupted me mid jerk. Shame on you.

It's possible former Redditors don't realize you can edit the title of Lemmy posts.

Sure, I could. But I wanted to leave the original post as it was for transparency. I figured that was the most "open" thing to do.

who even likes adverts?

Advertisers

I have been using Kagi as an alternative search engine for over a month now and can't see me going back to Google anytime soon. Googles results are just full of adverts and garbage.

Google expected infinite growth in a finite system. Now that the growth is slowing they are trying to increase yield from their current pool of resources instead.

Tbh that kind of behavior will almost certainly be stopped automatically

Excellent idea. I give gas stations that play loud video ads 1 star and don’t go back. I give places that ask for a tip for a to-go order 1 star as well

I get the feeling, but if the business has no say in getting recommended, aren't you just punishing businesses that may not even know this program exists? That would suck for very small businesses.

Edit: my brain was thinking recommendations not paid ads so please disregard.

The old maps.me is reborn and active as Organic Maps now.

I've been using Gmaps since forever and can say I've never had any problem with it. I mean, it took me to the business office instead of the main entrance to a theme park once, but I can hardly fault it for that. Calling it actual hot trash just seems so out of nowhere to me. It's a fine product that I've had great experience with.

Is there an alternative to android auto?

Any links for the OS data street-number scripts?

Same, I wonder if there would be any way to report it to the state AG, maybe some pressure to ban it could hit google

They’d rather you be forced to have it on your screen, like old school tv ads.

Have never seen an ad on waze

Last I knew, yeah. Google bought them years ago. Moreover, I don't remember that "feature" being in Waze before Google acquired them. Those ads were the biggest reason I dropped Waze a while back.

"Google has been testing this idea in Waze "

Openstreetmap is really good...except for the detailed information about shops which is why I still use Google Maps if I need to know opening hours and other information.
OSM is just not widespread enough to be on the radar of shop owners to put their information on it themselves so volunteers have to do it. :/

OSM for the win

I have been testing OsmAnd for daily use today, and I'm gonna be closing my maps presence in the coming months :-) . I was really happy how it worked and felt, very close to what I want. After some extra tweaking, it's bound to be fantastic!

Is there any alternative that works well on android auto?

OpenStreetMaps clients also works and are available everywhere

Bought iPhone last year.

Tried Apple Maps the first week.

Put in address to friend’s new condo building.

Took me to a parking lot behind a grocery store next to the building, and then acted like I could drive through an old wooden fence to get to the condos.

5/10 I only had to drive to the other end of the block to find the only entrance to the property.

I’m sorry but as long as Apple Maps rely on and force you to install the Yelp app for reviews, I’m never using it.

LOL

The only thing Apple Maps lacks now is a Waze-like ability to report hazards, speed-traps, road closures etc. apparently that’s been a thing for a few years now, thanks!

I’ll have to check it out where I am, but I have a feeling that there might not be a big enough active user base to sufficiently crowd source the datapoints.. I guess, be the change you want to see in the world!

Waze works well also.

Edit: I'm getting a lot of down votes and just wanted to clarify that I have never seen an ad in Waze.

I 100% believe people saying there are a lot of ads. I think the way that I have my phone setup is why I'm not getting ads.

Will definitely have to look into the others mentioned here.

2016

But they aren’t providing live traffic congestion, right? That’s the only reason to use Google Maps. Not because of the maps or navigation.

I love organic maps and openstreetmaps. The biggest thing missing is satellite view. I like to wander around and explore an area on maps before visiting. OSM has more interesting/relevant details and better visual color coding than the vector street map on google. Google has a satellite map, which is non-negotiable for me especially if I need to quickly orient myself while driving in a new place. I use three layers loaded into qgis for planning trips: OSM, google maps satellite, and a topographic map from USGS. I sometimes use organic maps on my phone if I don’t have access to a computer with qgis. I rely on Google while on location because organic maps lacks a satellite feed.

If you have to fight with software that much just to use it for its core function, it’s time to use something else.

Apple Maps fuckin sucked ass at first, now it hasn’t failed me in years.

You’re completely right. I won’t use any other map thing now.

RIP MapQuest

I’ve preferred Apple Maps for a few years now, Googles used to be top of the game but it’s fallen off while Apple’s have IME improved

It's gotten so much better. Once they brought offline maps I made the full switch.

It happened to me yesterday in SoCal and I immediately switched to Apple Maps. Will try OSMand Maps & Magic Earth that I just set up