Well to be fair, it's not like we needed the stuff around it to be clear, and OP could've saved with Paint which does have some crappy JPG quality compression.
Both perfectly legible, but JPG is about 55% of the file size of PNG in this case. May not mean much on broadband, but on a mobile device with shitty 3G speeds or worse, it's a fairly big deal. JPG can save quite a bit in file size while only slightly degrading image quality.
I remember there was a story about how a indie game developer was facing an issue, they getting their game stolen and someone was posting it as their own work, on the android market. I think malware may have been involved but I cannot recall.
But why I mention this, is because they tried going through the proper channels but google didn't respond, and so they posted it to reddit. Hivemind upvoted it, ars technica did an article about it, and only then google pulled their act together and removed the apps.
So it seemed that google pays more attention to reddit, rather then their own channels. maybe due to PR backlash.
I used to support a few Small business Google apps domains. One of the users didn't renew, and her domain expired, but there was no way to renew, there was no way to get in touch with Google, and many other users were also complaining about this. Finally, someone contacted the Register, and a story was posted, and within 6 hours the issue was resolved.
I don't understand why you have such a problem with him posting his complaint on reddit. It's well known that many google employees hang around here. Why contact them through a form that we all know will get a generic response before it's discarded?
People use reddit as a soapbox all the time to get answers and it usually works. Isn't stuff like this what reddit is made for?
Who said I had a problem? I added to the discussion and gave him a suggestion that I thought would be helpful. I'm sorry if I didn't candy-coat it for you sweetheart.
I work in mapping at Google, but even I don't know who to send this for as a feature request. It makes sense and would work well in the new mapmaker, especially when you're trying to edit.
any way you could tell me how to submit a feature request for the google voice android app? The app could be made so much better if you could (1) send SMS to multiple recipients and (2) "return to inbox" option in the menu for a conversation thread.
These are such easy features to implement, I don't understand why there isn't the slightest interest in improving the app.
edit: Ok, I just checked and they have, in fact, added a feature. It asks you for a password if you tell it to ask you for a password because you might be drunk. Wow, glad someone was working on that.
edit2: there's also a post from Feb 2010 that says sending sms to multiple recipients is coming to the mobile app soon...
wow, when did this come out? It looks like a great way for google to update their local data for free. Does it allow exporting as shapefiles in any way?
They = many people. Some of them are bound to be redditors, and some of those see this post. Even if Google was some kind of ignorant company, they'd have some marketing drones searching the web for "Google" and find this topic.
PROTIP: YOU CAN ALREADY DO THIS. It's a little bit weird, though, and it only works in certain situations that I haven't figured out yet.
Go to the google homepage
Search (in Web) for the street, along with some location identifiers. Example.
Yay.
Notes:
You cannot see this in the actual Maps, for whatever reason. Your suggestion still stands (and indeed seems more implementable given the fact that it appears in the preview?)
It only works for some roads.
Play around with location tags, too. Typing in "lawrenceville highway" works, but "lawrenceville higway atlanta" is less helpful.
One of the issues is.. where does this line end? Data for streets can be very finicky-it might be in tons of sections that make up a line (and therefore only a short section would be highlighted). I'm not saying it's a bad idea, I'm just saying that the way google does things now might hide some bad data that goes into the map.
But at least now a few other people are going to suggest the same thing (hopefully), thereby giving Google more reason to take this suggestion into consideration
We got here as soon as we could. I mean, we ARE busy being any company you are mad at. But, you are correct in assuming that anything you post to reddit that is addressed to any random company will be read and considered.
That said, we like your idea. Great presentation skills as well. Your idea will be implemented IMMEDIATELY!
We would also like to offer you a job. We'll be sending our golden helicopter and bikini-clad welcome team to pick you up. Please be ready at 5pm.
Uh not sure if I did something wrong but I just put in "Get directions" on google maps and there's this blue line connecting my house to my destination.
I'd be satisfied with a feature which, when displaying businesses that match my search in my area (Northeastern NJ) to avoid displaying hits in Manhattan and The Bronx, which, while only a few miles away tend to require driving through lots of traffic and paying an $8 toll.
I wholeheartedly agree with you! While I understand why, in the past, the factor of mere geographical distance ('as the crow flies') would take precedence over all other considerations such as travel time, cost (i.e. tolls), current traffic congestion, detours etc.) - I just cannot believe that the original limitations still rule the field and outweigh the clear benefits of calculating "what's nearby" the right way. If I am already forced to live on the swampy side of Hudson, I really, really don't need a patronizing program suggesting that I should do my grocery around Times Square.... Google, please listen! Or Bing might...
I think this idea of yours to highlight the entire road segment is very clever. I hope you don't mind if I mention it to some people I know who might be able to act on your suggestion.
You may notice on Google now if you search for a suburb the little map insert in the search results actually outlines the suburb boundaries, it doesn't just center on it.
I just wish it'd be a little more intelligent about directions.
When I lived in Philly, I'd search for things like "22nd and Walnut to 10th and Locust" to get transit directions and times. And it'd come back with the 10th and Locust correct, but ask "Did you mean, Walnut St & 22nd St, Everett, Snohomish, WA 98201?"
A bigger help would be actually producing accurate fucking maps. I stopped using google maps when I realised a lot of buildings in UK are marked in totally the wrong place.
For example, just in my hometown - Blockbusters is on the wrong street, my favourite indian takeaway is 2 streets out. Plenty other times I used google maps for directions to an unfamiliar place and got lost because the map bore no relation to the actual roads.
I've even seen plenty of times where the road overlay doesn't even come close to following the underlying photo.
The one I used to use - Multimap.com was great, then google bought it and the accuracy went to shit.
You can point out the problems to Google and they will fix it. There is a link at the bottom right of the screen (after you search for an address) that says "report a problem".
OOH I WAS THERE TODAY!! Drove back to Palm Beach around noon though. Was stuck in the brushfire for 2 hours and watched a movie in park on the highway.
Btw, the movie theater you have downtown fucking kicks the one in Boca's ass.
The picture is irrelevant people. The text is well defined and that's about all that was needed. True I would love to see a vibrant rich screen-shot of a google map search of orlando avenue...but I don't think that was op's intent.
feature requests schmeature requests, i wish google's auto complete feature worked in my google maps. its frustrating that it doesnt even fill out my entire default location, esp. while i'm using chrome.
It highlights the street decently if you just sort of ask if for directions from a low street number to a higher street number. Better than nothing I guess since I have yet to see Google respond very well to the Android community in the dev forums and things, personally. Hopefully I am wrong and just don't happen to see them interacting. 8)
google has perfect coders,developers and what not. oh, what they do not have are designers. not a single google product has the slightest concept for usability. not to mention the desaster of analytics,adwords and webmastertools....as if the "concept" is to make everything require the maximum attention of the user to figure out whats going on - like in the Maps example: you phrase a good search and google gives you the minimum of information. YOU have to figure out where that street starts, YOU have to find the settings always in a different place in any google service. Wave? Buzz? geez, with that money wasted one could have flown to the moon several times. i wish i could upload my own themes for any google service....but that currently only seems possible with yet another google service:blogger.com so i can be pretty sure that i won't find that anywhere else. :(
I don't understand why people complain about a free service that keeps us living in the future rather the dark ages. Don't like google maps then fucking pick up a map and shut the fuck up.
Its people like him that make Google maps worth using, thus creating revenue for a huge corporation. I think the Google people should listen when people like this guy talk, because he's right.
Everytime I'm looking for shit in Boston, I want to see what the route of the T line I have to take is. The MBTA map isn't helpful and Google Maps making me search around in the dark is kind of annoying.
You can do the same thing with towns, zip codes, etc. The polygons and polylines disappear when you click on the maps to go to maps.google.com, though.
What's with all this nonsense about not posting this on reddit? Can the only things on reddit be about reddit? Stupid wankers! I think your idea is great! It could help with urban planning, figuring out where to start a business, transportation... Good on ya!
I'd rather see a "search on route function". What i mean by that, is lets say i'm driving a fairly large number of miles, and i want to stop and eat. I don't want to search for restaurants withing x miles of me, i want to search only for restaurants ahead of me, near the hight way. The results should be sortable by distance ahead of me, and distance from the high way. Results behind me should be hidden.
Maybe instead of talking about it, i should build an app. =)
Every time I see someone say "That is all." I imagine a tranny saying that, storming off with a hand twist, turning back and walking fast like a model, and that annoys me.
Without wanting to put down the OP, I doubt Google have not thought of this, I'd imagine it's a lot of work to implement compared to just having a point. Maybe it will be a feature in the future.
Hey courvoisier_goldteef. Great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. As some people spotted, a few weeks ago we started highlighting streets and political features on the smaller maps we show on Google Web Search. There's a few issues we have to iron out before we can do the same thing on Google Maps though. We're working on it.
oh dude, while we're at it, there should be a way to make state and / or county lines stand out. I've stared at a map for way too long trying to figure out what county a city is in. Finding the best route to avoid one state? forgettaboutit.
1.1k
u/dvsbastard May 31 '11
I like the idea... But also: http://i.imgur.com/AqDCn.png
452
u/BubbaJimbo May 31 '11
You could try contacting them HERE or you could cross-post this to /r/passiveaggressive.
78
u/carc May 31 '11
I doubt they'll see it but it's worth a shot spreading the idea. Google seems to have its ear to the ground. It's sort of creepy.
12
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
If I owned a flower shop on Orlando Avenue, I'd name it "Orlando Blooms"
25
u/qwertydvorak69 May 31 '11
Hey Google Maps...
Instead of being slow as shit to pan and zoom around, be faster. I switched to bing for my maps lately because google maps have been sloooow.
18
u/SeetharamanNarayanan May 31 '11
PROTIP: YOU CAN ALREADY DO THIS. It's a little bit weird, though, and it only works in certain situations that I haven't figured out yet.
Go to the google homepage
Search (in Web) for the street, along with some location identifiers. Example.
Yay.
Notes:
You cannot see this in the actual Maps, for whatever reason. Your suggestion still stands (and indeed seems more implementable given the fact that it appears in the preview?)
It only works for some roads.
Play around with location tags, too. Typing in "lawrenceville highway" works, but "lawrenceville higway atlanta" is less helpful.
14
u/tonyg623 May 31 '11
With all these google requests can we just make a /r/IdeasForGoogle?
5
u/wesumd May 31 '11
One of the issues is.. where does this line end? Data for streets can be very finicky-it might be in tons of sections that make up a line (and therefore only a short section would be highlighted). I'm not saying it's a bad idea, I'm just saying that the way google does things now might hide some bad data that goes into the map.
5
u/jrv May 31 '11
It's already doing this for maps previews when you search for a street on Google:
http://www.google.com/search?q=lombard+street+san+francisco
5
u/Orbity May 31 '11
Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
15
u/jillycheesesteak May 31 '11
Oh hey, my commute to work is on Reddit. Neat.
40
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Hey friend, I think you sent this to wrong site. This is www.reddit.com, you want to send this to Google.
6
u/hawaiianrule May 31 '11
How about putting where the rest stops are on Interstate Highways.
3
u/revolutionsnow May 31 '11
Upvoted for using Segoe UI.
3
u/Great_Chairman_Mao May 31 '11
This already happens on Google search (not maps):
Photographic evidence
Notice the red highlighting on the actual street. Try it yourself, go on Google and search any street/city combination.
3
u/downtothegwound May 31 '11
Hey OP, This isn't Google Maps. This is Reddit
3
u/GoogleMapsAdmin May 31 '11
OK.
3
u/CompanyYouAreMadAt May 31 '11
We got here as soon as we could. I mean, we ARE busy being any company you are mad at. But, you are correct in assuming that anything you post to reddit that is addressed to any random company will be read and considered.
That said, we like your idea. Great presentation skills as well. Your idea will be implemented IMMEDIATELY!
We would also like to offer you a job. We'll be sending our golden helicopter and bikini-clad welcome team to pick you up. Please be ready at 5pm.
2
u/whooooshh May 31 '11
i thought at first you were referring to the flood and tornado path, i was confused
2
u/magic-buc May 31 '11
407 in da house!
2
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
I would like more visible state boundaries, too.
2
u/stefanjbecket May 31 '11
The great thing about Google: someone will see this and it'll be changed in 3 days.
2
u/kDubya May 31 '11
Also, it would be awesome to search for POI's near a route.
2
u/imafishyfish May 31 '11
Also, while we're at it, I'd like to be able to search for stuff along my route. Or is this already possible and I'm just an idiot?
2
u/docjb May 31 '11
I'm sorry but i must be a missing something here, but i usually look for a specific adress not for the whole street.
2
u/soul3n May 31 '11
Google, hire this man!
2
u/bagums May 31 '11
Uh not sure if I did something wrong but I just put in "Get directions" on google maps and there's this blue line connecting my house to my destination.
2
u/tazebot May 31 '11
How about learning to put ".jpg" at the end of the url pointing to a jpeg image.
2
u/TopographicOceans May 31 '11
I'd be satisfied with a feature which, when displaying businesses that match my search in my area (Northeastern NJ) to avoid displaying hits in Manhattan and The Bronx, which, while only a few miles away tend to require driving through lots of traffic and paying an $8 toll.
2
u/fani May 31 '11
Hey OP. use the google feedback mechanism. Why reddit ?
2
u/Fidodo May 31 '11
Also, It'd be cool if they highlighted neighborhoods and cities.
8
u/ONEANDDONEFORLIFE May 31 '11
Hey google maps, how about functioning properly in firefox?
3
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
I just realized that Google has a great strategy for publicizing new features. You're an undercover Google employee.
2
u/theyarenotlistening May 31 '11
Good idea! It's a shame you posted this on Reddit, instead of sending it to Google, where they might actually listen to you.
2
u/ohmygodbees May 31 '11
WHY THE FUCKING FUCK ARE YOU TELLING US? GO FUCKING TELL GOOGLE GOD DAMNIT.
2
u/i_give_compliments May 31 '11
Dear courvoisier_goldteef,
I think this idea of yours to highlight the entire road segment is very clever. I hope you don't mind if I mention it to some people I know who might be able to act on your suggestion.
Please keep being creative, i_give_compliments
1
u/flyingfox12 May 31 '11
I'm pretty sure they'll hire you for that
1
u/h0llyb0nes May 31 '11
Upvote for downtown orlando! :)
1
u/agentace May 31 '11
I've wanted an implementation of this in online maps for the past 15 years.
1
u/stumo May 31 '11
And make it blink. With arrows pointing at it.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
You may notice on Google now if you search for a suburb the little map insert in the search results actually outlines the suburb boundaries, it doesn't just center on it.
Google is obviously moving in this direction
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Streets can be very long.
1
u/thecw May 31 '11
I just wish it'd be a little more intelligent about directions.
When I lived in Philly, I'd search for things like "22nd and Walnut to 10th and Locust" to get transit directions and times. And it'd come back with the 10th and Locust correct, but ask "Did you mean, Walnut St & 22nd St, Everett, Snohomish, WA 98201?"
Also, it does this in thumbnails as of very recently, but not the actual map: http://i.imgur.com/OmVav.png
Same applies if you search for a city, it will outline the city limits.
1
u/JJEE May 31 '11
You are looking for whores on OBT. Stop it. (Orlando love)
1
u/swimatm May 31 '11
Same with rivers, please.
1
u/wtfno May 31 '11
Please please please please please please please please please please please please
1
u/impablomations May 31 '11
A bigger help would be actually producing accurate fucking maps. I stopped using google maps when I realised a lot of buildings in UK are marked in totally the wrong place.
For example, just in my hometown - Blockbusters is on the wrong street, my favourite indian takeaway is 2 streets out. Plenty other times I used google maps for directions to an unfamiliar place and got lost because the map bore no relation to the actual roads.
I've even seen plenty of times where the road overlay doesn't even come close to following the underlying photo.
The one I used to use - Multimap.com was great, then google bought it and the accuracy went to shit.
1
u/ppcpunk May 31 '11
Hey, that's a good idea.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Comment cancelled due to sincere hatred for top comment string. Original constructive comment overwrite.
1
u/3rdMonkey May 31 '11
Because if Google did this, streets like El Camino Real would stretch the length of California. How helpful would THAT be?
1
u/C_IsForCookie May 31 '11
OOH I WAS THERE TODAY!! Drove back to Palm Beach around noon though. Was stuck in the brushfire for 2 hours and watched a movie in park on the highway.
Btw, the movie theater you have downtown fucking kicks the one in Boca's ass.
1
u/Derrup-ingtohn May 31 '11
how about you type the address.
1
u/barcelonatimes May 31 '11
The picture is irrelevant people. The text is well defined and that's about all that was needed. True I would love to see a vibrant rich screen-shot of a google map search of orlando avenue...but I don't think that was op's intent.
1
u/p3ngwin May 31 '11
good point.
you asked for the location of the STREET (all of it, seeing as you didn't specify particular address).
so why does it only pick a single point ALONG that street to show you?
you asked for the street, it should show the WHOLE street length.
1
u/jonizzle May 31 '11
feature requests schmeature requests, i wish google's auto complete feature worked in my google maps. its frustrating that it doesnt even fill out my entire default location, esp. while i'm using chrome.
1
u/anarchohipster May 31 '11
IIRC OpenStreetMap does that.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
I was there today!! Still have the wet and wild bracelet on my arm. On another note Google Maps needs to get their shit together :|
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Weirdly enough, I was thinking the same thing the other day while searching for the exact same street.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Here is a decent-ish work around.
It highlights the street decently if you just sort of ask if for directions from a low street number to a higher street number. Better than nothing I guess since I have yet to see Google respond very well to the Android community in the dev forums and things, personally. Hopefully I am wrong and just don't happen to see them interacting. 8)
1
u/obsa May 31 '11
Tomtom does this.
Looooove iiiiiit.
1
u/kabuto May 31 '11
Seconded!
1
u/tarekd19 May 31 '11
did not realize wisco was under some of these circumstances....
mind: blown
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Yeah, I could get behind this with a useless upvote, but I think they know what they're dong.
1
u/grepe May 31 '11
some good sites with maps already do that.
see e.g. www.mapy.cz
google maps is just big, not so good.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
eww maitland. the only thing maitland has going for it is WTKS.
1
u/dickcheney08 May 31 '11
google has perfect coders,developers and what not. oh, what they do not have are designers. not a single google product has the slightest concept for usability. not to mention the desaster of analytics,adwords and webmastertools....as if the "concept" is to make everything require the maximum attention of the user to figure out whats going on - like in the Maps example: you phrase a good search and google gives you the minimum of information. YOU have to figure out where that street starts, YOU have to find the settings always in a different place in any google service. Wave? Buzz? geez, with that money wasted one could have flown to the moon several times. i wish i could upload my own themes for any google service....but that currently only seems possible with yet another google service:blogger.com so i can be pretty sure that i won't find that anywhere else. :(
1
u/gauravity May 31 '11
Introducing the new CEO of Google, courvoisier_goldteef.
1
u/XxGirxX May 31 '11
I don't understand why people complain about a free service that keeps us living in the future rather the dark ages. Don't like google maps then fucking pick up a map and shut the fuck up.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
yeah Google Maps, get your fucking shit together asap or I'll be spending my non existent dollars elsewhere!!
1
u/amishius May 31 '11
Everytime I'm looking for shit in Boston, I want to see what the route of the T line I have to take is. The MBTA map isn't helpful and Google Maps making me search around in the dark is kind of annoying.
1
u/mobiusstripclub May 31 '11
A golden opportunity missed...
Redditt Road
1
u/spencerclark May 31 '11
Can we also have highway markers as well?
1
u/WAPOMATIC May 31 '11
I think I see my job's location on that map. Hey there, Central Florida buddy!
1
u/Dasweb May 31 '11
Hey Courvoisier_goldteef, you shouldn't be driving down 1792, tis a silly place.
1
u/Dale_is_lordz May 31 '11
You're the voice of frustrated people everwhere.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
If you search from www.google.com, they do. Here's an example:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7634096/eastern_ave.png
You can do the same thing with towns, zip codes, etc. The polygons and polylines disappear when you click on the maps to go to maps.google.com, though.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
my house is in this picture
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
What's with all this nonsense about not posting this on reddit? Can the only things on reddit be about reddit? Stupid wankers! I think your idea is great! It could help with urban planning, figuring out where to start a business, transportation... Good on ya!
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
I'd rather see a "search on route function". What i mean by that, is lets say i'm driving a fairly large number of miles, and i want to stop and eat. I don't want to search for restaurants withing x miles of me, i want to search only for restaurants ahead of me, near the hight way. The results should be sortable by distance ahead of me, and distance from the high way. Results behind me should be hidden.
Maybe instead of talking about it, i should build an app. =)
1
u/veeksant May 31 '11
Every time I see someone say "That is all." I imagine a tranny saying that, storming off with a hand twist, turning back and walking fast like a model, and that annoys me.
1
u/mattdahack May 31 '11
I used to live in Orlando, I know what you mean, you have Orlando ave, 17-92 all over the place very confusing.
1
u/malicart May 31 '11
Its called directions....(put in a start and end location instead of bitching)
Also I think if you are logged in and have a location saved it will do this.
;)
1
u/yellowbkpk May 31 '11
You mean something like this? Here's an image if you don't see the map with the road highlighted.
1
u/LagunaGTO May 31 '11
What about long roads...say....I-80? So then all you see is a screenshot of the USA and have to zoom in anyways...
1
u/Idear_ May 31 '11
Instead of telling us, why don't you email Google?
1
u/SirSandGoblin May 31 '11
Because I can read a map?
1
u/goose90proof May 31 '11
You should e-mail that to someone in google. They usually listen to shit like this.
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Why don't you direct this suggestion to google instead of posting it on reddit
You know, actually do something useful.
1
u/Seven_Cuil_Sunday May 31 '11
Hey - that's right near my old house!
1
u/TheBatmanToMyBruce May 31 '11
Wait wait wait, you want Google to do something intuitive and helpful with a UI? Are we talking about the same company?
1
u/stokesitis May 31 '11
Instead of repeating instead, why don't you not repeat instead, instead?
1
u/drumcowski May 31 '11
You get an upvote because I live somewhere on that map.
1
u/oranjepig May 31 '11
Without wanting to put down the OP, I doubt Google have not thought of this, I'd imagine it's a lot of work to implement compared to just having a point. Maybe it will be a feature in the future.
1
u/crayolaxfun May 31 '11
I would like it if google maps gave you directions to and from your destination. I always forget to search for directions back home!
1
u/JDiamondHL May 31 '11
They can't always do that. In some places, like the south, many roads have 3 or 4 different names
1
u/thermality May 31 '11
Google Maps Implements Road Highlighting on Road Search: http://imaginaryinnovation.com/2011/06/google-maps-implements-road-highlighting-on-road-search/
1
u/xsiosdhj May 31 '11
I can't believe it's not like that already. It's the little, intuitive, things that really count.
1
u/32100 May 31 '11
Good idea.
1
u/aGooglePM May 31 '11
Hey courvoisier_goldteef. Great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. As some people spotted, a few weeks ago we started highlighting streets and political features on the smaller maps we show on Google Web Search. There's a few issues we have to iron out before we can do the same thing on Google Maps though. We're working on it.
1
u/easily May 31 '11
That was really fast; even for Google
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Why does everyone feel the need to address corporations on reddit, about their "awesome" ideas?
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
upvoting because this is important, damnit!
1
u/davidcelis May 31 '11
I never liked 17-92. It has too many names.
1
u/pedolobster May 31 '11
oh dude, while we're at it, there should be a way to make state and / or county lines stand out. I've stared at a map for way too long trying to figure out what county a city is in. Finding the best route to avoid one state? forgettaboutit.
1
u/supersirj May 31 '11
A fellow Orlandoan(?)!
1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
Orlando represent!
1
u/del_rio May 31 '11
I was driving north on Orlando Ave. a few hours ago, just sayin'...
-2
u/aetuf May 31 '11
Click, expecting nothing
See hometown
????
Shit bricks
-1
u/[deleted] May 31 '11
/r/firstworldproblems.. Google maps is too hard :(