Mildly Infuriating @lemmy.world Scrubbles @poptalk.scrubbles.tech 5mo ago

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

www.androidauthority.com Google Maps tests new pop-up ads that give you an unnecessary detour (Update)

Google Maps is testing a new ad format that gives users the option to add a stop for a sponsored location during navigation.

56 comments

Nice. And then soon it'll be "watch this add to take the fastest route".

Then "subscribe for an add free experience" without subscription you get the add, as well as navigation that requires you to drive to a detoured location and take a picture of said location before continuing on to your destination (or yet another detour add, if the trip is long enough).

Look at us, peak civilization here.

/s
- don't forget 3 years later when the subscription isn't profitable enough, so they start injecting ads into the paid subscribers as well.
  
  Or when they complain that not enough people are using it so they relaunch it as “Google Roads”.
- Please drink your confirmation can now
- The map in my head will be deemed content theft because it cuts into Google's profits.
I'd like to use this opportunity to promote Organic Maps, yet again

:)
- +1, also recommend StreetComplete alongside it. Makes it easy to add data to OSM, in many cases (parks, etc) this data can be made extremely detailed.
  
  For instance, my first use case was adding house numbers around my neighborhood to OSM, because I couldn't search for my address on Organic Maps
- Does this support Android Auto? That's the only reason I use maps.
  
  Turn-by-turn walking, cycling, and car navigation with voice guidance and Android Auto
  
  On their "about page"
  
  I'm pretty sure I did see something pretty recently about Android auto support.
  
  Personally, I prefer to use it without being connected.
  
  I think it does, yes. At least it does support CarPlay on iOS, so I guess the functionality on Android is also there.
- I do like that it's available offline, but does it have live traffic if you're online? Waze has informed me about many a traffic jam and helped me circumvent them. Plus temporary road closures in case of big accidents, etc.
  
  Edit: Ay, it's Estonian! Always cool to see something come out of my tiny home country.
  
  I don't think that is something that it has yet, It's possible that they could be working on something like that though. If you don't find anything, It would be worth a suggestion for sure.
  
  github
  
  Live traffic would require tracking everyone like Google does.
Well, guess I need to look into more Google alternatives. OpenStreetMaps most likely.
- While not FOSS, the closest thing we have to a drop-in replacement would be Magic Earth. It uses openstreetmap data, supports fully offline usage, has satellite images (only online though) and best of all, no tracking or telemetry.
  
  It's it better than organic maps?
- People arent actually thaat tolerant to this cancer. If they arent careful people will switch.
  
  OrganicMaps (or Osmand) is all i need usually. Search is kind of bad sometimes and obviously no live traffic data, but if you dont drive a car, the latter one at least is irrelevant.
  
  I've tried Osmand and my only complaint is that you need to tap and access too many menus to set up and/or exit navigation mode. Last time I tried it was last year, not sure if that's changed
- Organic maps and Street complete
Profit-seeking has ruined innovation and killed us all.
- What do you mean? Can't you see all those innovations in the ads and tracking industry?
  
  Yes! Dozens of new surveillance techniques have been invented, and new content formats have been created to make people even more stupid. Moreover, efforts to add advertisements to artificial intelligence are still ongoing, stay tuned!
Apple Maps is great now. Fuck google maps I never use it anymore.
- i have noticed too, apple maps is absolutely superior to google. when we are navigating somewhere with gf, she uses apple maps with no issues while i can't find shit with google maps...can't remember this being a problem in the past.
- Ehhhhh I think Apple Maps is hit or miss depending on your area. In urban centers? I think Apple Maps gives superior directions.
  
  In more rural areas? I think Google wins.
  
  I haven’t tested out incident avoidance with Apple Maps as I haven’t used it since it guided me to the wrong address three years ago..
  
  Maybe it’s worth a second try
  
  I live in as rural as it gets FL and it’s yet to wrong me in the last fee years.
Reminder that you can turn off auto updates in the play store settings.

Also Magic Earth and Here We Go are decent alternatives.
- Both of the alternatives you listed are spyware. Stick with Organic maps ideally from F-droid
This is the worst example of enshittification I've seen from Google. I think it's time to start considering iPhone.
- Or better yet fossdroid. Iphones are just as bad
Google ruined their search and is now onwards to the other remaining working products. They are so dumb.
No.
Weirdly The Most Infuriating Part Of This Story For Me Was The Twitter Post Someone Wrote Entirely Like This
I'd really hate if they fuck up Maps since there are no alternatives on the same level but since it's the last of their services I depend on, I could degoogle for good.
- I have been using OsmAnd today to get ready to leave Gmaps because of this news. It was better then I remembered and my number 1 peeve was no lane preference display (for highway driving specifically), but that works now too!
  
  I'll miss traffic predictions and live traffic rerouting :-( Sigh, guess I'll pay that price. I #&@$ing hate distractions during driving, and now they think I'll allow my own phone to do that? Google is rotten to the core and the road way from them is annoying and boring. Buckle up y'all. Bring magazines.
  
  I'll miss traffic predictions and live traffic rerouting
  
  That's the only feature I'm using it for. The car's built-in navigation is sufficient for "dumb" routing.
  
  OsmAnd is pretty good. It's not as easy as GMaps, but that's understandable. If we all use and support alternatives more, we'll likely spur their development.
  
  You can use Magic Earth for those.
- Organic maps works pretty well. You just need to actually contribute to OSM
Promoted pins in navigation are not new – they let people see relevant ads for businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores along their route. To avoid driver distraction, these ads do not pop up, expand only if they’re tapped on, and disappear quickly after a short time.

from the correction in the article
- That's not really better. This kind of behavior is why I left Google maps years ago
Glad my Garmin doesn't do that... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Oop, you dropped this ༼⁠ ⁠つ⁠ ⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠ ⁠༽⁠つ\
  
  Weird... it rendered fine on initial post... same issue as reddit I guess.

56 comments