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

N4CHEM@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

• suction@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  But they aren’t providing live traffic congestion, right? That’s the only reason to use Google Maps.

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  • Dagrothus@reddthat.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Well that kind of comes as a result of the whole ‘tracking your every move’ part

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    • CafecitoHippo@lemm.ee ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I mean, I feel like that’s going to happen regardless if you’re using an Android phone. I don’t think using a different app for GPS navigation is going to change that. I’m not saying we shouldn’t push for more stuff to be opt in and allow people to have their privacy maintained, but in the market right now, the app you use for GPS isn’t changing who is tracking you.

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    • suction@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Sure but…that’s not the point. It’s easy to find alternative maps or navigation apps.

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      • LordKitsuna@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        It’s really not. Not usable ones. I’ve tried so many open map Alternatives and they suck. Wildly outdated, streets that don’t exist anymore, streets that do exist not on the map, nonsensical directions, extremely poor voice navigation directions, not knowing about tons of addresses so even if I just give it the raw address it still can’t find it and I have to basically go find the address on Google and then manually place a pain in the open map.

        I’m not even in a weird place, this is just around Washington State mostly between Everett and Tacoma. The answer I always get is oh well if you see something wrong submit a correction, if I had the time to sit there and build Maps I would just build my own God damn map.

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  • dan80@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Magic Earth gives you live traffic info, and is based on Openstreetmap. Not open source though (unlike OsmAnd and Organic Maps).

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  • blind3rdeye@lemm.ee ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’m sure congestion info on the maps is valued by some, but not all. Many people just use maps to navigate unfamiliar places.

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    • suction@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Then using Google maps is the worst choice. It will algorithmically guide you into the lake

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• anindefinitearticle@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I love organic maps and openstreetmaps. The biggest thing missing is satellite view. I like to wander around and explore an area on maps before visiting. OSM has more interesting/relevant details and better visual color coding than the vector street map on google. Google has a satellite map, which is non-negotiable for me especially if I need to quickly orient myself while driving in a new place. I use three layers loaded into qgis for planning trips: OSM, google maps satellite, and a topographic map from USGS. I sometimes use organic maps on my phone if I don’t have access to a computer with qgis. I rely on Google while on location because organic maps lacks a satellite feed.

  Having that satellite feed get bogged down with ads is suddenly a distraction that I don’t want while driving and might get me off of google entirely. I just wish organic maps had a satellite base layer so my path off of google for nav would be clear.

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