5 ms·

Ask HN: What is this triangle in the Philippines?

54 points by rajeemcariazo 12y ago

icebraining 12y ago
Probably a bug; at least Nokia Maps has no such thing: https://www.here.com/discover?map=14.1088,120.63979,8,normal https://www.here.com/discover?map=14.1088,120.63979,8,normal
- kissickas 12y ago
  Well, satellite view also shows that there is nothing there. I think OP wanted to know how it got there, though.
- reitanqild 12y ago
  For others who haven't tried it yet, here.com seems like a very interesting alternative -this was the first time I tried https://www.here.com/ https://www.here.com/ (Nokia Maps it seems?). I always assumed Nokia Maps were only available on Nokia devices. I have a feeling that they have got something right compared to Google Maps. Based on a few seconds reading-HN-in-lunch evaluation I'm not sure what though.
  - Otik 12y ago
    Yep, HERE is the brand that replaced Nokia Maps, and before that it was Navteq. They're part of the remnants of Nokia - the parts that MS didn't buy. I think they have apps on pretty much all devices now, and now that they are no longer part of a company that's making Windows Phones, I imagine they're probably putting more effort into Android and iOS than they were before.
    - freehunter 12y ago
      I've been waiting for Nokia or Bing maps to come out on iOS ever since the new Google Maps app update rendered it almost completely useless compared to the old version, but the only options are Apple Maps or Google Maps. They may be on Android, I don't know, but Bing and HERE are not on iOS.
      - jeff_tyrrill 12y ago
        Bing Maps is in the main Bing app on iOS, rather than a separate app.
  - kbart 12y ago
    Nokia's HERE is awesome. I use it for my Android phone. The best thing that it totally works offline (no more tracking of every step by Google) and is more accurate than Google Maps (at least in my area). Also note, that Microsoft didn't buy this division, so it still belongs to old, good Nokia.
  - zodiakzz 12y ago
    Yeah.. interesting for the sake of not being Google. Except it outright blocks my country: "The Amazon CloudFront distribution is configured to block access from your country"
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
  - thearn4 12y ago
    It's certainly faster and more responsive on my laptop than the current version of Google Maps.
- renekooi 12y ago
  OT: I love how the satellite view switch button shows the actual satellite view at its location[0]. [0]: http://i.imgur.com/ycJmczX.png http://i.imgur.com/ycJmczX.png
  - timmaah 12y ago
    The old version of google maps did that as well.
ars 12y ago
It's just a map error. They happen all the time - once they had a super thin park that ran from Pittsburgh to Texas - it was sort of fun to try to trace it all the way (I gave up, but someone persevered all the way to the end of it). You can report it to google - there's a report link on the page.
gzur 12y ago
That looks like somebody messed up while converting image data to vector data in their GIS. Sometimes you see stuff similar to this when you have a bunch of coordinates and a few of them are corrupted - then the lines would shoot off somewhere, and sometimes you might not even notice it. BUT this doesn't look like that - hell it could be pastefuck.
andr 12y ago
Mapmakers (and dictionary makers alike) often introduce small, purposeful errors so that they can track who steals their data. This could be Google's (not very subtle) attempt.
- vool 12y ago
  Trap Streets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street
sjtrny 12y ago
Can someone post a picture? Looks fine on iOS.
- icco 12y ago
  http://cl.natw.me/ZUiV/d http://cl.natw.me/ZUiV/d
  - sjtrny 12y ago
    Huh. Google maps on iOS focuses on a totally different location. Thanks.
    - Zombieball 12y ago
      Same here! Lancaster Estates
      - DanBC 12y ago
        Can confirm. Googlers read HN so it would be really nice if one of them could submit a bug report. Here's a screengrab after I click the submitted link, allow the switch to iOS Google Maps, and allow it to finish loading. http://imgur.com/6gwCWK2 http://imgur.com/6gwCWK2
        icco 12y ago
        As a normal user you can submit a bug from both the web ui (the little question mark in the bottom right) and from both apps (menus have a feedback link).
      - dEnigma 12y ago
        It focuses on the correct location for me on a Windows PC, but the link itself says Lancaster Estates.
rmc 12y ago
Remember kids, you shouldn't use OpenStreetMap because that's crowd-sourced, and doesn't have the same rigorous attention to detail and quality standards are a Real Professional Map like Google Maps.
- arthurpaul 12y ago
  This is a crowdsourcing error in Google Maps. The triangle was added from MapMaker. It was deleted ten days ago, but the image was not updated yet ( http://goo.gl/P2rpG2 http://goo.gl/P2rpG2 ).
vegancap 12y ago
A big kite?
- k_ 12y ago
  Found a bigger kite not far [1]. Seems like a huge kite tournament happened in the Philippines :) [1] https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/6%C2%B005%2750.2%22N+123%C2%B009%2705.4%22E/@6.097286,123.151512,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/6%C2%B005%2750.2%22N+12...
sebastianconcpt 12y ago
It's fun to see how much credibility people give by default to these pieces of silicon and glass they have in front of them.
- ptaipale 12y ago
  Not sure why you get downvotes, but you have a kind of a point. "Fun" over here translates to "emergency services having to go out and save people who were riding a boat and trusted iPhone navigation, instead of having nautical charts and navigation skill, and ended up on a rock somewhere".
  - kbart 12y ago
    ..or drive into the lake, because GPS said it's the right way to go: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003998/Wrong-way-Three-women-escape-sinking-car-GPS-device-sends-lake.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003998/Wrong-way-Th...
    - ptaipale 12y ago
      Quite, although there I'd be more forgiving, as people react to driving instructions from navigator's voice on a short notice. But to go out to the sea without proper navigation and other equipment is something that one only does after a conscious decision. An example is a group of men who tried to get 1000 Facebook likes for a project of building a raft and crossing the Gulf of Finland, some 50 nautical miles, in order to buy cheap booze in Tallinn. They didn't get that many likes but decided to go anyway, and ended up in news. http://yle.fi/uutiset/homemade_raft_to_tallinn_experiment_didnt_get_very_far/7378239 http://yle.fi/uutiset/homemade_raft_to_tallinn_experiment_di... A happy ending, because when their engine died, they were still within the reach of GSM network and could call for help. They were fined a ridiculous 35 euros total for this.
  - kngspook 12y ago
    Emergency services do not (typically) use Google Maps. They use special navigation services that can plot optimal routes while ignoring certain traffic rules. For example, fire trucks can and will go the wrong way down a one-way street; something Google Maps will not account for.
ExpiredLink 12y ago
It's an UFO landing zone. Stay away from this area!
- codeOfConduct 12y ago
  Can I just watch. I promise I wont tell anyone.
  - ExpiredLink 12y ago
    You have been warned ...
a3_nm 12y ago
Not on OSM http://osm.org/go/4zKBPA http://osm.org/go/4zKBPA so probably a Google Maps bug.
thawkins 12y ago
Its the manila bay fault zone, obviously it sliped while they where taking the photo.
- watmough 12y ago
  Kingdom support checking in: Yep, it crossed my mind it might be an escaped fault polygon.
tmaly 12y ago
maybe something out of a Neal Stephenson novel? I have never seen it in all my visits to Manila.
alistairjcbrown 12y ago
It'll be a map error; last year they removed one of the Scottish islands by mistake - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23331456 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23331456
kevindication 12y ago
Similarly, it's always fun to find out what has appeared at Null Island recently: http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Null_Island&params=0_N_0_E_type:isle http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Null_I...
Duckpaddle2 12y ago
That's no error, it's a feature!
piscisaureus 12y ago
Similar situation here; this "peninsula" doesn't really exist: https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/23%C2%B047'02.5%22S+35%C2%B024'23.1%22E/@-23.784016,35.40641,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/23%C2%B047'02.5%22S+35%... I always assumed that google uses some kind of algorithm to detect land/sea borders, and it messed up.
ulfw 12y ago
A bug obviously. I am sure you knew that yourself already. Just click on satellite view and you'll notice it's just water.

54 points by rajeemcariazo 12y ago

Probably a bug; at least Nokia Maps has no such thing: https://www.here.com/discover?map=14.1088,120.63979,8,normal https://www.here.com/discover?map=14.1088,120.63979,8,normal

kissickas 12y ago
Well, satellite view also shows that there is nothing there. I think OP wanted to know how it got there, though.
reitanqild 12y ago
For others who haven't tried it yet, here.com seems like a very interesting alternative -this was the first time I tried https://www.here.com/ https://www.here.com/ (Nokia Maps it seems?). I always assumed Nokia Maps were only available on Nokia devices. I have a feeling that they have got something right compared to Google Maps. Based on a few seconds reading-HN-in-lunch evaluation I'm not sure what though.
- Otik 12y ago
  Yep, HERE is the brand that replaced Nokia Maps, and before that it was Navteq. They're part of the remnants of Nokia - the parts that MS didn't buy. I think they have apps on pretty much all devices now, and now that they are no longer part of a company that's making Windows Phones, I imagine they're probably putting more effort into Android and iOS than they were before.
  - freehunter 12y ago
    I've been waiting for Nokia or Bing maps to come out on iOS ever since the new Google Maps app update rendered it almost completely useless compared to the old version, but the only options are Apple Maps or Google Maps. They may be on Android, I don't know, but Bing and HERE are not on iOS.
    - jeff_tyrrill 12y ago
      Bing Maps is in the main Bing app on iOS, rather than a separate app.
- kbart 12y ago
  Nokia's HERE is awesome. I use it for my Android phone. The best thing that it totally works offline (no more tracking of every step by Google) and is more accurate than Google Maps (at least in my area). Also note, that Microsoft didn't buy this division, so it still belongs to old, good Nokia.
- zodiakzz 12y ago
  Yeah.. interesting for the sake of not being Google. Except it outright blocks my country: "The Amazon CloudFront distribution is configured to block access from your country"
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- thearn4 12y ago
  It's certainly faster and more responsive on my laptop than the current version of Google Maps.
renekooi 12y ago
OT: I love how the satellite view switch button shows the actual satellite view at its location[0]. [0]: http://i.imgur.com/ycJmczX.png http://i.imgur.com/ycJmczX.png
- timmaah 12y ago
  The old version of google maps did that as well.

ars 12y ago

It's just a map error. They happen all the time - once they had a super thin park that ran from Pittsburgh to Texas - it was sort of fun to try to trace it all the way (I gave up, but someone persevered all the way to the end of it). You can report it to google - there's a report link on the page.

gzur 12y ago

That looks like somebody messed up while converting image data to vector data in their GIS. Sometimes you see stuff similar to this when you have a bunch of coordinates and a few of them are corrupted - then the lines would shoot off somewhere, and sometimes you might not even notice it. BUT this doesn't look like that - hell it could be pastefuck.

andr 12y ago

Mapmakers (and dictionary makers alike) often introduce small, purposeful errors so that they can track who steals their data. This could be Google's (not very subtle) attempt.

vool 12y ago
Trap Streets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_street

sjtrny 12y ago

Can someone post a picture? Looks fine on iOS.

icco 12y ago
http://cl.natw.me/ZUiV/d http://cl.natw.me/ZUiV/d
- sjtrny 12y ago
  Huh. Google maps on iOS focuses on a totally different location. Thanks.
  - Zombieball 12y ago
    Same here! Lancaster Estates
    - DanBC 12y ago
      Can confirm. Googlers read HN so it would be really nice if one of them could submit a bug report. Here's a screengrab after I click the submitted link, allow the switch to iOS Google Maps, and allow it to finish loading. http://imgur.com/6gwCWK2 http://imgur.com/6gwCWK2
      - icco 12y ago
        As a normal user you can submit a bug from both the web ui (the little question mark in the bottom right) and from both apps (menus have a feedback link).
    - dEnigma 12y ago
      It focuses on the correct location for me on a Windows PC, but the link itself says Lancaster Estates.

rmc 12y ago

Remember kids, you shouldn't use OpenStreetMap because that's crowd-sourced, and doesn't have the same rigorous attention to detail and quality standards are a Real Professional Map like Google Maps.

arthurpaul 12y ago
This is a crowdsourcing error in Google Maps. The triangle was added from MapMaker. It was deleted ten days ago, but the image was not updated yet ( http://goo.gl/P2rpG2 http://goo.gl/P2rpG2 ).

vegancap 12y ago

A big kite?

k_ 12y ago
Found a bigger kite not far [1]. Seems like a huge kite tournament happened in the Philippines :) [1] https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/6%C2%B005%2750.2%22N+123%C2%B009%2705.4%22E/@6.097286,123.151512,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/6%C2%B005%2750.2%22N+12...

sebastianconcpt 12y ago

It's fun to see how much credibility people give by default to these pieces of silicon and glass they have in front of them.

ptaipale 12y ago
Not sure why you get downvotes, but you have a kind of a point. "Fun" over here translates to "emergency services having to go out and save people who were riding a boat and trusted iPhone navigation, instead of having nautical charts and navigation skill, and ended up on a rock somewhere".
- kbart 12y ago
  ..or drive into the lake, because GPS said it's the right way to go: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003998/Wrong-way-Three-women-escape-sinking-car-GPS-device-sends-lake.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003998/Wrong-way-Th...
  - ptaipale 12y ago
    Quite, although there I'd be more forgiving, as people react to driving instructions from navigator's voice on a short notice. But to go out to the sea without proper navigation and other equipment is something that one only does after a conscious decision. An example is a group of men who tried to get 1000 Facebook likes for a project of building a raft and crossing the Gulf of Finland, some 50 nautical miles, in order to buy cheap booze in Tallinn. They didn't get that many likes but decided to go anyway, and ended up in news. http://yle.fi/uutiset/homemade_raft_to_tallinn_experiment_didnt_get_very_far/7378239 http://yle.fi/uutiset/homemade_raft_to_tallinn_experiment_di... A happy ending, because when their engine died, they were still within the reach of GSM network and could call for help. They were fined a ridiculous 35 euros total for this.
- kngspook 12y ago
  Emergency services do not (typically) use Google Maps. They use special navigation services that can plot optimal routes while ignoring certain traffic rules. For example, fire trucks can and will go the wrong way down a one-way street; something Google Maps will not account for.

ExpiredLink 12y ago

It's an UFO landing zone. Stay away from this area!

codeOfConduct 12y ago
Can I just watch. I promise I wont tell anyone.
- ExpiredLink 12y ago
  You have been warned ...

a3_nm 12y ago

Not on OSM http://osm.org/go/4zKBPA http://osm.org/go/4zKBPA so probably a Google Maps bug.

thawkins 12y ago

Its the manila bay fault zone, obviously it sliped while they where taking the photo.

watmough 12y ago
Kingdom support checking in: Yep, it crossed my mind it might be an escaped fault polygon.

tmaly 12y ago

maybe something out of a Neal Stephenson novel? I have never seen it in all my visits to Manila.

alistairjcbrown 12y ago

It'll be a map error; last year they removed one of the Scottish islands by mistake - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23331456 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23331456

kevindication 12y ago

Similarly, it's always fun to find out what has appeared at Null Island recently: http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Null_Island&params=0_N_0_E_type:isle http://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Null_I...

Duckpaddle2 12y ago

That's no error, it's a feature!

piscisaureus 12y ago

Similar situation here; this "peninsula" doesn't really exist: https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/23%C2%B047'02.5%22S+35%C2%B024'23.1%22E/@-23.784016,35.40641,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/23%C2%B047'02.5%22S+35%... I always assumed that google uses some kind of algorithm to detect land/sea borders, and it messed up.

ulfw 12y ago

A bug obviously. I am sure you knew that yourself already. Just click on satellite view and you'll notice it's just water.