Tell HN: Google are going to finally sunset classic maps | Hacker News Reader

Tell HN: Google are going to finally sunset classic maps

13 pointsjunto7 comments

The time has finally come. Google are announcing the death of classic maps. We are all about to be forced to use the resource sucking, poor UX of 'new maps' whether we like it or not.

I just received this in my inbox:

  Hi,
  We want to let you know that in the coming months, we're upgrading
  the content you created in My Maps. All of the maps that you've
  created will automatically move to the new Google My Maps (previously
  called Google Maps Engine). Classic My Maps on maps.google.com will 
  no longer be available. You don't have to take any action to ensure 
  all your content will be upgraded.

  If you don't want to wait to start using the new Google My Maps, you 
  can begin migrating your maps today. 

   1.  Open the new My Maps. 
   2.  Click Upgrade now to get started.

  The new My Maps is a more powerful maps creation tool that makes it
  easier to edit and share maps you've made. Just like with classic My
  Maps, you can work on a map with others, save driving directions, add
  photos and videos, and more. With the new Google My Maps, you can also
  do things like: 

    •   Share your map similar to how it works for a Google Doc. 
    •   Use different colors to make parts of your map stand out. 
    •   Label your features directly on the map. 
    •   Import locations from a spreadsheet. 
    •   Organize your places with layers. 

  For more information, please see our FAQ. 


  Thanks for using Google My Maps.
  Happy mapping,
  The Google Maps Team

There will come a time when companies will realize that change for change's sake is not good. The 'new maps' is a terrible experience so far. It doesn't work in many ways that worked ok in the older version. For instance, the dutch real estate site 'funda' uses google maps as part of their interface. When you're looking at the available houses as a google maps datalayer it forces visibility of all the musea and other major landmarks on the map, and then overrides your clicks on HOUSES (the thing you came for) to display musea and other non-relevant items based on the statistical likelihood that you wanted to click that thing that everybody clicks on.

Google is consistently 'dumbing down' its products and whenever they do the functionality for power users gets worse. Especially in the case of products with an API such dumbing down has side effects for all the companies that used that API to enhance their products.

For the most parts their users will not understand that the sub-optimal experience they are having is a google issue, rather than an issue with the website they are currently visiting.

Very annoying trend.

I agree. I just find the new maps unintuitive. It is also slow and often just hangs for a few seconds (and I have a fast enough machine).

The moving of 'My Maps' data is a good thing though. Whenever I have used the new maps, the fact that I couldn't use my maps without switching back and fore between old and new was very annoying.

The trend is the tail wagging the dog. Instead of producing whatever information people will use, the information Google and similar companies provide is becoming standardized in the way of commodities like petroleum.

The problem is that the machines which consume petroleum can evolve in toward standardization in parallel with the standardization of the commodity. But humans don't necessarily evolve toward standard consumers of standardized information.

When it comes to information, one size doesn't fit all. Yet Google wants to produce information on a 20th century assembly line, not a just in time custom Nike shoe style one.

I get can over new UIs, even sub-optimal UIs but the slowness and constant need to refresh the page are the biggest problems I have with the new google maps.

The thing I hate about new maps is the lack of streetview images in the directions. Why the hell would they get rid of that? It was the most useful thing possible. It showed the exact turning points and exits you had to take via streetview.

this is almost like google getting rid of discussion search

atleast with maps you have alternatives but with discussion search, there are no other options...

the voice of the people are forever banished in favor of SEO'd content

open street map time :)

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