google maps

Showing 19 posts tagged google maps

The Strange Explanation Of Why Windows Phone Users Lost Access To Google Maps [Extended Director's Cut]

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you 3,000 words in which Danny Sullivan talks himself into something, then talks himself out of it, then back into it.

Seriously, why does Google Maps not work on your Windows Phone? I don’t know, why doesn’t it work on your graphing calculator or your espresso machine?

It’s simple really. Google made sure Maps worked on Windows Mobile because it had market share. Google doesn’t give a shit about Maps working on Windows Phone because it doesn’t. Any questions? Consult Sullivan’s post and then come back here again.

What are your thoughts on the new google map app for iPhone?

Asked by publishforlove

It’s great. I’ve been using it all morning to get around. It’s worth it for the clearly superior place search functionality alone.

Judging from my inbox/replies/etc, it seems like a lot of folks expect me to take a shit on the app. I’m not going to do that. As I’ve always said, my only requirement to use something is that it be the best. And that’s clearly the case here.

Google Maps is superior to Apple Maps in most (though not quite all) ways. And I’m excited to have it back on the iPhone. I’ll be using it constantly.

The Fainting Chair

John Gruber:

Everyone else in the tech world expected Apple to release its own mapping service for three years, but Google, the one company that stood to lose the most, did not? OK, sure. If you believe that, I have a melted bridge to sell you.

I’m not sure what Google’s play is here in strategically leaking some of this info. Do they want us to feel bad for them? Inspire more outrage against Apple for the Maps situation? The way these stories are set up, the opposite is almost true. They makes it seem like Google is kind of clueless (which I don’t think is actually true).

Or maybe they just felt the need to temper expectations for a Google Maps iOS client, since it’s not coming anytime soon (despite erroneous reports suggesting it was already submitted and Apple was blocking it).

The Atlantic Takes A Deep Dive Into Google Maps

Great read by Alexis Madrigal on how Google got so far ahead in maps — and why they’re likely to stay ahead.

There are a number of factors at play, but one key that stands out are the Street View cars. If Apple is going to compete in the space, they’re going to need some answer not to the Street View product, but to the data those cars send back. (Which is undoubtedly why we’re seeing Apple quietly partner with companies like Waze.)

To be fair, the fact that iOS6 maps doesn't have public transit really, REALLY sucks. I'm sure I'm not the only person who uses Google Maps primarily for transit directions.

Asked by brad-t

It does, I agree. I’m interested to see how they integrate the third-party apps to do this. 

Still, I suspect Apple will address this with their own solution sooner rather than later.

Doesn't it seem likely that Google would release a maps app for iOS 6 anyway?

Asked by Anonymous

I suspect they will, yes. And I suspect Apple will allow it. BUT regardless, Google Maps will no longer be a part of the iOS SDK.

Developers. Developers. Developers. 

Google Maps Backtracks

Google Maps Product Manager Thor Mitchell:

As you may know, last year we introduced limits on the number of free maps that developers could show daily through the Google Maps API. Since then, we’ve been listening carefully to feedback, and today we’re happy to announce that we’re lowering API usage fees and simplifying limits for both Styled and regular maps.

“Since then” — let’s be clear, that happened in October of last year. In the eight months since then, what has changed? Not much beyond a little company called Apple entering the space.

I’ve talked to a lot of developers over the past several months — not one of them can understand why Google made these changes in the first place. It led big startups like Foursquare to abandon Google Maps on the web. Even with the high rates, it can’t be a huge amount of money for Google relative to their overall revenues.

But still, they did not make this change until after Apple maps were unveiled. And they didn’t just cut prices, they slashed them by 8x. 8x!

Can’t imagine why.

Update: One reason for the price change initially was apparently spam. As in, Google thought that by charging sites for heavy usage, they’d cut back on the “Live Nude Girls in Houston!!!” embedded map ads. Still, it’s not clear how they couldn’t see the downside for big *real* partners.