Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

Using your take away example.. I want Chinese tonight. As I was born in the late '80's I am not sure what this book of phones you speak of it and so I use Google to find local Chinese restaurants. When looking for things like this I generally do a map search rather than a web search so that I don't have to read the same restaurant multiple times from urbanspoon, yellowpages, 411 or whatever other listings company is out there!

Maps are used for more than just I want to go from A to B.

Believe or not.. video stores are already basically extinct and books are digital now too! :eek:

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

What did you use before this google maps update then? Or did you just use google to search?
But why would you look at more than one listing site? Why compare looking at one map site with multiple listing sites?
If you look at more than one listing site you'll see the same entry multiple times. If you look at more than one map site you'll see the same map multiple times. ;)

Absolutely. That would be one of those route-finder type sites. :)

Of course, there's a lot to be said for a one stop shop where everything is under one roof. I'm unconvinced that when there's a single reason to visit a map site (such as wanting to look at a map) and that's made more difficult than it was, that this is a better service.



Well Blockbuster has closed. But there's another video store open. I've even seen new automated video points outside a couple of stores here. Quite surprised at that. I always said there were some outdated practices in this province. :unsure:

If the original google maps option really does disappear, I'll try the new and improved option as well as something like mapquest and report my findings. :)

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

I've used google maps to locate places before, just entering pizza will bring up local places when you don't know a name, or just want to see whats around. Come in especially handy when your new to a town, and don't know where everything is as and not familiar with the street names.

Phones books are mostly obsolete it seems, they are becoming smaller and smaller by the year, and companies don't seem to be advertising much in them anymore, they are basically useless for the most part.

As for video stores, we have none here, the last one shut down a few years ago, only options for movies are online, red box vending machine, or shaw, and of course buying the DVD.

We don't even have a movie theater anymore, we have to go 45 minutes north to Whistler, or about an hour South to North Vancouver, but all are old and outdated, nearest modern theater is downtown Vancouver.

I find google maps very handy at times for finding a business or locations when I don't know the name of the company.

But I still liked the old format better, but maybe I am just as that age, where change is just not welcomed anymore.

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

I still used Google maps.. however the new Google maps is a huge improvement for doing this.

I wouldn't be intentionally looking at multiple listings. However these multiple listings would appear as Google search results. Rather than a Google Search bringing me 5 unique Chinese restaurants I may be given the same restaurant in my results 3 times from different listing companies that are competing for ranking within Google searches.


I have seen the automated DVD rental machines, not quite sure who uses them though as I have never seen them being used. With the amount of content that is available online for a minimal monthly subscription or downloaded illegally why would someone want to rent from a machine?

We do have a local cinema in town here (as well as a Cineplex chain cinema). The local place shows films that are 2 months or so past their release date and it hasn't been updated much in the last 20 years. On thing they have updated though are their screen. At $3.50 a ticket on Tuesday or $6.00 regular price I much prefer the local old place to the big chain one that charges twice the price!

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

One of life's great mysteries. :)

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

They may only have a TV and DVD Player is the answer.

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

Bugger. Completely forgot that. :o

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

I like the new Google maps interface.

Bristol, I think Burks has hit the nail on the head. More and more individuals are not using Google maps simply to find a location (street name and number) or driving directions, but to find a "datapoint" on one of many hundreds of layers of data which use Google's base map as their referencing or indexing system. Old-school map users are a vanishing breed (sadly, as I count myself among them - I'd still much rather look at a map than rely on a sat-nav).

Think of Google Maps as a geographically-indexed search tool rather than purely a navigation aid and it begins to make more sense. Type what you are looking for in the search bar on the interface you dislike so intensely, and the answers will pop up as lollipops on the map. If what you are looking for is an address, then the map will simply centre on that location.

A map is simply a tool for presenting data in a geographical way - all Google does is to enable the user to choose which layers of information to show. The classic Ordnance Survey maps are a case in point: some of the data they chose to show were rural pubs and inns, and post offices. But they didn't show licensed restaurants, hotels or banks, which offer many of the same services as pubs or post offices. Why was that the case? Because that was the set of data deemed to be most useful by the powers that be. Churches were categorised as having steeples, towers or neither to help with visual orientation - a Google map doesn't need that because you have aerial and street level photography in a lot of places (and on Bing you now have 4-axis oblique photography too, which adds another layer of information to the mix).

By the way, if you don't want the search tools to obscure your view of the map, then dragging (panning) the map a small distance in any direction will roll everything up into the single search bar, with all the extraneous information disappearing.

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

If their experience is that gives them more than the options already available then fair enough.

For them.

I don't know that people who want to see where a place is are a vanishing breed though.

But take away ease of access and they may die off even more.

You just took me back to my schooldays. :)

Thanks. That might be a compromise if the original really does disappear. :thumbup:

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

The younger generation (let's say 20 and below) may well lose interest in maps. They will have been brought up to use maps as a "visual data layer" in the way OakV describes, and perhaps not see any point in studying maps to construct mental maps in their head. With mobile computing, there really is far less need.

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

I use Google maps for most of my mapping/directional needs but I much prefer a physical map as opposed to SatNav. If I use Google maps to find out how to get somewhere I will store the directions in my head ad print the map as back up rather than print the turn by turn directions.

It frustrates me how people have no idea how to explain to to get to places they go to on a regular basis as they just follow the voice in their car! Or those who ask for post codes for everywhere they go so they can put it in their SatNav.

Re: Google Feedback (maps)
 

Well you're almost younger generation if I recall, so that's encouraging.

SatNavs and mobiles are not great for digital maps, but large tablets definitely are. Better than the paper variety by far.