• Blackmist@feddit.uk
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        4 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!

    • EtherWhack@lemmy.world
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      4 months 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.

  • Luci@lemmy.ca
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    4 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.

      • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
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        4 months ago

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

    • moontorchy@lemmy.world
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      4 months 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 catch?” 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. Edited: typos.

    • Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      Is it too much to ask

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

  • ilickfrogs@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

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

    • HessiaNerd@lemmy.world
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      4 months 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.

        • SOB_Van_Owen@lemm.ee
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          4 months ago

          Heard someone assert that MBA’s have ruined the world. Seemed a hyperbolic statement at the time. Though casting my eyes around an ever more enpoopified landscape, it’s tough to disagree.

          • Jojo, Lady of the West@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            4 months ago

            Having taken some “Business for IT” courses… It’s buzzwords all the way down. The buzzwords are defined with buzzwords that are defined with buzzwords that…

          • LavenderDay3544@lemmings.world
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            4 months ago

            MBA are stupid people who think they’re intelligent. I have my M.S. in CS earned summa cum laude and some of these business idiots think their grad degree was even remotely as difficult as mine.

        • Salix@sh.itjust.works
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          4 months ago

          They get the traffic data from some third party, not by following their users like gmaps.

          https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/

          Do you share data with third parties?

          We send position data to our traffic provider to generate real-time traffic information. The data is anonymized on the phone, using a changing key (so it’s not linked to you), and it is deleted after 5 minutes.

          They have a good privacy policy though. I haven’t really had many issues with their app.

      • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz
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        4 months ago

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

      • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.net
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        4 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

      • explore_broaden@midwest.social
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        4 months 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.

  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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    4 months 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?”

  • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world
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    4 months 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.

    • twoface@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months 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.

  • H0neyc0mb@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

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

    • Zron@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Bought iPhone last year.

      Tried Apple Maps the first week.

      Put in address to friend’s new condo building.

      Took me to a parking lot behind a grocery store next to the building, and then acted like I could drive through an old wooden fence to get to the condos.

      5/10 I only had to drive to the other end of the block to find the only entrance to the property.

    • zewm@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I’m sorry but as long as Apple Maps rely on and force you to install the Yelp app for reviews, I’m never using it.

    • thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      The only thing Apple Maps lacks now is a Waze-like ability to report hazards, speed-traps, road closures etc. apparently that’s been a thing for a few years now, thanks!

      I’ll have to check it out where I am, but I have a feeling that there might not be a big enough active user base to sufficiently crowd source the datapoints… I guess, be the change you want to see in the world!

  • Blue0x@programming.dev
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    4 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
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      4 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.world
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        4 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.

      • Skankboot@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        It’s an ad, not a recommendation. As far as I know, Google doesn’t just serve ads for businesses that don’t pay for them.

  • vext01@lemmy.sdf.org
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    4 months 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!

  • Wiz@midwest.social
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    4 months 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.

  • GlenRambo@jlai.lu
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    4 months ago

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

  • soratoyuki@lemmy.world
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    4 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.

  • errer@lemmy.world
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    4 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.