Google Maps just fucking SUCKS now

[wxfree]

The mobile application has offline maps available, which I like, since I see no reason to use mobile data to load maps when I save them with my home connection.  I have a very inexpensive data plan, because I have a very good connection at home, so even though I always have more than I need, I try not to waste mobile data.  The maps expire, which is reasonable, since Google doesn't want people complaining about the low accuracy of maps that are 15 years old.  Previously, they expired every 30 days, which isn't a problem for me, except that the automatic update feature only worked on maps that I used with whatever frequency Google considered to be adequate.  I might expect a map to be there, but since I hadn't used it in several months, Google thought it was too unimportant to update, even though I told it to keep it updated.

Now the maps expire after a year, which is much more reasonable.  Except that the maps now disappear well before expiring.  I have no idea why.  After much less than a year, the area of maps I downloaded is no longer available.  Originally I had a huge area of maps selected to have available at all times.  That didn't work since I usually don't use the program and it wouldn't automatically update maps I didn't use.  But I could just update all of them every month, and that worked, for a while.  Now the maps have an expiration date of one year after downloading, but the actual time when they disappear is unknown, so I can't count on it at all.  Now I just try to remember to update any map I may want on the day I want it.

[ErmineNotyours]

I tried that unofficially before a trip to Mt. Rainier.  National Parks are notoriously bad about not allowing cell towers, so I visited some trails by Paradise on my mobile at home before heading there in person.  Strangely, a half mile away from the tourist facilities, I was getting enough of a signal for location services to locate me on the map.  I left Timeline on, but the rest of the trip east of Paradise was just a dashed line the rest of the way to Ohanapecosh.

[US 89]

Strangely, a half mile away from the tourist facilities, I was getting enough of a signal for location services to locate me on the map.

I don't think you need cell signal for GPS functionality to work. If I'm out in the sticks with no service, my GPS app will give me accurate lat/lon and elevation, and the little blue "current location" dot will still appear on Google Maps... but the map tiles won't load.

[DeaconG]

Strangely, a half mile away from the tourist facilities, I was getting enough of a signal for location services to locate me on the map.

I don't think you need cell signal for GPS functionality to work. If I'm out in the sticks with no service, my GPS app will give me accurate lat/lon and elevation, and the little blue "current location" dot will still appear on Google Maps... but the map tiles won't load.

As long as those GPS sats stay in Clarke orbit (and the US military doesn't get cute), and youre outside, you'll get a signal.

[ErmineNotyours]

Strangely, a half mile away from the tourist facilities, I was getting enough of a signal for location services to locate me on the map.

I don't think you need cell signal for GPS functionality to work. If I'm out in the sticks with no service, my GPS app will give me accurate lat/lon and elevation, and the little blue "current location" dot will still appear on Google Maps... but the map tiles won't load.

I'm pretty sure my device doesn't have real GPS, but triangulates its location from known cell towers and hot spots.  Which is fine, since you need to have your own carrier's signal or wi-fi for it to actually draw the maps.

[kkt]

I tried that unofficially before a trip to Mt. Rainier.  National Parks are notoriously bad about not allowing cell towers, so I visited some trails by Paradise on my mobile at home before heading there in person.  Strangely, a half mile away from the tourist facilities, I was getting enough of a signal for location services to locate me on the map.  I left Timeline on, but the rest of the trip east of Paradise was just a dashed line the rest of the way to Ohanapecosh.

A couple of years ago, Mt. Rainier National Park discovered there was a lot of room in the attic of the new visitor center - enough that cell phone antennas could be installed without being visible.  After a period of consideration of how that would change the visitor experience, they decided to go ahead and install the antennas.  I think it's probably a good thing overall.  Being able to get a signal could help someone in trouble get help before it turned into a disaster.  Also the people staying at the Inn will appreciate being able to make calls from their rooms instead of walking to the "telephone room" off the lobby.

[TheGrassGuy]

Re: street view on restricted access/private roads, a small section of Normandy Rd in Middletown, NJ still has street view.

[sprjus4]

Anyone else have this issue with Google Street View not loading properly?

[jakeroot]

Anyone else have this issue with Google Street View not loading properly?

I've had issues trying to drop the peg-man, and having it get all laggy. I have to reload the page.

[sprjus4]

Anyone else have this issue with Google Street View not loading properly?

I've had issues trying to drop the peg-man, and having it get all laggy. I have to reload the page.

Same here for the past couple days, usually have to reload 2-3 times to get it to respond. Quite annoying.

[Rothman]

Heck, just getting Google Maps to load without causing my phone to go to sleep is now evidently a challenge.

[vdeane]

I've been having issues with the mini-map in street view often not loading.

[jakeroot]

I've been having issues with the mini-map in street view often not loading.

I have also noticed this.

[Roadgeekteen]

Google maps is prone to freeze occasionally.

[sprjus4]

I've been having issues with the mini-map in street view often not loading.

Same. Google Maps has just gotten slower and slower with more and more issues.

[vdeane]

I've been having issues with the mini-map in street view often not loading.

Same. Google Maps has just gotten slower and slower with more and more issues.

It doesn't even run properly on my work computer anymore.  I have to reload the page every couple minutes due to freezes.  Since it's only the work computer and desktop applications still render as well as ever, though, part of me wonders if it's everyone remoting in to their machines due to work from home choking off the network bandwidth.  I guess I'll find out next week, when everyone's back in the office three days per week (instead of the one day per week we're at now, especially since I anticipate almost everyone being in the office Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday).

[CtrlAltDel]

Anyone else have this issue with Google Street View not loading properly?

I've had issues trying to drop the peg-man, and having it get all laggy. I have to reload the page.

The same thing is happening to me. It's driving me crazy. It's slightly better on Chrome, but on Firefox, it is frustratingly slow.

[TheGrassGuy]

PA-579 and I-840 construction only show up without Globe View.

[kphoger]

PA-579 and I-840 construction only show up without Globe View.

Different views having different satellite imagery isn't anything new, is it?

[jamess]

Having a lot of issues with streetview.

I grab the little man, the roads turn blue, and then it doesnt matter where I click, nothing happens

[Roadgeekteen]

Google My Maps does not have street view, which is annoying.

[SectorZ]

Having a lot of issues with streetview.

I grab the little man, the roads turn blue, and then it doesnt matter where I click, nothing happens

I've had that issue the past few weeks as well. Not all the time, but intermittently.

[1995hoo]

The "Street View won't open" thing has been happening to me as well.

[ozarkman417]

It works for me, though I have to wait about 20 seconds after I release my left mouse button over the road I want to view for it to enter Street View.

[jakeroot]

I have been having excellent luck with refreshing. Fixes every single issue ... until it eventually reoccurs shortly thereafter