Android @lemdro.id chaospatterns @lemmy.world 1 mo. 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

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

33 comments

That looks really annoying. And do not ever distract me while I’m driving. Save your ads for the route planning not execution.

Disgusting.
Osm it is If I see this even once I'm uninstalling maps
- Do it already!
  
  Well I usually only ride my bike, so I have barely any use for google maps. I usually use naviki or osmand. Maps is trash for bikes. But sometimes maps is nice to find a shop in the city and see opening times, reviews and a website link.
Please use Organic Maps
https://www.openstreetmap.org
- Totally. I used to contribute to Google maps quite a bit and got higher up in the Local Guides levels, but now I find myself contributing a lot to OSM. I feel a lot better about contributing to an open platform vs letting a company close up my changes.
  
  I just haven't made the switch to use it as a mobile client yet
Poor startup google must not be making enough money selling our travel data that they need to put ads to keep the lights on
Nope
How does one of the largest and richest Sillicon Valley companies of all time still resort to this type of behavior?

If it was a fledgling startup that desperately needed the money or else they went bankrupt then I would understand. But google?
- Why wouldn't they? "Enough" is not in their vocabulary. Why not make even more money? What're you gonna do, stop using Google Maps?
  
  What're you gonna do, stop using Google Maps?
  
  Yes.
- Line has to go up is the answer. So must find ways to make more money.
Alright, so I've replaced Google with duckduckgo, Chrome with Firefox, Gmail with Protonmail...

What's the replacement for Google maps?
- I use Organic Maps on Android (which uses OpenStreetMap data), but I haven't found a good alternative that also tracks traffic.
  
  ya, the traffic info is what I mostly use it for...
- Though I haven't used it myself, I've seen OpenStreetMaps recommended several times on Lemmy.
I have nothing against OpenStreetMao, and in fact I use it quite a bit, even contribute (using StreetComplete app).

But the reasons I use google maps and find it unreplaceable is trafic information, which is quite good and there is no real alternative.

That's unfortunate.
Pour it with gasoline and light the fire
- setgoogleonfire.ca
As they say in the update, this is in fact nothing new, and isn't distracting or detouring in any way.

It's always existed, and is meant to show you something like gas stations along the way. It's actually quite helpful, even though it is of course - in a lot of ways - ads. But for businesses i might actually need while driving, so fuck if I mind. And also as said in the update, these only appear briefly, and do not pop up. I've seen this before plenty of times, they're really not intrusive at all.
- How is it helpful? It isn't going to know what you need because it doesn't know if you're hungry or low on fuel or whatever. It also isn't going to let you see your options and could just as well be sending you to the worst local option because that's who paid to advertise
  
  It's just like any other website or subscription that offers their "suggestions." Whether it's helpful is subjective, but it's certainly not out of the ordinary.
  
  It's pretty common to show various things near your routes? It's a feature built-in car map systems had since forever, at least. Always got the odd moment where you want to detour to a gas station or need to stop at a pharmacy.
Why do they have to force me to say omg this is just like nineteen eighty four every fucking day
There is a client for android called magic earth There osm based and have a lot of features (some you really may not need). But they dont track or keep any kind of profile

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