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The goal is to let the Uber app do (or at least suggest) the mode choice for you. So instead of thinking 'hmm, I'll use PT, now I need to open app XYZ', you cou
by roel_v 8y ago
The goal is to let the Uber app do (or at least suggest) the mode choice for you. So instead of thinking 'hmm, I'll use PT, now I need to open app XYZ', you could be 'I want to go from point A to point B. Let me open the Uber app to check my options.' And those options would include the travel times and costs of all available modes.
Basically, the goal is to have one 'transport' app, and that would be the Uber app. Removing mental overhead - never having to think about what app you want to open (I realize how ridiculous it sounds to call that 'mental overhead', but let's just pretend that any non-zero cost is equal and an inefficiency).
Of course this could only happen if the Uber app has all functionality the Google Maps app has, and every bit as good, and also all functionality of all local public transport apps (like, it would have to have up to date information on the exact current location and time of the trains on the route you're looking at, as some PT apps do). This is a huge, dare I say it impossible task. But still, baby steps and all.
- erklik 8y ago> Of course this could only happen if the Uber app has all functionality the Google Maps app has, and every bit as good, Something that I have found is Uber doesn't seem to be as good as Google Maps doing routing between two people. Google has better traffic management and having routes that are shorter and faster. Uber seems to sometimes take a much longer route. Anecdote, of course but yeah, IMO, they have a long while to go yet.
- Tempest1981 8y agoSo the Uber drivers will, in turn, be using Google maps. Or Waze.
- joncrane 8y agoI was in Costa Rica and I used Google Maps to navigate my way around some beaches and stuff. And to look at the satellite imagery. Nothing to do with directions or even roads. No way Uber is competing with that.
- roel_v 8y agoJust serving up a bunch of maps and satellite imagery is probably one of the easier things to replicate though.
- paganel 8y agoYou would think so but having closely watched this online maps space for more than 10 years there was almost no-one who managed to really compete with Google on delivering nicer maps and nicer satellite views. Yahoo Maps used to have a more useful reverse geo-location API at the very beginning (I think 2005-2006) but shortly after Google caught up even there and they haven’t been surpassed by anyone since then.
- roel_v 8y agoSure, I'm not saying it's easy, but still out of all other things they'd be up against, it'd be on the easier side...
- paganel 8y agoApple tried it and failed, with a much bigger available budget, but, yeah, maybe if Uber manages to hire the right people from the very beginning they might pull it off.
- jhayward 8y agoIt's one of the most capital and labor intensive things you can do on the internet. Data freshness, depth, and quality are key and don't come cheap.
- masonic 8y agoAnd those options would include the travel times and costs of all available modes. All available modes, or all available Uber modes? In contract, Google shows you driving, biking, bus, public transportation, and rail all on the same page.
- bdamm 8y agoThe idea includes offering short hop Ubers with long-haul public transit, which Google won't do. Maybe Google will expand the multi-model option set that's already present in Transit to include short-hop Ubers and then I'd surely go to Gmaps every time.
- icebraining 8y agoFWIW, Citymapper already does this.
- bdamm 8y agoLooks really nice! Alas not for my city though (Portland, Oregon).