Google Maps tests new pop-up ads that give you an unnecessary detour (Update)
www.androidauthority.com
Google Maps is testing a new ad format that gives users the option to add a stop for a sponsored location during navigation.
  • jumjummy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    8 months 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.

      • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
        1·
        8 months 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!

  • Blue0x@programming.devEnglish
    2·
    8 months ago

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

    • tiredofsametab@kbin.run
      1·
      8 months ago

      I get the feeling, but if the business has no say in getting recommended, aren’t you just punishing businesses that may not even know this program exists? That would suck for very small businesses.

      Edit: my brain was thinking recommendations not paid ads so please disregard.

      • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        Google isn’t going to promote small businesses that have no say. Google isn’t putting these ads up for fun. They do it because businesses pay them to.

      • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        1·
        8 months 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
        1·
        8 months 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

  • Luci@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    8 months 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.

  • errer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months 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.

    • torsday@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      It’s gotten so much better. Once they brought offline maps I made the full switch.

    • cmbabul@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      I’ve preferred Apple Maps for a few years now, Googles used to be top of the game but it’s fallen off while Apple’s have IME improved

      • howlingecko@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        Same here. I have been happy with Apple Maps.

        I was an early adopter for Waze and helped them build and fix their maps. I loved Waze. Several months after Google bought Waze, I repeatedly noticed battery draining faster and location was more frequently being used by Waze. I wrote to them about it. After some time passed and no response or change, I ditched them.

  • mlg@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months 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.

    Edit: Also Android Auto can go to hell.

  • soratoyuki@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months 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.

      • soratoyuki@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        8 months ago

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

        • ipkpjersi@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          8 months ago

          Oh I didn’t notice the quotes lol that’s what I get for being tired on a Monday ☠️

  • Sentient Loom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    01·
    8 months 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.