Bring back Google Maps/Nav Classic (6.14.4)

[scobb]

Clearly none of the current architects of the New Google maps app ever drive. There is a downside of the Google bus after-all.

I understand the push to Holo-ize Maps. I like Holo. However, the UI interactions for a driver (as one would get from launching via the Nav icon) have gone from brilliant (in 6.14.4) to abysmal (in 7.x.x). This is not just some subjective rant "because it is different". The quantitative usability score from any metric that I've used before has tanked in the newest version.

What's worse is that the developers are not likely to get good/useful feedback from the people that use maps to navigate. Everyone is either rolling back to 6.14.4 or moving to other applications like Waze. Check your metrics people. Without this feedback, one can't hope to correct the issues and bring it back to it's former glory.

I have 2 possible suggestions:

1) Re-release the new maps as Maps (beta) just as is done with the Chrome browser. Given the frequent crashes in the new version, a move like this seems justified. I can use the new app at my leisure and provide beta feedback, but when I have to have a working app, I can go back to the full version.

2) Re-release the old maps as a new app "Google Maps Classic". There may be some face saving necessary - and this would still allow those of us who depend on Navigation to use the old scheme and still provide occasional feedback on the "new" maps.

 

[gone down south]

I use it everyday, it's working perfectly fine.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Mitri360]

I agree. I personally hate the new ui while driving. Or just looking up stuff. There are the positives. Very few. But they took away the ease of switching views. I would pay for a classics

 

[scobb]

For navigation? While driving? And you have the new 7.0.x?

 

[gone down south]

You got the map. You got the line you follow. You got the turn notifications. What are you missing?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[imtoomuch]

I hate the new UI as well. What happened to My Places/Starred Places?!

 

[scobb]

You got the map. You got the line you follow. You got the turn notifications. What are you missing?

From that description, it doesn't sound like you actually use the app for driving.

"You got the map": Starting a navigation (especially those that you use most often) went from being a single tap on big buttons - worse case a swipe and a tap. What you now have is at least 5 or 6 taps that require careful placement and concentration. All this at arms length with the device in a dock on the dash.

All of the other issues are too many to mention. People are rolling back the update in droves - something that is rather drastic and annoying to do. They aren't doing it simply because the app looks a little different.

 

[gone down south]

From that description, it doesn't sound like you actually use the app for driving.

"You got the map": Starting a navigation (especially those that you use most often) went from being a single tap on big buttons - worse case a swipe and a tap. What you now have is at least 5 or 6 taps that require careful placement and concentration. All this at arms length with the device in a dock on the dash.

All of the other issues are too many to mention. People are rolling back the update in droves - something that is rather drastic and annoying to do. They aren't doing it simply because the app looks a little different.

After typing the address in the search bar ( or better yet, speaking it), it's exactly 3 clicks to start navigating. Hit the car, hit one of 3 suggested routes, hit the arrow. If the destination is selected from the history, it's one click - the navigate arrow.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[LavallavaL]

I also dislike the new maps/navigation system. An extra click is required for the same job, and AFAIK, theres now way to change it back to a two-step process by skipping the full route view. Furthermore, the changing of the displayed data twice in the process requires yet more attention from the user, which is needed for driving. I'm a proffessional driver, and get calls on the go, I can't always stop to do get this thing going... Bouncing around In a truck trying to tap the right spot on the screen while the phone isd in a craddle is a real pain. Google adding an extra step and showing and extra set of data prior to letting my get to navigation is not my idea of improvement.

I used to tap an adress in map's adress bar, and if I needed the GPS navigation, I would just tap the Navigate button at the bottom. Two steps and I was on my way. Now, after typing my address, I have to tap the bottom nav box message with the adress, and retap a somewhat similar adress box at which point I get a full route map, and then I tap again to get the navigation going... I think Google "broke" the perfect app combo. They still work, and perhaps the added typed instruction can serve if you have someone reading them out to you, but with Navigation's speech directions, it's a useless redundancy

/end rant

 

[scobb]

After typing the address in the search bar ( or better yet, speaking it), it's exactly 3 clicks to start navigating. Hit the car, hit one of 3 suggested routes, hit the arrow. If the destination is selected from the history, it's one click - the navigate arrow.

Exactly! That's at least 5 or 6 fiddly clicks. Just activating the search bar is a very small target. I do understand that you can get to what you need eventually - well, except for Latitude and "My Maps". And it does work - well, except for the numerous crashes. I just don't see how any of this can be seen as an improvement.

What you had before was brilliantly simple:
From that one screen, you could easily start navigating to maybe 70% of the places you normally go with one fat button press. A swipe to the left or right (Starred and Contacts), and you also get to maybe another 25% of the places you regularly want to go. To get to a new address - was still easier before - that huge speak destination button.

 

[Volbeat]

The menu button is tiny and hard to hit while driving. My note 2 menu button is completely nuked from working on it. No labs at all which I used the scaling all the time. It's a pos update, period. I rolled back.

 

[JHBThree]

Exactly! That's at least 5 or 6 fiddly clicks. Just activating the search bar is a very small target. I do understand that you can get to what you need eventually - well, except for Latitude and "My Maps". And it does work - well, except for the numerous crashes. I just don't see how any of this can be seen as an improvement.

What you had before was brilliantly simple:
From that one screen, you could easily start navigating to maybe 70% of the places you normally go with one fat button press. A swipe to the left or right (Starred and Contacts), and you also get to maybe another 25% of the places you regularly want to go. To get to a new address - was still easier before - that huge speak destination button.

Your posts in this thread need a big 'ole asterisk next to them. The new maps does t work for you, which is fine. But don't attempt what you are, which is trying to say that the update sucks and is the worst thing ever for everyone. It isn't.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gone down south]

If you're not pulling over and stopping before trying to fiddle with Maps, you're a hazard to yourself and everyone around you.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[scobb]

* Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this web site are solely those of myself, of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of myself and/or any/all contributors to this site. Warning, you are participating in the internet. Not everything you read is factual. Most of it is useless. Occasionally, but not very often, the expressed opinions are well thought out and backed by facts. Other times, the expressed opinions are witty banter. Sadly, most often the expressed opinions are just lame. I'm sorry, I really do try. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment. "Winners Don't Use Drugs"

Your posts in this thread need a big 'ole asterisk next to them. The new maps does t work for you, which is fine. But don't attempt what you are, which is trying to say that the update sucks and is the worst thing ever for everyone. It isn't.

OK. I don't think I ever implied that it sucks for everyone. I never said it sucks (others may have). I merely, provided repeatable, measurable examples of how things in a particular use case are made worse by the update. I am simply providing constructive criticism in the hopes that they will resolve some issues. If you think I'm alone, check out the recent ratings on Google Play - or the official Google maps support forums.

I'm happy it works for you. Really. However, it's not clear why you are taking offence to the issues that I'm pointing out. I'll try to be more sensitive.

 

[scobb]

* Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this web site are solely those of myself, of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of myself and/or any/all contributors to this site. Warning, you are participating in the internet. Not everything you read is factual. Most of it is useless. Occasionally, but not very often, the expressed opinions are well thought out and backed by facts. Other times, the expressed opinions are witty banter. Sadly, most often the expressed opinions are just lame. I'm sorry, I really do try. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment. "Winners Don't Use Drugs"

If you're not pulling over and stopping before trying to fiddle with Maps, you're a hazard to yourself and everyone around you.

I agree.

 

[frienda]

I think it is very poor business practice to force users onto this awful "beta" nav when the old nav was wonderful and one of the reasons, for me personally, for going with an Android in the first place. The new navigation system is so poor that I have had to dust off my old GPS. If this does not get reversed soon Samsung will have made an IPHONE user out of me.

 

[garublador]

If you're not pulling over and stopping before trying to fiddle with Maps, you're a hazard to yourself and everyone around you.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app

Perhaps they've changed their design paradigm to assume that people won't be driving when they use navigation (which is how everyone should do it, anyway) rather than assuming they will. So everyone who's not a gigantic jerk who's risking the lives of me and all of my loved ones might not like the update, but those who think of the safety of themselves and others will.

 

[TechJunkie99]

I myself am not a fan of the new navigation. Though I do like the new UI for maps, the navigation (which I use extensively) in my opinion has been nerfed. I use a bluetooth, say "Navigate to..." And it would instantly pop up with the gps route. With 7, it would first pop up with the alt route screen, which requires 1 or 2 taps followed by another tap on the following screen to start navigation. Zero to at least two taps while driving is bad. And the main interface has been oversimplifed removing some very useful functionality while generally making more work just to do something simple (a feat in and of itself). However, the worst part, and the reason I finally downgraded, is the crashes. I have very rarely had crashes with 6.14. With 7 and 7.1, half the time I got to the gps route it would crash. We in this forum are not the only ones with these opinions either as I have talked with others and seen many posts regarding opinions of the new version. I agree with the poster that they should have had the new version as a seperate beta. Then we could have the best of both worlds. As for the posters saying to pull over to use navigation I say this, "Safer, yes. Realistic, no." I'm glad you don't have issues with the new version, but as has been mentioned, don't think that your view means it will be the same for everyone.

I'm keeping 7.1 on my tablet, but for my phone 6.14 is there to stay.

 

[AZBoy28]

It's a good idea to have both available on the Play Store.. But it's just as easy to download the apk file isn't it?

 

[gone down south]

I As for the posters saying to pull over to use navigation I say this, "Safer, yes. Realistic, no." .

The rest of us on the road will gladly risk getting killed just so you can get to Dairy Queen 30 seconds faster.

Please please please pull over and stop before messing with your phone - GPS, texts, emails, voicemails, whatever. Don't use your phone unless the car is stopped!