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

103 points by LordAtlas 2y ago

Xeyz0r 2y ago
A really controversial move that could have significant repercussions for user experience and trust. Cannot understand why the problem is not seen
dotcoma 2y ago
Enshittification.
- orblivion 2y ago
  It's just funny at this point.
- mxuribe 2y ago
  Most definitely! Or, worse: detour-ification? Or, the potentially horrible: encrash-ification? I have only played with OSM...and, honestly, I'm not going to complain if the ads are at a reasonable volume/quantity, and if they're only displayed while stationary...But, if they kick this off at a higher clip of number of ads, AND, they stat showing them while moving...Then forget that, i'd switch to OSM or other alternatives, and rather risk getting lost a little. Paper maps anyone? :-)
- AlbertCory 2y ago
  Indeed, and on Saturday I was driving in a slightly unfamiliar place and opened Maps just to find out how to get back on the freeway. The screen was completely covered with garbage, top and bottom. It wasn't even ads, but "parks and cool stuff to do near here" which is not remotely what I wanted right then. No obvious way to get rid of it, either.
sunaookami 2y ago
At least you will remember [brand] while having a deadly car crash!
- Xeyz0r 2y ago
  Would it be possible to sue?
edhelas 2y ago
OSM and the many wonderful apps built on it to the rescue!
- popcalc 2y ago
  For me the major deal-breaker is the dearth of business opening times information, especially in Poland.
  - lode 2y ago
    I try to add up to date opening hours for every business I frequent in OSM. These are available in Organic Maps (successor to Maps.me), even offline. Google does seem to have the upper hand for special cases like public holidays sometimes, but even those can be added in OSM.
    - elaus 2y ago
      And improving OSM _feels_ great in my experience. It's actually and primarily helping the open-source community. Google really incentivizes users to fix map data (like business info) and, after doing so, shows you popups like "Your change was seen by 10,000 people!". Really good UX. Yet, I was only doing free work for a mega corp which doesn't feel as satisfying (and I stopped doing so).
      - lode 2y ago
        My feelings exactly. I first got drawn to editing OSM instead of Waze because of local Waze volunteers acting like mini dictators (locking the map for people under a certain level, leading to inaccuracies like wrongly labelled construction in my own street which I could see with my own eyes but could not edit), not being an unpaid worker for Alphabet was a nice bonus and the reason I stayed in the long run.
  - Ajedi32 2y ago
    Yeah, sadly that's a bit of a chicken-egg problem. OSM isn't popular enough to crowdsource that information as well as Google can. Though in the spirit of "be the change you want to see", it's pretty easy to add opening hours any business you notice is missing them. Every Door and Street Complete are good, user-friendly editors on mobile.
qwerpy 2y ago
Apple Maps was a punchline for a while but I’ve been steadfastly using it for the past few years. There’s only a handful of times I questioned the results and consulted Google maps, only to be bombarded with ad PoI’s and reminded of why I avoided Google. This new ad format is ridiculous and I’m glad I’ll never have to see it.
- Xeyz0r 2y ago
  Navigation apps need to be reliable. But with these pop-ups - trust is not in the line
- hatsunearu 2y ago
  I'd say the navigation aspect of Apple Maps is far superior to that of Google Maps, but the reviews and business directories on Google Maps is much better, not to mention all my favorites and PoIs are stored in Google Maps.
- ravivooda 2y ago
  I've been using it for the past 3 years. Things I love about Apple Maps. 1. Limited distractions. 2. Traffic Lights, Stop signs are so easy to follow! 3. Lanes are rendered very clearly. Of course, once in every other blue moon I have to open Google Maps when I find myself in an alley with no outlet, while Apple Maps is telling me to drive through the building.
- syntaxing 2y ago
  Apple Maps navigation instructions is definitely superior to Google's. I've gotten "lost" a couple times using Google Maps recently because sometimes it'll be like bear left even though I'm suppose to go straight. I think the biggest con of Apple Maps is the UX. Searching for a store or place that's in a specific area not where you are currently geographically is way harder than it should be.
  - mnw21cam 2y ago
    I have definitely had Google be rather confused about its directions, telling me to take the first exit on a roundabout when it meant the second exit, on more than one roundabout that has been there unchanged for decades. Then there'll be the times when I get to a T-junction and it's completely silent, or when it tells me to go straight ahead, then makes that annoyed "you went the wrong way" sound when I do because it actually meant "turn right", and the times it takes me on a "shortcut" that takes twice as long. The directions suck probably about 20% of the time, but I have certainly seen no shenanigans like the ones described in the article.
lanza 2y ago
I guess this is the new "Be maximally evil" Google. Visual ads while driving that force you to look at your phone.
- fredski42 2y ago
  Just wait until it start autoplaying video ads..
- 0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
  Truly amazing that it was allowed to cover the map real estate. If it was a dedicated portion of the screen that might show ads, I guess it would be better?
- mnw21cam 2y ago
  A few times I have been in the middle of driving, and Google has suddenly said "We have found an alternative route that is two minutes faster - if would like to keep the original route, then tap the cancel button." Which is soliciting people to break the law. And the alternative route is invariably a stupid one.
isoprophlex 2y ago
That's the most brazen example of "if you're not paying for it, you are the product" I've seen in a while. Google truly is nothing but a huge venus fly trap that kills its prey by injecting ads.
- 01HNNWZ0MV43FF 2y ago
  Even if you do pay, if the market will bear ads, they show up. Like billboards and cable TV. I pay for the roads, I pay for the TV. Ads anyway.
  - orblivion 2y ago
    "I've got an idea. You know how our ad-free service is doing great? What if we took that, but then added some ads?"
    - Spivak 2y ago
      You don't even need the scare quotes -- that's exactly the conversation. The people making these decisions genuinely don't see ad-free as a feature, just a nice-to-have convenience that some weirdos will pay a premium for. And broadly speaking, they're right. When you offer a cheaper option with ads people choose it -- a lot of people choose it. The biggest barrier to services adding ads isn't anything like enshittification or market lock-in or whatever, it's that ad-delivery is hard and it takes large, mature company with lots of users to both sport the manpower to get it done and enough eyeballs to make the ROI positive. All those little stupidly named ad-supported streaming platforms that are popping up are almost always backed by a larger company's ad network. Tubi is Fox, Xumo is Comcast, Freevee is Amazon.
      - orblivion 2y ago
        > The people making these decisions genuinely don't see ad-free as a feature, just a nice-to-have convenience that some weirdos will pay a premium for. That would be fine if they respected us enough to say "ad-free is too niche of a feature to be worth it to us, we're pulling it".
LegitShady 2y ago
I would stop using Google maps for live directions if this becomes the norm.
- lanza 2y ago
  If I see a single ad I'm uninstalling it and switching to Apple maps.
  - jurassicfoxy 2y ago
    I've driven to the wrong location twice because the top search result was an ad. e.g. I searched for "Home Depot" and immediately clicked on the top link (there's only one Home Depot nearby) and after a few mins realized I was headed somewhere else entirely, because they'd injected a tiny subtle ad above their search results.
- Xeyz0r 2y ago
  And it would be a good decision
- beretguy 2y ago
  Just do it now.
ChrisArchitect 2y ago
> Google seems to have borrowed this format from Waze, which has displayed similar pop-up ads for several years. Take your complaints years ago to Waze.
- popcalc 2y ago
  Which has been owned by Google since 2013? https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-brings-waze-and-maps-teams-together-in-cost-cutting-move/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-brings-waze-and-maps-te...
  - ChrisArchitect 2y ago
    no kidding, so this isn't something G just came up with but another one of the features of Waze they're porting over.
- kaibee 2y ago
  Google bought Waze in 2013.
- fortyseven 2y ago
  That's great, but someone had to decide to bring that shit to Google Maps. The ghost of Waze didn't force itself upon a helpless Google developer.
rvba 2y ago
The people who ruined search now ruin maps. I wonder why the shareholders allow this. Google losing market share will be a big problem for the company. But hey, some fractions of a cent earned now.
nick238 2y ago
They already get so much information from maps running on your phone, why do they need to shove ads onto driving directions? Add a few pins when browsing or searching to related things. If they're similarly relevant (i.e. I search for "Chick-fil-a" Sunday, show me other chicken shops), the conversion rate could be pretty solid.
- orblivion 2y ago
  > They already get so much information from maps running on your phone, why do they need to shove ads onto driving directions? I mean, what are they doing with that information ultimately? Probably serving you ads somewhere, right?
supportengineer 2y ago
Is there any car sold in the US that still has a built-in map? For example my Honda from the early 2000's has it stored on a DVD player under the driver's seat.
- i_am_proteus 2y ago
  You can still get standalone GPS map units - connectivity only required for traffic and similar features. Map updates are paid.
- jazzyjackson 2y ago
  I don't intend to let go of my 2020 Prius for as long as I can help it, largely for this reason. I was able to purchase a microSD card with updated maps to catch it up to 2022 but had to ask a couple of dealerships before someone knew how to look up the part number for it, not sure if they'll continue to publish updates, but the Toyotas that came after this one expect you to have cell signal to determine a route which is ridiculous IMO, I don't even live in the boonies but between towns I have 0 cell signal.
- aaomidi 2y ago
  Tesla. Traffic is "paid" but map updates are free.
- whamlastxmas 2y ago
  Tesla works offline but doesn’t store points of interest or have search functionality. You can type in a specific address and it will navigate there though
greyface- 2y ago
It seems unwise for a NHTSA-regulated entity to accept payment to promote distracted driving.
- gruez 2y ago
  Source that google maps is "NHTSA-regulated"? Or are you talking about Waymo, which has the same parent company as Google?
  - greyface- 2y ago
    Yes, I'm talking about Waymo.
    - gruez 2y ago
      In that case I'm sure the "NHTSA-regulated entity" part only applies to Waymo, not Google or Alphabet. Your statement therefore makes little sense.
      - greyface- 2y ago
        I'm not suggesting that the NHTSA has the authority to stop Google Maps from doing this, but they do have the authority and discretion to shut Waymo down. It's unwise for one arm of Google/Alphabet to act in this manner when another arm of Google/Alphabet depends existentially on NHTSA approval. Google vs Alphabet vs Waymo LLC is a legal fiction; you, I, and regulators all know this. Google's actions reflect on Waymo, and vice versa.
gpvos 2y ago
At least they still highlight the cancel button, if I interpret the image correctly. I wonder how long that will last.
- mnw21cam 2y ago
  And why exactly are you looking at your phone and touching it while driving?
pfdietz 2y ago
Enshitification, is there anything it can't spoil?
lkramer 2y ago
I use Waze a lot, but have not encountered (noticed) anything like this. Is it only a US thing?
frozenlettuce 2y ago
Here in Brazil, it is not uncommon to hear about people being kidnapped/shot/killed because Google Maps decided to direct them into a zone controlled by organized crime. When news came out that those routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive", I found it amusing how someone in Palo Alto presenting a PowerPoint with a couple of ESG slides could lead to someone else being shot with an AK-47. If the above sounds unreal: https://www.reddit.com/r/brasilivre/comments/mtfwfq/carro_do_google_sendo_recebido_pelos_moradores_de/#lightbox https://www.reddit.com/r/brasilivre/comments/mtfwfq/carro_do...
- gruez 2y ago
  >When news came out that those routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive", I found it amusing how someone in Palo Alto presenting a PowerPoint with a couple of ESG slides could lead to someone else being shot with an AK-47. source? The above link only seems to support the claim there's armed people on streetview, not that google is directing people to crime ridden areas for "ESG" purposes.
  - whamlastxmas 2y ago
    Probably info wars dot com
  - frozenlettuce 2y ago
    I guess that you missed this from some weeks ago? https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-112436221.html https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362... The link in the OP is an example of what people may encounter if they follow said routes https://www.euronews.com/2016/12/10/italian-tourist-killed-after-gps-system-leads-him-into-rio-favela https://www.euronews.com/2016/12/10/italian-tourist-killed-a...
    - gruez 2y ago
      >I guess that you missed this from some weeks ago? https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362 https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362... Problems with the veracity of those statements aside, at best the it confirms that google cares about being "inclusive", but the same source also specifically says that current routes are "objective", which disproves op's claim that "routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive""
rurp 2y ago
Google Search gets most of the attention for being ruined by Google, but I think the Maps trajectory is just as bad. It has shown remarkable consistency in getting worse year after year, for a long time now. Basic functionality is regularly broken or degraded, and the UI is increasingly covered in ads of various types. Maps is a prime example of the costs from not enforcing antitrust laws. Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market and is now squeezing it for all it can. This product is only going to get worse for the foreseeable future.
- gruez 2y ago
  >Maps is a prime example of the costs from not enforcing antitrust laws. Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market and is now squeezing it for all it can. The alternative to "Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market" (ie. a non-subsidized maps app) is you paying $100 for a dedicated GPS device, paying $30/year for tomtom[1], or using a free app like organic maps. All of those are still options today. What exactly is "the cost" from letting google subsidize its maps app? Do you think that if such anti-trust laws were enforced, maps would still be free and ad-free? [1] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tomtom-go-navigation/id884963367 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tomtom-go-navigation/id8849633...
  - rurp 2y ago
    Are we really arguing about whether a massively advertised "free" product will distort a market? If a heavily subsidized Google Maps hadn't been dominating the ecosystem for the past decade and a half many more companies would have competed with various approaches to features, UX, and monetization. You seem to be assuming that all of that competition would have resulted in no improvements over the early 2000s. I guess that's possible, but I expect it would have gone more like nearly every other part of the tech landscape and some actual innovation would have happened. No I'm not expecting that there would be a perpetually free and ad-free option, that wouldn't make any sense. But the space of possibility is vastly more broad than totally free or the dreck that Google Maps has turned into.
bradley13 2y ago
Out Hyundai has maps that are at least as good as Google. For example, we live on a rural road, at least 10 years old, and Google doesn't know about it. Yes, I've submitted an update, multiple times. Unfortunately, the Hyindai routing is not as good, and does sometimes make odd mistakes. We use the Hyundai navigation 99% of the time.
- _puk 2y ago
  Submitting an update is infuriating with Google maps. Submit an update, accepted, and now working as expected. Three weeks later and it's back to broken again. It's like every update just wipes the corrections that have been submitted.
ScoutOrgo 2y ago
At what point is google liable for the increased rate of accidents from features like this? Surely they have some data that can estimate users getting in accidents while using gmaps.
boramalper 2y ago
It’s lacking in POI but I find Organic Maps great otherwise (if what you are looking for is there). https://organicmaps.app/ https://organicmaps.app/
Havoc 2y ago
That’s basically google lately -trying to figure out which square inch of their real estate they haven’t drowned in ads yet.
1vuio0pswjnm7 2y ago
"For the past two years, Google has provided information to over 1 billion users to help them make more sustainable choices annually through our products. We achieved this by offering sustainability features like fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps and more transportation options in Search, such as train routes." "Fuel-efficient routing By building AI models on the emissions profile of different vehicle types, fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps analyzes traffic, terrain, and the vehicles engine (gas/petrol, diesel, hybrid, or electric) to find the most efficient route. This may mean fewer stops for gas engines, routes favoring highway speeds for diesel vehicles, and maximizing downhill stretches for electric cars to boost regenerative braking all while providing the same or similar ETA." https://www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2024-environmental-report.pdf https://www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2024-e...
mensetmanusman 2y ago
Google maps peaked a few years ago. The constant recommendations of hour detours along a drive are annoying, can they be disabled?

103 points by LordAtlas 2y ago

A really controversial move that could have significant repercussions for user experience and trust. Cannot understand why the problem is not seen

dotcoma 2y ago

Enshittification.

orblivion 2y ago
It's just funny at this point.
mxuribe 2y ago
Most definitely! Or, worse: detour-ification? Or, the potentially horrible: encrash-ification? I have only played with OSM...and, honestly, I'm not going to complain if the ads are at a reasonable volume/quantity, and if they're only displayed while stationary...But, if they kick this off at a higher clip of number of ads, AND, they stat showing them while moving...Then forget that, i'd switch to OSM or other alternatives, and rather risk getting lost a little. Paper maps anyone? :-)
AlbertCory 2y ago
Indeed, and on Saturday I was driving in a slightly unfamiliar place and opened Maps just to find out how to get back on the freeway. The screen was completely covered with garbage, top and bottom. It wasn't even ads, but "parks and cool stuff to do near here" which is not remotely what I wanted right then. No obvious way to get rid of it, either.

sunaookami 2y ago

At least you will remember [brand] while having a deadly car crash!

Xeyz0r 2y ago
Would it be possible to sue?

edhelas 2y ago

OSM and the many wonderful apps built on it to the rescue!

popcalc 2y ago
For me the major deal-breaker is the dearth of business opening times information, especially in Poland.
- lode 2y ago
  I try to add up to date opening hours for every business I frequent in OSM. These are available in Organic Maps (successor to Maps.me), even offline. Google does seem to have the upper hand for special cases like public holidays sometimes, but even those can be added in OSM.
  - elaus 2y ago
    And improving OSM _feels_ great in my experience. It's actually and primarily helping the open-source community. Google really incentivizes users to fix map data (like business info) and, after doing so, shows you popups like "Your change was seen by 10,000 people!". Really good UX. Yet, I was only doing free work for a mega corp which doesn't feel as satisfying (and I stopped doing so).
    - lode 2y ago
      My feelings exactly. I first got drawn to editing OSM instead of Waze because of local Waze volunteers acting like mini dictators (locking the map for people under a certain level, leading to inaccuracies like wrongly labelled construction in my own street which I could see with my own eyes but could not edit), not being an unpaid worker for Alphabet was a nice bonus and the reason I stayed in the long run.
- Ajedi32 2y ago
  Yeah, sadly that's a bit of a chicken-egg problem. OSM isn't popular enough to crowdsource that information as well as Google can. Though in the spirit of "be the change you want to see", it's pretty easy to add opening hours any business you notice is missing them. Every Door and Street Complete are good, user-friendly editors on mobile.

qwerpy 2y ago

Apple Maps was a punchline for a while but I’ve been steadfastly using it for the past few years. There’s only a handful of times I questioned the results and consulted Google maps, only to be bombarded with ad PoI’s and reminded of why I avoided Google. This new ad format is ridiculous and I’m glad I’ll never have to see it.

Xeyz0r 2y ago
Navigation apps need to be reliable. But with these pop-ups - trust is not in the line
hatsunearu 2y ago
I'd say the navigation aspect of Apple Maps is far superior to that of Google Maps, but the reviews and business directories on Google Maps is much better, not to mention all my favorites and PoIs are stored in Google Maps.
ravivooda 2y ago
I've been using it for the past 3 years. Things I love about Apple Maps. 1. Limited distractions. 2. Traffic Lights, Stop signs are so easy to follow! 3. Lanes are rendered very clearly. Of course, once in every other blue moon I have to open Google Maps when I find myself in an alley with no outlet, while Apple Maps is telling me to drive through the building.
syntaxing 2y ago
Apple Maps navigation instructions is definitely superior to Google's. I've gotten "lost" a couple times using Google Maps recently because sometimes it'll be like bear left even though I'm suppose to go straight. I think the biggest con of Apple Maps is the UX. Searching for a store or place that's in a specific area not where you are currently geographically is way harder than it should be.
- mnw21cam 2y ago
  I have definitely had Google be rather confused about its directions, telling me to take the first exit on a roundabout when it meant the second exit, on more than one roundabout that has been there unchanged for decades. Then there'll be the times when I get to a T-junction and it's completely silent, or when it tells me to go straight ahead, then makes that annoyed "you went the wrong way" sound when I do because it actually meant "turn right", and the times it takes me on a "shortcut" that takes twice as long. The directions suck probably about 20% of the time, but I have certainly seen no shenanigans like the ones described in the article.

lanza 2y ago

I guess this is the new "Be maximally evil" Google. Visual ads while driving that force you to look at your phone.

fredski42 2y ago
Just wait until it start autoplaying video ads..
0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
Truly amazing that it was allowed to cover the map real estate. If it was a dedicated portion of the screen that might show ads, I guess it would be better?
mnw21cam 2y ago
A few times I have been in the middle of driving, and Google has suddenly said "We have found an alternative route that is two minutes faster - if would like to keep the original route, then tap the cancel button." Which is soliciting people to break the law. And the alternative route is invariably a stupid one.

isoprophlex 2y ago

That's the most brazen example of "if you're not paying for it, you are the product" I've seen in a while. Google truly is nothing but a huge venus fly trap that kills its prey by injecting ads.

01HNNWZ0MV43FF 2y ago
Even if you do pay, if the market will bear ads, they show up. Like billboards and cable TV. I pay for the roads, I pay for the TV. Ads anyway.
- orblivion 2y ago
  "I've got an idea. You know how our ad-free service is doing great? What if we took that, but then added some ads?"
  - Spivak 2y ago
    You don't even need the scare quotes -- that's exactly the conversation. The people making these decisions genuinely don't see ad-free as a feature, just a nice-to-have convenience that some weirdos will pay a premium for. And broadly speaking, they're right. When you offer a cheaper option with ads people choose it -- a lot of people choose it. The biggest barrier to services adding ads isn't anything like enshittification or market lock-in or whatever, it's that ad-delivery is hard and it takes large, mature company with lots of users to both sport the manpower to get it done and enough eyeballs to make the ROI positive. All those little stupidly named ad-supported streaming platforms that are popping up are almost always backed by a larger company's ad network. Tubi is Fox, Xumo is Comcast, Freevee is Amazon.
    - orblivion 2y ago
      > The people making these decisions genuinely don't see ad-free as a feature, just a nice-to-have convenience that some weirdos will pay a premium for. That would be fine if they respected us enough to say "ad-free is too niche of a feature to be worth it to us, we're pulling it".

LegitShady 2y ago

I would stop using Google maps for live directions if this becomes the norm.

lanza 2y ago
If I see a single ad I'm uninstalling it and switching to Apple maps.
- jurassicfoxy 2y ago
  I've driven to the wrong location twice because the top search result was an ad. e.g. I searched for "Home Depot" and immediately clicked on the top link (there's only one Home Depot nearby) and after a few mins realized I was headed somewhere else entirely, because they'd injected a tiny subtle ad above their search results.
Xeyz0r 2y ago
And it would be a good decision
beretguy 2y ago
Just do it now.

ChrisArchitect 2y ago

> Google seems to have borrowed this format from Waze, which has displayed similar pop-up ads for several years. Take your complaints years ago to Waze.

popcalc 2y ago
Which has been owned by Google since 2013? https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-brings-waze-and-maps-teams-together-in-cost-cutting-move/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-brings-waze-and-maps-te...
- ChrisArchitect 2y ago
  no kidding, so this isn't something G just came up with but another one of the features of Waze they're porting over.
kaibee 2y ago
Google bought Waze in 2013.
fortyseven 2y ago
That's great, but someone had to decide to bring that shit to Google Maps. The ghost of Waze didn't force itself upon a helpless Google developer.

rvba 2y ago

The people who ruined search now ruin maps. I wonder why the shareholders allow this. Google losing market share will be a big problem for the company. But hey, some fractions of a cent earned now.

nick238 2y ago

They already get so much information from maps running on your phone, why do they need to shove ads onto driving directions? Add a few pins when browsing or searching to related things. If they're similarly relevant (i.e. I search for "Chick-fil-a" Sunday, show me other chicken shops), the conversion rate could be pretty solid.

orblivion 2y ago
> They already get so much information from maps running on your phone, why do they need to shove ads onto driving directions? I mean, what are they doing with that information ultimately? Probably serving you ads somewhere, right?

supportengineer 2y ago

Is there any car sold in the US that still has a built-in map? For example my Honda from the early 2000's has it stored on a DVD player under the driver's seat.

i_am_proteus 2y ago
You can still get standalone GPS map units - connectivity only required for traffic and similar features. Map updates are paid.
jazzyjackson 2y ago
I don't intend to let go of my 2020 Prius for as long as I can help it, largely for this reason. I was able to purchase a microSD card with updated maps to catch it up to 2022 but had to ask a couple of dealerships before someone knew how to look up the part number for it, not sure if they'll continue to publish updates, but the Toyotas that came after this one expect you to have cell signal to determine a route which is ridiculous IMO, I don't even live in the boonies but between towns I have 0 cell signal.
aaomidi 2y ago
Tesla. Traffic is "paid" but map updates are free.
whamlastxmas 2y ago
Tesla works offline but doesn’t store points of interest or have search functionality. You can type in a specific address and it will navigate there though

greyface- 2y ago

It seems unwise for a NHTSA-regulated entity to accept payment to promote distracted driving.

gruez 2y ago
Source that google maps is "NHTSA-regulated"? Or are you talking about Waymo, which has the same parent company as Google?
- greyface- 2y ago
  Yes, I'm talking about Waymo.
  - gruez 2y ago
    In that case I'm sure the "NHTSA-regulated entity" part only applies to Waymo, not Google or Alphabet. Your statement therefore makes little sense.
    - greyface- 2y ago
      I'm not suggesting that the NHTSA has the authority to stop Google Maps from doing this, but they do have the authority and discretion to shut Waymo down. It's unwise for one arm of Google/Alphabet to act in this manner when another arm of Google/Alphabet depends existentially on NHTSA approval. Google vs Alphabet vs Waymo LLC is a legal fiction; you, I, and regulators all know this. Google's actions reflect on Waymo, and vice versa.

gpvos 2y ago

At least they still highlight the cancel button, if I interpret the image correctly. I wonder how long that will last.

mnw21cam 2y ago
And why exactly are you looking at your phone and touching it while driving?

pfdietz 2y ago

Enshitification, is there anything it can't spoil?

lkramer 2y ago

I use Waze a lot, but have not encountered (noticed) anything like this. Is it only a US thing?

frozenlettuce 2y ago

Here in Brazil, it is not uncommon to hear about people being kidnapped/shot/killed because Google Maps decided to direct them into a zone controlled by organized crime. When news came out that those routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive", I found it amusing how someone in Palo Alto presenting a PowerPoint with a couple of ESG slides could lead to someone else being shot with an AK-47. If the above sounds unreal: https://www.reddit.com/r/brasilivre/comments/mtfwfq/carro_do_google_sendo_recebido_pelos_moradores_de/#lightbox https://www.reddit.com/r/brasilivre/comments/mtfwfq/carro_do...

gruez 2y ago
>When news came out that those routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive", I found it amusing how someone in Palo Alto presenting a PowerPoint with a couple of ESG slides could lead to someone else being shot with an AK-47. source? The above link only seems to support the claim there's armed people on streetview, not that google is directing people to crime ridden areas for "ESG" purposes.
- whamlastxmas 2y ago
  Probably info wars dot com
- frozenlettuce 2y ago
  I guess that you missed this from some weeks ago? https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-112436221.html https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362... The link in the OP is an example of what people may encounter if they follow said routes https://www.euronews.com/2016/12/10/italian-tourist-killed-after-gps-system-leads-him-into-rio-favela https://www.euronews.com/2016/12/10/italian-tourist-killed-a...
  - gruez 2y ago
    >I guess that you missed this from some weeks ago? https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362 https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-maps-may-not-offer-1124362... Problems with the veracity of those statements aside, at best the it confirms that google cares about being "inclusive", but the same source also specifically says that current routes are "objective", which disproves op's claim that "routes were being chosen to make the app more "inclusive""

rurp 2y ago

Google Search gets most of the attention for being ruined by Google, but I think the Maps trajectory is just as bad. It has shown remarkable consistency in getting worse year after year, for a long time now. Basic functionality is regularly broken or degraded, and the UI is increasingly covered in ads of various types. Maps is a prime example of the costs from not enforcing antitrust laws. Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market and is now squeezing it for all it can. This product is only going to get worse for the foreseeable future.

gruez 2y ago
>Maps is a prime example of the costs from not enforcing antitrust laws. Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market and is now squeezing it for all it can. The alternative to "Google spent billions of dollars from its ad monopoly to control this market" (ie. a non-subsidized maps app) is you paying $100 for a dedicated GPS device, paying $30/year for tomtom[1], or using a free app like organic maps. All of those are still options today. What exactly is "the cost" from letting google subsidize its maps app? Do you think that if such anti-trust laws were enforced, maps would still be free and ad-free? [1] https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tomtom-go-navigation/id884963367 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tomtom-go-navigation/id8849633...
- rurp 2y ago
  Are we really arguing about whether a massively advertised "free" product will distort a market? If a heavily subsidized Google Maps hadn't been dominating the ecosystem for the past decade and a half many more companies would have competed with various approaches to features, UX, and monetization. You seem to be assuming that all of that competition would have resulted in no improvements over the early 2000s. I guess that's possible, but I expect it would have gone more like nearly every other part of the tech landscape and some actual innovation would have happened. No I'm not expecting that there would be a perpetually free and ad-free option, that wouldn't make any sense. But the space of possibility is vastly more broad than totally free or the dreck that Google Maps has turned into.

bradley13 2y ago

Out Hyundai has maps that are at least as good as Google. For example, we live on a rural road, at least 10 years old, and Google doesn't know about it. Yes, I've submitted an update, multiple times. Unfortunately, the Hyindai routing is not as good, and does sometimes make odd mistakes. We use the Hyundai navigation 99% of the time.

_puk 2y ago
Submitting an update is infuriating with Google maps. Submit an update, accepted, and now working as expected. Three weeks later and it's back to broken again. It's like every update just wipes the corrections that have been submitted.

ScoutOrgo 2y ago

At what point is google liable for the increased rate of accidents from features like this? Surely they have some data that can estimate users getting in accidents while using gmaps.

boramalper 2y ago

It’s lacking in POI but I find Organic Maps great otherwise (if what you are looking for is there). https://organicmaps.app/ https://organicmaps.app/

Havoc 2y ago

That’s basically google lately -trying to figure out which square inch of their real estate they haven’t drowned in ads yet.

1vuio0pswjnm7 2y ago

"For the past two years, Google has provided information to over 1 billion users to help them make more sustainable choices annually through our products. We achieved this by offering sustainability features like fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps and more transportation options in Search, such as train routes." "Fuel-efficient routing By building AI models on the emissions profile of different vehicle types, fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps analyzes traffic, terrain, and the vehicles engine (gas/petrol, diesel, hybrid, or electric) to find the most efficient route. This may mean fewer stops for gas engines, routes favoring highway speeds for diesel vehicles, and maximizing downhill stretches for electric cars to boost regenerative braking all while providing the same or similar ETA." https://www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2024-environmental-report.pdf https://www.gstatic.com/gumdrop/sustainability/google-2024-e...

mensetmanusman 2y ago

Google maps peaked a few years ago. The constant recommendations of hour detours along a drive are annoying, can they be disabled?