> It also doesn't change the fact that Google Maps is very bad at being a map. It's entire UI flow is oriented for giving turn-by-turn directions for people who know where they are and where they are going;
As it turns out, that is probably the most popular use case for maps in the world.
Note also that for most smartphone users of Google Maps the use-case is actually much broader than that. The UI flow also totally accounts for users who only know where they are going—thanks to GPS and Google Maps knowing where you are often isn't necessary.
I'm confused by the complaint that the "Maps" app only caters to the 90-percentile use case for maps, but doesn't cover the other uses-cases well.
> I agree 100% with the author that one of the primary functions of a computer is enabling easy cross-referencing of information. This ability has been degrading over the past decades
I just find this not the case at all. For expert-users the tools that existed decades ago are still there and still usable. Or you can craft your own!
For non-expert users the information in the world is orders of magnitude more accessible than it used to be.
As it turns out, that is probably the most popular use case for maps in the world.
Note also that for most smartphone users of Google Maps the use-case is actually much broader than that. The UI flow also totally accounts for users who only know where they are going—thanks to GPS and Google Maps knowing where you are often isn't necessary.
I'm confused by the complaint that the "Maps" app only caters to the 90-percentile use case for maps, but doesn't cover the other uses-cases well.
> I agree 100% with the author that one of the primary functions of a computer is enabling easy cross-referencing of information. This ability has been degrading over the past decades
I just find this not the case at all. For expert-users the tools that existed decades ago are still there and still usable. Or you can craft your own!
For non-expert users the information in the world is orders of magnitude more accessible than it used to be.