3 ms·

Why Doesn't Google Maps Use Its Own Subdomain?

3 points by yoshke 5y ago

pwg 5y ago
> Why Doesn't Google Maps Use Its Own Subdomain? It did, for a long time. It was at maps.google.com for quite some time. Then, sometime about 2 or so years ago, it was moved to www.google.com/maps and the old maps.google.com became a redirect to the new location.
- yoshke 5y ago
  That's very interesting.
  - notlukesky 5y ago
    Nothing compelling comes to mind now for the move.
yosito 5y ago
I, too, wonder how valuable location data is to Google. I've recently almost fully degoogled myself, but Google's location-tracking things are the hardest to get away from: Google Maps, Google Location Services, and Google Fi. I'll be switching to a custom Android ROM with microG instead of Google Play services soon, so that should help, and Google Fi is technically not hard to get away from, but since I spend most of my time internationally, it's still useful for me. I'll be buying a second phone soon strictly for my Google SIM, so I can keep Google off of the phone I use daily. I've stopped using Google Maps as my primary maps app, but there really isn't a good replacement for looking up updated local business information, saving favorite map pins, or navigating public transportation. There are some local apps that are ok for those things, but since I travel a lot, those apps are hit or miss. Anyway, from the last few months of degoogling, I've noticed that it's really hard to prevent Google from knowing your location at all times. I wouldn't be surprised if Google knows >99% of Android users' locations at all times, and most iPhone users' too.
- yoshke 5y ago
  > I'll be switching to a custom Android ROM with microG instead of Google Play services soon I've been trying to use apps mostly from F-Droid recently, but, yes, with Google Play Services infrastructure underneath, it doesn't really make that much of a difference. Haven't heard of microG before, going to check it out! > there really isn't a good replacement for looking up updated local business information, saving favorite map pins, or navigating public transportation Same experience here. The quality of many services depends on how many people are using them, unfortunately.

3 points by yoshke 5y ago

pwg 5y ago

> Why Doesn't Google Maps Use Its Own Subdomain? It did, for a long time. It was at maps.google.com for quite some time. Then, sometime about 2 or so years ago, it was moved to www.google.com/maps and the old maps.google.com became a redirect to the new location.

yoshke 5y ago
That's very interesting.
- notlukesky 5y ago
  Nothing compelling comes to mind now for the move.

yosito 5y ago

I, too, wonder how valuable location data is to Google. I've recently almost fully degoogled myself, but Google's location-tracking things are the hardest to get away from: Google Maps, Google Location Services, and Google Fi. I'll be switching to a custom Android ROM with microG instead of Google Play services soon, so that should help, and Google Fi is technically not hard to get away from, but since I spend most of my time internationally, it's still useful for me. I'll be buying a second phone soon strictly for my Google SIM, so I can keep Google off of the phone I use daily. I've stopped using Google Maps as my primary maps app, but there really isn't a good replacement for looking up updated local business information, saving favorite map pins, or navigating public transportation. There are some local apps that are ok for those things, but since I travel a lot, those apps are hit or miss. Anyway, from the last few months of degoogling, I've noticed that it's really hard to prevent Google from knowing your location at all times. I wouldn't be surprised if Google knows >99% of Android users' locations at all times, and most iPhone users' too.

yoshke 5y ago
> I'll be switching to a custom Android ROM with microG instead of Google Play services soon I've been trying to use apps mostly from F-Droid recently, but, yes, with Google Play Services infrastructure underneath, it doesn't really make that much of a difference. Haven't heard of microG before, going to check it out! > there really isn't a good replacement for looking up updated local business information, saving favorite map pins, or navigating public transportation Same experience here. The quality of many services depends on how many people are using them, unfortunately.