It's the people working in the companies, they need to justify their existence.

It's a bit like consumer products (especially soaps and detergents) if you consider how many times they are relaunched as "improved" it implies the 10-20 years ago the products were crap, whereas they were practically the same. Just the marketing industry conjuring up the illusion of progress.

True true. I am not sure how much they can improve a basic item like soap. I am a marketing companies worst nightmare, my shopping for most items consists of seeing what is cheapest, and then buying it....I rarely buy anything because a brand.



Sounds like my work though, someone in the company keeps changing excel sheets and I can't figure out why because the old format worked better, but apparently this way is easier, but it creates more work for me so its not easier for me...lol

I think you answered your own question.. The reason Google is so much better is because they are constantly changing and updating their products and services.

Look at what happened to BlackBerry, Nokia, Microsoft in the phone and tablet markets. Way too slow to change things up and got left behind by Google and Apple, two companies who are constantly evolving their products and services.

Interesting that the word IMPROVING is missing from that.

That's what often seems to be forgotten with these things in the haste to update.

Style over substance.

I am fine with change as long as its an improvement, but too many times they change things and its not an improvement at all and just makes it more of a pain to use.

I personally think the new Google Maps is an improvement over the old. With time many more will too, they just need to get used to it, and then get over the stubbornness to admit it

There is more map displayed on the screen, it is easier to find local businesses etc in the areas and there is Pegman to give you a tour if you're lost!

Not everything is an improvement, Apple Maps wasn't at first, Microsoft has issues with users adapting to Windows 8. But having the ability to adapt allows companies to react to negative feedback as well as the positive. Apple and Google wouldn't be where they are now if that wasn't the case.

My nan found her universal remote control a pain to use.. until I showed her how to use it properly

Slightly off topic but NFC is pretty damn cool (when it works).

I adapted to windows 8, but I still hate it...lol.

We'll see

Why would you use google maps to find local businesses? If you know the name of the business you probably know where they are. If you don't, their own website will tell you - or their entry in the phone book, or the equivalent online.

If you are actually looking for a plumber or something, they'll come up on a search and there will be a little map there already.

As I said originally, I want to look at a map to see where a place is and it's harder to do so with the changes.

Tell you what, let's have the local take-away lend books and movies. "But there are already libraries and video stores for that?"
"Ah, but it'll be an upgrade."
"The food will go cold."

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

One of life's great mysteries.