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I get reminded of this the most while driving and using Google Maps on an iPhone. I've definitely had several close calls in traffic, with faceId requiring me

by sbr464 8y ago

I get reminded of this the most while driving and using Google Maps on an iPhone. I've definitely had several close calls in traffic, with faceId requiring me to type the password, switch back to the maps app etc, since google maps can't stay open while the phone is locked like apple maps. I think it's a pretty serious dark pattern when you consciously make an app unsafe for your user. If their's a setting I'm missing to allow Google maps to stay on the lock screen, I'd love to know.

heavenlyblue 8y ago
Why can’t you keep Google Maps open instead? I disabled autolock long ago though - so maybe that’s not how you’re supposed to use them?
- 0xffff2 8y ago
  I don't use Google Maps, but Waze stays open just fine. As long as it's focused, my screen stays on and my phone stays unlocked. I don't understand OP's phrasing. They seems to be saying they want to use maps while the phone is locked, which doiesn't make any sense to me.
  - vlovich123 8y ago
    Apple Maps on iOS will actually display the ongoing navigation on the lock screen. That's what the user is asking of for Google Maps but currently it's restricted to Apple Maps. The main advantage is saving battery life since the screen isn't on in the lock-screen mode except preceding a change. Also, if a passenger is using the phone (e.g. changing the music) and accidentally locks it you still have access to navigation.
everyone 8y ago
Please dont fiddle with your phone and drive. It is illgeal* , and more importantly you will end up killing an innocent person. *Perhaps not in your specific country.
- Freak_NL 8y ago
  You are admirably polite in wording that request. If one absolutely must use a smartphone in traffic the only right moves to make after a navigation app stops working is to either ignore the device and continue on your way without it (seriously, can nobody navigate without these devices any more?) or to ignore the device and find a parking spot someone where you can sort it out. No matter what that dumb smartphone does, it cannot make you have close calls in traffic unless you are acting like an utter moron. It can't reach out and grab the wheel, it can't slam the brakes, it can't block your field of vision. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. This bit bears repeating: fiddle with that damn device and you will end up killing an innocent person.
  - noxToken 8y ago
    >...ignore the device and continue on your way without it (seriously, can nobody navigate without these devices any more?)... I can, and I'm sure most people can reasonably get around without on if they're familiar with the area. Towns and cities with a grid layouts and numbered roads means that most people can probably find an address if they get a cross, but most of the US is not laid out in that manner. It's doubly frustrating when you hit a neighborhood called Winding Oaks, and every road is Winding Oaks Trail, Winding Oaks Lane, Winding Oaks Circle, Winding Oaks Road, etc. However, no, I probably cannot get to a location if it's in an area without a grid layout that I'm unfamiliar with. I could probably get reasonably close if I reviewed the directions beforehand, but with turn-by-turn navigation, there's a good chance that I will not have done so with detail.
    - chronogram 8y ago
      Then find a parking spot or don’t drive if you have to rely on fiddling with your phone while driving.
      - noxToken 8y ago
        For the record, I'm not condoning using a phone while driving. I was only addressing the point of people not being able to navigate without modern navigation.
0xffff2 8y ago
Why do you need the app to stay open while the phone is locked? I don't use Google Maps, but when Waze is open it keeps the screen on and the phone unlocked.
- toast0 8y ago
  Not on an iPhone, but on longer drives, I will lock the phone to turn off the screen to conserve power and reduce distraction during long stretches where I don't need direction. It's nice when you can get back to navigation without unlocking.
sbr464 8y ago
To clarify - The difference between Google Maps and Apple Maps: If the phone is locked and navigation is in progress, on Apple, the active map shows in the lock screen. On Google, you would need to unlock the phone, and switch back to the Maps app. Of course (and to be fair) if you don't lock the phone and leave the maps app focused, both Google and Apple will stay in view. I've found that on longer drives where the maps app isn't needed, the phone will end up being locked/away, and when you do need a direction, that's when the API difference that I mentioned above clearly shows up. Apple is definitely holding that API to themselves, with a side effect of making a more dangerous interaction (however un-ideal) for the user.
- PeterSmit 8y ago
  How you drive your car is your responsibility. Navigation or not. If you kill someone or get them handicapped it's on you. Be considerate. Safety over everything else man.
  - black_puppydog 8y ago
    I don't think anyone was debating that. It's more that apple is deliberately making it harder for Google to build apps that in turn make it easier for the customer to drive safely, for reasons of platform control and, ultimately, profit.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - anoncake 8y ago
    If you design software in a manner that makes it harder to use safely, then you are also responsible for any accidents.
    - sbr464 7y ago
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

by sbr464 8y ago

heavenlyblue 8y ago

Why can’t you keep Google Maps open instead? I disabled autolock long ago though - so maybe that’s not how you’re supposed to use them?

0xffff2 8y ago
I don't use Google Maps, but Waze stays open just fine. As long as it's focused, my screen stays on and my phone stays unlocked. I don't understand OP's phrasing. They seems to be saying they want to use maps while the phone is locked, which doiesn't make any sense to me.
- vlovich123 8y ago
  Apple Maps on iOS will actually display the ongoing navigation on the lock screen. That's what the user is asking of for Google Maps but currently it's restricted to Apple Maps. The main advantage is saving battery life since the screen isn't on in the lock-screen mode except preceding a change. Also, if a passenger is using the phone (e.g. changing the music) and accidentally locks it you still have access to navigation.

everyone 8y ago

Please dont fiddle with your phone and drive. It is illgeal* , and more importantly you will end up killing an innocent person. *Perhaps not in your specific country.

Freak_NL 8y ago
You are admirably polite in wording that request. If one absolutely must use a smartphone in traffic the only right moves to make after a navigation app stops working is to either ignore the device and continue on your way without it (seriously, can nobody navigate without these devices any more?) or to ignore the device and find a parking spot someone where you can sort it out. No matter what that dumb smartphone does, it cannot make you have close calls in traffic unless you are acting like an utter moron. It can't reach out and grab the wheel, it can't slam the brakes, it can't block your field of vision. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. This bit bears repeating: fiddle with that damn device and you will end up killing an innocent person.
- noxToken 8y ago
  >...ignore the device and continue on your way without it (seriously, can nobody navigate without these devices any more?)... I can, and I'm sure most people can reasonably get around without on if they're familiar with the area. Towns and cities with a grid layouts and numbered roads means that most people can probably find an address if they get a cross, but most of the US is not laid out in that manner. It's doubly frustrating when you hit a neighborhood called Winding Oaks, and every road is Winding Oaks Trail, Winding Oaks Lane, Winding Oaks Circle, Winding Oaks Road, etc. However, no, I probably cannot get to a location if it's in an area without a grid layout that I'm unfamiliar with. I could probably get reasonably close if I reviewed the directions beforehand, but with turn-by-turn navigation, there's a good chance that I will not have done so with detail.
  - chronogram 8y ago
    Then find a parking spot or don’t drive if you have to rely on fiddling with your phone while driving.
    - noxToken 8y ago
      For the record, I'm not condoning using a phone while driving. I was only addressing the point of people not being able to navigate without modern navigation.

0xffff2 8y ago

Why do you need the app to stay open while the phone is locked? I don't use Google Maps, but when Waze is open it keeps the screen on and the phone unlocked.

toast0 8y ago
Not on an iPhone, but on longer drives, I will lock the phone to turn off the screen to conserve power and reduce distraction during long stretches where I don't need direction. It's nice when you can get back to navigation without unlocking.

sbr464 8y ago

To clarify - The difference between Google Maps and Apple Maps: If the phone is locked and navigation is in progress, on Apple, the active map shows in the lock screen. On Google, you would need to unlock the phone, and switch back to the Maps app. Of course (and to be fair) if you don't lock the phone and leave the maps app focused, both Google and Apple will stay in view. I've found that on longer drives where the maps app isn't needed, the phone will end up being locked/away, and when you do need a direction, that's when the API difference that I mentioned above clearly shows up. Apple is definitely holding that API to themselves, with a side effect of making a more dangerous interaction (however un-ideal) for the user.

PeterSmit 8y ago
How you drive your car is your responsibility. Navigation or not. If you kill someone or get them handicapped it's on you. Be considerate. Safety over everything else man.
- black_puppydog 8y ago
  I don't think anyone was debating that. It's more that apple is deliberately making it harder for Google to build apps that in turn make it easier for the customer to drive safely, for reasons of platform control and, ultimately, profit.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- anoncake 8y ago
  If you design software in a manner that makes it harder to use safely, then you are also responsible for any accidents.
  - sbr464 7y ago

deleted 8y ago

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