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

Comments

• coffeejoe@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  How long before they weight routes based on the billboard ads you’ll see along the way.

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  • aStonedSanta@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Man. I almost downvoted you purely outta anger for that idea lmao. Fucking hell.

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    • Blackmist@feddit.uk ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Google execs already thinking “shit, buy some electronic billboards and show relevant ads as each phone goes past”.

      Sad that will be the only part of Blade Runner we get. Where’s the flying cars, dammit!

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  • EtherWhack@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    With gmaps constantly suggesting off-ramp->on-ramp detours at over/underpasses to help you shorten your eta by 1 minute increase merging traffic, I doubt they would have any ethical hesitancy behind it.

    Honestly, I imagine they may already have a deal (possibly under the table) with clearchannel and the likes.

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    • Khrux@ttrpg.network ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I’ve not seen gmaps taking these kinds of routes. I’m UK based if it makes any difference at all, but I’m always grateful for my route seeming to prefer a smooth choice to the absolute fastest.

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  • madcaesar@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    This man has manager written all over him! Put him in charge of google maps! - Google probably

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• Sbuiko@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Organic_Maps

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  • akilou@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Does it have traffic data?

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    • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

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

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    • infeeeee@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      No.

      The only OpenStreetMap based navigation app with live traffic data is Magic Earth. It’s not foss, but gratis.

      They get the traffic data from some third party, not by following their users like gmaps. That is the reason live traffic is only available in just some countries: www.magicearth.com/feature-availablity/#hd_traffi…

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    • Tick_Dracy@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      No, if you want that, just use Magic Earth. It’s a great app, btw.

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  • Blisterexe@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Id recommend osmand over organic maps

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    • Quill7513@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ 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

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    • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ 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

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    • explore_broaden@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ 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.

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    • gedaliyah@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ 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?

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    • xploit@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Did Osmand hange that bullshit where if you changed your device you can fuck right off with your previously bought maps and pay for them again because they didn’t tie them to store account

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  • xep@fedia.io ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ 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.

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    • neblem@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      If public transport mapping is your goal, it might make sense to try out the MapComplete Train Station mapcomplete.org/stations? and Bus Routes mapcomplete.org/transit? themes which give an easier, more focused, mapping interface. Quest apps like Street Complete can also make getting into OSM a bit easier, though OSM Beginners Guise is great too. wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Beginners'_guide

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    • neblem@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Yes! wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Public_transport though it is a bit complex to fully add routes, adding stops is super easy!

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    • 2xsaiko@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      OSM doesn’t really track live and exact public transport schedules (you can define static routes and say which interval the tram/whatever comes but that’s about it). Organic Maps is working on implementing live data: github.com/organicmaps/organicmaps/issues/5331

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  • bdonvr@thelemmy.club ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I wish I could get satellite view but I totally get why that’s not a thing

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• Luci@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Is it too much to ask for an app that just does one single thing. Everything doesn’t need to be an advertising platform.

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  • ikidd@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    But line no go up.

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    • ShepherdPie@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Google is definitely turning into IBM where they just exist because of inertia and not because of anything they actually produce.

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    • Luci@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      The only line I care about is the line that takes me from A to B

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  • ogmios@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Is it too much to ask

    Are you willing to deliver them consequences if they don’t do it the way you want?

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    • Luci@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I stopped using Google maps so I guess so

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  • cyborganism@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Those AI electricity bills don’t pay for themselves.

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    • Luci@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Yeah… we pay…

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  • moontorchy@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Interesting to observe how our intuition is failing us while dealing with digital products. When someone gives you something for free on the street, naturally you get suspicious and start asking yourself “where is the catchm?” But when there’s a free app - no second thought. Everyone is using it so it must be ok. Well, Google and Facebook are nothing but glorified advertising agencies. The whole reason of their existence is to make money on ads.

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• ilickfrogs@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Damn Google be speed running how quickly they can make me replace all their services. Google Maps are about the only 2 I still use.

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  • HessiaNerd@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    They used to have a reputation for employing smart people… Dumbass middle managers took over a while back and started making the stupidest decisions.

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    • LavenderDay3544@lemmings.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      That’s what happens when MBAs start to weasel their way into any business.

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    • Takios@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Same thing that happened at Boeing.

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  • Magnolia_@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Revanced on my android.

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• soratoyuki@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’ve been getting a lot of ‘suggested’ locations and sponsored pop ups in Google Maps the few weeks. I get that it’s a ‘free’ product, but ugh. My GPS while I’m driving down the highway is one of those things that really, really needs to be clutter-free.

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  • Quill7513@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Google doesn’t give a shit if you live or die, so long as their corporate partners at Shell Oil and Sheets checks clear

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  • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    It is by no means free tho. They are making lots of money from selling your location data and furthering their market dominance by forcing it on everyone by default

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    • Jako301@feddit.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      They get that same location data with or without maps. As long as you are using stock android, Google knows exactly where you’ve been even if you enable airplane mode. They get your position with WiFi networks and other phones around you and store that data with timestamps. Maps doesn’t give them any extra data, it simply binds you into their ecosystem.

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    • blanketswithsmallpox@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I get that it’s a ‘free’ product, but ugh.

      Yes, he/everyone understands that now lol.

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  • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    It’s not a free product, your data is being sold.

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    • soratoyuki@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I know. I’d assume everyone on Lemmy knows. That’s why I said ‘free’ in scare quotes and not free.

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  • A_A@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    clutter-free is OsmAnd

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• phoenixz@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  This ad company is becoming a huge nuisance.

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  • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    And unfortunately, for maps, it’s basically just Apple and Google. I’m trying to get used to OSM, but it just isn’t easy to do the things I want to do: find directions to a store.

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    • w2tpmf@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      MapQuest is still a thing. Bing maps… exists. Wave, even though owned by Google, hasn’t been fucked yet.

      Magic Earth is another open source alternative besides OSM.

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    • Grass@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      osm sucks at addresses. The only way I can use it for navigation is doing google to coordinate conversion and just saving all the places. I haven’t seen this new google change but we’ll see if its enough to make me drop the last google service I use.

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• UmeU@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Edit/update from 9to5google so this post does not spread what is apparently inaccurate information:

  I know we are desperate for content here on Lemmy, and I can google hate circle jerk with the best of them, but maybe just delete the post if it is a complete clickbait lie… you could also reword the post as a fact check, ‘no, google isn’t injecting adds into maps.’

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  • Siegfried@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Wait dude, you interrupted me mid jerk. Shame on you.

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    • drasglaf@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Image

      Here, something to keep you going.

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  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Sure, I could. But I wanted to leave the original post as it was for transparency. I figured that was the most “open” thing to do.

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    • helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      You can edit titles on Lemmy, make say “BS journalists throwing google under the bus to get more ad revenue from google ads.”

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    • UmeU@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Fair enough, but reading the comments it appears your edit isn’t explicit enough, or people just read the headlines I guess.

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  • JackbyDev@programming.dev ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    It’s possible former Redditors don’t realize you can edit the title of Lemmy posts.

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• Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I dont know if i can keep using google stuff if this is the way they are going.

  Why does everything have to be a fucking advert.

  Who even likes adverts?

  Just fuck off.

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  • piyuv@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    who even likes adverts?

    Advertisers

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  • twoface@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I have been using Kagi as an alternative search engine for over a month now and can’t see me going back to Google anytime soon. Googles results are just full of adverts and garbage.

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  • thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Google expected infinite growth in a finite system. Now that the growth is slowing they are trying to increase yield from their current pool of resources instead.

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    • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Why dont these companies accept theybarent worth as much any more and just provide less services until they balance off.

      The stuff they cant afford to provide could be taken on by someone else. Being a one company does all type master of none sort of thing is clearly bad for society and the economy.

      I dont really know what im talking about but i just dont get why they see losses and an end to growth but take the position of “we need to find a way to keep this going” instead of “we need to sell off things until our company is making money again, even if its less money”

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• Blue0x@programming.dev ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  The moment this starts happening to me, I’m going to start giving every single sponsored stop I see a 1 star review.

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  • pseudonym@monyet.cc ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Tbh that kind of behavior will almost certainly be stopped automatically

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    • JackiesFridge@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      It’ll be fun while it lasts.

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    • umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      i hate the cyberpunk technodystopia we built.

      we didnt even get the cool cyborg augmentations or the pew pew lasers. just fucking ads.

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  • HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Excellent idea. I give gas stations that play lots video ads one star and don’t go back. I give placed that ask for a tip when I do a to go order 1 star as well

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• mlg@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Gmaps has been actual hot trash for way the hell too long now.

  GraphHopper, OSRM, and Valhalla all blow Google’s shitty routing algorithm out of the water.

  OSMAnd really the only mobile app competitor worthy of putting gmaps out of its misery. The only problem is it still uses a renderer from the stone age and has lackluster address data despite the fact that said data is available for free online from several open source mapping projects (there’s some nice github scripts that can import ir for you).

  Garmin forgot to invest in mobile technology. Sygic went to crap. Waze is just Gmaps+. Maps.me died even harder than Sygic.

  It’s 2024 and yet some of the best navigation tech I’ve seen is from 15+ year old devices.

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  • manmachine@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    The old maps.me is reborn and active as Organic Maps now.

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    • mlg@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      +1 for Organic Maps though I feel it’s lacking in some basic features.

      Still renders much better and smoother than OSMAnd.

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  • hogmomma@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I’ve been using Gmaps since forever and can say I’ve never had any problem with it. I mean, it took me to the business office instead of the main entrance to a theme park once, but I can hardly fault it for that. Calling it actual hot trash just seems so out of nowhere to me. It’s a fine product that I’ve had great experience with.

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  • MintyAnt@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Is there an alternative to android auto?

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  • Aux@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Nothing beats Google Maps because Google Maps is the only app that can reliably navigate you using public transport, walking and cycling all over the world.

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  • ace_garp@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Any links for the street-number scripts?

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• H0neyc0mb@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  PSA: Apple Maps used to suck badly but now it’s way better than Google Maps.

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• vext01@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Ok google take me to Liverpool.

  I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that. Today you are going to Vape Palace in Swindon, sponsored by CryptoPonzi++: you put the coins, we loot the coins!

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• conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Screw off.

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• GlenRambo@jlai.lu ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  “Google have borrowed this idea form Waze” doesn’t Google own Waze ?

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• Whirling_Cloudburst@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  It would be considered illegal where I live to interact with that popup while driving.

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• Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  “Google, tell me how to get to this place”

  “Here are your directions, including a McDonalds break! You deserve a break today, with a delicious tiny BIG MAC being sold for 400% of what it was 5 years ago, at 50% the size.”

  “…when did the movie idiocracy go from being a mockumentary to a documentary?”

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• Teppichbrand@feddit.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Ragebait is working: Fuck that evil corporation! OsmAnd all day every day.

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• kokesh@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I smell reVanced Gmaps coming soon…

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• N4CHEM@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’m going to paste here the comment I wrote on another post about this same issue:

  Organic Maps and OsmAnd are not adding ads during navigation. Nor “promoted pins”. Nor ads when browsing the map. Nor tracking your every move.

  Seriously, give them a try. And remember that, if the maps are lacking information, you are free (and encouraged) to improve them on OpenStreetMap.

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• Misk@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’ve been wanting to leave the Google ecosystem for years but Maps was always the thing that kept me there. Thanks Google for freeing me at last!

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• explodicle@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  This won’t always work, but I get it to stop changing the fucking route by putting it in airplane mode while I’m driving. It’s locked in to the route I picked, GPS still works, no distractions.

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• jumjummy@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Apple Maps sure had a rough start back in the day, but I will always use that over Google/Waze. It’s just so much better now and no worries about this type of junk.

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• Wiz@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Just a reminder about the open-source OpenStreetMap. You can improve it online by adding features like a Wikipedia for maps. You can even use the gamified app StreetComplete to add stuff and get points for walking around and mapping.

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• errer@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I have an iPhone and while I don’t like Apple Maps, I will absolutely switch to it in a heartbeat if this is added.

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• Blubber28@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  One of their last few products that was actually quite good. I bet gmail is next.

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• BReel@lemmy.one ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I remember a long time ago when I was considering using Waze, had heard really good things. Then I was driving with a friend who used it and it served an ad saying “click here to take a pit stop at McDonald!”

  I never downloaded Waze so… good luck google.

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• sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I’m willing to pay for an ad-free version. Google maps are very useful. I don’t need it to be free. But ads are poison.

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• gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Welp time to stop using google maps I guess

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• wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Anyone who capitalizes every word should be shot. I will not take questions on this.

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• schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Stallman was right

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