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I'm really curious why Google maps seems so .... neglected? Maybe all these ideas have been considered but rejected for one reason or another. * Why can I not

I'm really curious why Google maps seems so .... neglected? Maybe all these ideas have been considered but rejected for one reason or another. * Why can I not annotate the map with my own comments? I can mark a place but I can't label it or put any notes. Seems like for google it could a great source for big data (opt in). Would also seem like a possible lock in feature as in an incentive not to switch to another map system since you probably couldn't easily import your notes) * Why does search on maps suck so bad? I search for things and it gives me massively irrelevant answers halfway around the world even though it knows where I am. Why is actually searching so hard? Quite often I type something in, I want to "search" as in (show me markers on the map that match this query) but no search option appears, only a list of results which is not useful to me. I want to see them on the map. I don't know where 123 brown street is vs 567 red street but I would know if it would show me all of them on the map. That option is only available sometimes, not always. No idea why. * Why haven't they started selling ads on the maps? Or at least letting businesses register more info. I'd personally like to see logos/signs (small) instead of just generic markers. I'd also like to be to search for items and have it tell me where I can get them. Not just generic items but specific items. eg. not where can I buy appliances but where I can I buy/see the LG LSXS26466S * Why are the maps still so bad in so many parts of the world? Google maps does not know how to get from downtown Paris to Paris Disneyland by public transport. Google maps does not have public transportation info in Istanbul THE LARGEST CITY IN EUROPE!

jpatokal 11y ago
1) You can, it's called My Maps: http://mymaps.google.com http://mymaps.google.com 2) Search is hard, let's go shopping! 3) They have: https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3246303?hl=en-AU https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3246303?hl=en-AU 4) Public transport info generally relies on there being a competent transit authority that can provide a solid GTFS feed. You'd be surprised how hard even big, 1st-world cities can find this (here's looking at you, Melbourne).
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  > 4) Public transport info generally relies on there being a competent transit authority that can provide a solid GTFS feed. You'd be surprised how hard even big, 1st-world cities can find this (here's looking at you, Melbourne). Sometimes the authorities get into exclusive deals with other companies. Which is infuriating, because while I understand competition, et al., it's Google Maps (and by extension Google Now) we're talking about! I don't want to use that stupid startup that provides public transit navigation in my city. I want Google Now which is properly integrated with everything else on my phone.
modeless 11y ago
> I'd also like to be to search for items and have it tell me where I can get them. If I recall correctly this feature was actually implemented for a short time. You could search for "milk" and see listings directly on the map with prices. I believe the reason it never took off was retail stores aren't actually interested in letting people comparison shop in this way, so they didn't let Google have the data. Also store inventory data is pretty terrible in general so you'd likely drive to a store and find that they were out of stock, or the item was slightly different, or the price was wrong, or whatever. That's just speculation, though. You may not be able to search for products on the map anymore, but you can currently search for hotel prices: https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels/ https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels/ and soon gas prices http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2015/10/google-maps-making-stressful-times.html http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2015/10/google-maps-makin...
rtpg 11y ago
> * Why are the maps still so bad in so many parts of the world? Google maps does not know how to get from downtown Paris to Paris Disneyland by public transport. Google maps does not have public transportation info in Istanbul THE LARGEST CITY IN EUROPE! I know that there's a lot of deals that need to be made for public transportation data. I think the philosophy is if google can't get high quality data (notably: real time data that has things like delays and line shutdowns) for times of public transportation, they won't integrate it. The goal being to make sure that all the content is as high quality as possible, and not send people down the wrong way

jpatokal 11y ago

1) You can, it's called My Maps: http://mymaps.google.com http://mymaps.google.com 2) Search is hard, let's go shopping! 3) They have: https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3246303?hl=en-AU https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3246303?hl=en-AU 4) Public transport info generally relies on there being a competent transit authority that can provide a solid GTFS feed. You'd be surprised how hard even big, 1st-world cities can find this (here's looking at you, Melbourne).

TeMPOraL 11y ago
> 4) Public transport info generally relies on there being a competent transit authority that can provide a solid GTFS feed. You'd be surprised how hard even big, 1st-world cities can find this (here's looking at you, Melbourne). Sometimes the authorities get into exclusive deals with other companies. Which is infuriating, because while I understand competition, et al., it's Google Maps (and by extension Google Now) we're talking about! I don't want to use that stupid startup that provides public transit navigation in my city. I want Google Now which is properly integrated with everything else on my phone.

modeless 11y ago

> I'd also like to be to search for items and have it tell me where I can get them. If I recall correctly this feature was actually implemented for a short time. You could search for "milk" and see listings directly on the map with prices. I believe the reason it never took off was retail stores aren't actually interested in letting people comparison shop in this way, so they didn't let Google have the data. Also store inventory data is pretty terrible in general so you'd likely drive to a store and find that they were out of stock, or the item was slightly different, or the price was wrong, or whatever. That's just speculation, though. You may not be able to search for products on the map anymore, but you can currently search for hotel prices: https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels/ https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels/ and soon gas prices http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2015/10/google-maps-making-stressful-times.html http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2015/10/google-maps-makin...

rtpg 11y ago

> * Why are the maps still so bad in so many parts of the world? Google maps does not know how to get from downtown Paris to Paris Disneyland by public transport. Google maps does not have public transportation info in Istanbul THE LARGEST CITY IN EUROPE! I know that there's a lot of deals that need to be made for public transportation data. I think the philosophy is if google can't get high quality data (notably: real time data that has things like delays and line shutdowns) for times of public transportation, they won't integrate it. The goal being to make sure that all the content is as high quality as possible, and not send people down the wrong way