Google Maps is testing a new ad format that gives users the option to add a stop for a sponsored location during navigation.
  • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
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    2 years ago

    Thanks I hate it. Also not even new, this shit was what killed in dash sat navs…

    • T156@lemmy.worldEnglish
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      2 years ago

      Nitpicking, but I’m not sure that it was ads that killed dash sat navs. At least in my experience, they never really developed to that point where car companies would put ads in.

      It was more that they were expensive options to install, a pain to keep updated, and generally weren’t all that good.

      Even before the live traffic and automatic detour features, phones didn’t cost money to keep the onboard maps up to date, and you already had one, so you didn’t need to either buy an add-on, or get a special unit for it.

      With android CarPlay and Apple Auto, you could just put your phone map on the screen, which was basically the same thing, but a cheaper equivalent, since the hardware was on your phone instead.

      • M0oP0o@mander.xyzEnglish
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        2 years ago

        So I was around during this time and yes ads did play a part in this, but not like you think. The ads where how these companies planned to pay for the sat nav data (came on a DVD). They had restaurant and gas station suggestion with the same detour “feature”.

        Fun part is that it fell apart quick since almost no one updated there sat nav and you can still get a 2008 acura with recommendations for places long long gone. Its also fun to see people talking about Zagat rated places on forums from the time.

        https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-294/zagat-guide-questions-833757/

      • RunawayFixer@lemmy.worldEnglish
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        2 years ago

        I’m absolutely certain that it wasn’t ads that put a firm like TomTom on a downward slope. This was actually the first time that I’ve heard someone proclaim that ads are the reason.

        If your business is to sell maps + navigation devices for money and then the times change and now nearly everyone already owns a smartphone with built in gps + some car manufacturers provide sat nav as a default + another company is giving access to a map away for free, well then your business is in trouble.

        I’ve never even heard of ads in TomTom or Garmin, since I stopped using a dedicated sat nav once I had a smartphone, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was one of the things they tried to stay afloat after smartphones became ubiquitous.

        • madcaesar@lemmy.worldEnglish
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          2 years ago

          They were just way waaay to expensive to update. I remember having to jail brake it and sideload updates.

  • Konala Koala@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 years ago

    For some reason, this got me imagining an ad causing an unnecessary detour the wrong way on a one way road and cause a head-on collision. which is going to get them hit with a class action lawsuit that could send their line graph all the way down into the ground.

  • Matombo@feddit.orgEnglish
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    2 years ago

    Popups while driving? With buttons that have to be pressed for it to go away? What could possible go wrong diverting the attention of a driver this way?!

    • dev_null@lemmy.mlEnglish
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      2 years ago

      The article was updated, this was fake news. There are no popups while driving.

      It was all based on someones Tweet, which either made it up or was confused.

      • Balder@lemmy.worldEnglish
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        2 years ago

        Ah, the eagerness to publish some “news” based on a Tweet or a Reddit post from a random person with no confirmation at all.

  • UncleGrandPa@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 years ago

    So will we soon have to go places we Don’t want to go… Just so we can get directions to where we want to go?

    If incorrect directions will be the norm…maybe it’s Time to find a new map app

    • Butt Pirate@reddthat.comEnglish
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      2 years ago

      Openstreetmaps has been treating me pretty well. They don’t have all the business information like gmaps does, but that’s what TripAdvisor and Yelp are for.

  • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
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    2 years ago

    Why not? Their global emissions are already skyrocketing due to AI hype. Fuck the planet, let’s make more money this quarter!!!

        • deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
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          2 years ago

          Thanks for the reference. Will try it out. Always had issues using openstreetmap for some reason. This seem more integrative rather than have the navigation app and the actual map being two separate entities.

          • llii@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
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            2 years ago

            Yeah, it’s worth a try. The usability depends on the trips you take and other factors. You need to download the maps beforehand.

            I like it when I’m on foot or when I ride my bike, but for longer car trips I use other (online) apps for the traffic warnings and because I only have local maps downloaded.

    • Chee_Koala@lemmy.worldEnglish
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      2 years ago

      I have been testing OsmAnd for daily use today, and I’m gonna be closing my maps presence in the coming months :-) . I was really happy how it worked and felt, very close to what I want. After some extra tweaking, it’s bound to be fantastic!

    • Takios@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
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      2 years ago

      Openstreetmap is really good…except for the detailed information about shops which is why I still use Google Maps if I need to know opening hours and other information.
      OSM is just not widespread enough to be on the radar of shop owners to put their information on it themselves so volunteers have to do it. :/

  • Rexios@lemm.eeEnglish
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    2 years ago

    Who The Fuck Types In Sentence Case All The Time Like This?

        • Ibuthyr@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
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          2 years ago

          It’s not true. We write nouns with a capital letter, not every word. It’s kind of important because sometimes verbs can be expressed as nouns. It’d be confusing to read. It’s generally nicer to read with capitalized (?) nouns.

  • Resol van Lemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 years ago

    This is possibly the worst thing to add to turn by turn navigation. Especially when I’m in a hurry.

    Oh wait, I don’t drive. But still, this can affect lots of people who do.

  • Dop@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 years ago

    This is the last product I still make sacrifice to keep it working on my degoogled devices, because lets be honest, this is the best (“free”) GPS there is out there. I’ve tried so many others but nothing comes close. I dunno what I’ll do if (when) they launch this kind of crap here…

      • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
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        2 years ago

        Organic Maps is fine. It’s what I use, although I am not located in a great area for OSM. Are there any specific benefits to OSMand?

      • explore_broaden@midwest.socialEnglish
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        2 years ago

        I don’t like how OsmAnd limits the number of maps you can download for free, Organic Maps’s donation model is much better in my opinion.

      • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyzEnglish
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        2 years ago

        Osmand would be the best one if it wasn’t so slow. Compared to organic maps the rendering lag is not only noticeable but very annoying

      • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.netEnglish
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        2 years ago

        Personally I been using organic maps because Osmand isn’t giving me better directions and it needs more permissions and it doesn’t have working voice directions

      • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyzEnglish
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        2 years ago

        Unfortunately not, and the time estimates are quite inaccurate. Sigh, it’s the price for not having to deal with Googles shit

        • BadlyDrawnRhino @aussie.zoneEnglish
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          2 years ago

          Thanks for this, I’m going to try this out on my way home. My main use for Gmaps is to determine the quickest way to and from work during peak hour, so keen to see how Magic Earth’s traffic data compares.

          • KISSmyOS@feddit.orgEnglish
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            2 years ago

            the quickest way to and from work during peak hour

            Everyone is using Google for that, so on average, traffic on all alternative routes will level out quickly and it doesn’t matter which one you choose.

        • Salix@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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          2 years ago

          They get the traffic data from some third party, not by following their users like gmaps.

          https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/

          Do you share data with third parties?

          We send position data to our traffic provider to generate real-time traffic information. The data is anonymized on the phone, using a changing key (so it’s not linked to you), and it is deleted after 5 minutes.

          They have a good privacy policy though. I haven’t really had many issues with their app.

        • akilou@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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          2 years ago

          But at that point what are you even gaining? If you’re looking for privacy you’re just trading Google tracking you for “third party service provider” tracking you

          • infeeeee@lemm.eeEnglish
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            2 years ago

            No. It means they get the data from somewhere else, maybe from some carsharing app, or from some government db from car counting thingies mounted on traffic lights, etc. There are other sources to get traffic data ftom, but usually following users is more convenient and reliable

            They wont tell us where they get it from, they only say it’s not generated via this app. They are followimg someone, but not me.

    • xep@fedia.io
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      2 years ago

      Is there any way I can help contribute public transport information to OSM? It’s the one thing that Google maps does that I can’t replace.