Apple Maps Now Allows Businesses to Customize Their Listings

[UltimateSyn]

"such as ordering groceries via Instacart, making a dinner reservation via OpenTable, booking a hotel at Booking.com"

There's the kicker; it's not all actually integrated into Maps with Apple's interface, which is a HUGE shame. Just going to pop up an in-app browser so you can go give those companies your information. Doesn't sound seamless enough, IMO. Just like the parking 'integration.'

 

[compwiz1202]

You'll be okay with the ads until one day you're using Maps to navigate to a destination and along your route you get a constant barrage of ads popping up telling you about special offers.

Guess you've forgotten what it was like a little over a decade ago with pop-up browser ads and before ad blockers made the internet usable again. Ads in Maps can easily get abused.

View attachment 2140470

LOL that was the time I learned all about the hosts file.

 

[compwiz1202]

"such as ordering groceries via Instacart, making a dinner reservation via OpenTable, booking a hotel at Booking.com"

There's the kicker; it's not all actually integrated into Maps with Apple's interface, which is a HUGE shame. Just going to pop up an in-app browser so you can go give those companies your information. Doesn't sound seamless enough, IMO. Just like the parking 'integration.'

Yea I would never do a full grocery order or hotels on a phone. Reservations are quick and easy along with restaurant order for my wife and me. Complicated things are for my laptop

 

[mnsportsgeek]

You'll be okay with the ads until one day you're using Maps to navigate to a destination and along your route you get a constant barrage of ads popping up telling you about special offers.

Guess you've forgotten what it was like a little over a decade ago with pop-up browser ads and before ad blockers made the internet usable again. Ads in Maps can easily get abused.

View attachment 2140470

I mean, sure, I guess anything can be abused? I trust that Apple isn't someone that would let that happen to their Maps app. I would even say ads in Google Maps aren't really intrusive at all.

 

[compwiz1202]

If the ads are "hidden" no one would see them/know they were there, so what would the problem be?

I keep thinking of it playing the ad in some secret frequency you can only subconsciously hear and the screen waving ever so slightly.

 

[mthomas184]

Lord. I can see it now:

Users: Apple is WAY behind Google with Maps!
Apple: Adds new features to Apple Maps
Users: ThEy'Re TuRnInG iNtO gOoGlE wItH aDs

 

[one more]

Apple is ruining Maps.

No, they are trying to keep up with Google Maps features and it is a stiff competition between the two.

 

[one more]

You'll be okay with the ads until one day you're using Maps to navigate to a destination and along your route you get a constant barrage of ads popping up telling you about special offers.

Guess you've forgotten what it was like a little over a decade ago with pop-up browser ads and before ad blockers made the internet usable again. Ads in Maps can easily get abused.

View attachment 2140470

Unlikely, this used to be Waze and even they dropped these agressive ads by now.

 

[sw1tcher]

I mean, sure, I guess anything can be abused? I trust that Apple isn't someone that would let that happen to their Maps app.

You mean the same Apple who targeted gambling app ads at kids and users who were searching for apps to help them fight and break their gambling addiction?

Gambling App Store ads are showing up next to addiction recovery apps | AppleInsider

There are more ads in the App Store, including gambling apps next to kids applications — and worse yet, next to gambling addiction recovery ones.

appleinsider.com

 

[Mousse]

Bloat.😒

I'd rather they link to a website via Safari or default browser.

 

[Osxguy]

You'll be okay with the ads until one day you're using Maps to navigate to a destination and along your route you get a constant barrage of ads popping up telling you about special offers.

Guess you've forgotten what it was like a little over a decade ago with pop-up browser ads and before ad blockers made the internet usable again. Ads in Maps can easily get abused.

View attachment 2140470

This is the modern day internet. 5% content 95% ads and a video playing in the background at least with this crap I could get blockers.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

You mean the same Apple who targeted gambling app ads at kids and users who were searching for apps to help them fight and break their gambling addiction?

Gambling App Store ads are showing up next to addiction recovery apps | AppleInsider

There are more ads in the App Store, including gambling apps next to kids applications — and worse yet, next to gambling addiction recovery ones.

appleinsider.com

Ya I don’t see how that relates at all to number of ads.

 

[ignatius345]

Like always, if the service is free, you are the product. A new way for Apple to make some revenue by selling ads and getting paid to recommend businesses.

Don't forget the heavy, heavy skimming a lot of these apps take from restaurants. They charge absolutely obscene percentages -- 20% or more.

I phone my orders in when I can just to cut out Grubhub or whatever tech vampire is inserting themselves into the middle.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Unlikely, this used to be Waze and even they dropped these agressive ads by now.

I used Waze once and was inundated by pop-up messages and banners and questions that I had to unsafely take my attention off of the road to clear and dismiss. Never used it again.

 

[one more]

I used Waze once and was inundated by pop-up messages and banners and questions that I had to unsafely take my attention off of the road to clear and dismiss. Never used it again.

Exactly, this is why it is very unlikely Apple will allow any pop-up ads in their otherwise uncluttered Maps interface.

 

[smetvid]

I like this. I'm more and more using Maps as a sort of search engine to find whats near me. Makes sense to take that a step further and when I find a location I'm traveling towards get me directions there and let me place my order. We don't always plan everything and sometimes its nice to pull up Maps see what restaurants are close by, place an order and have it ready by the time we get there without bouncing around too much.

Maps in a way can be Apples answer to a special kind of search engine. A search engine optimized based on current location and travel. Not just general research.

 

[majkom]

Good, here in europe apple maps are rubbish, so no one cares about additional features (not even being deployed here)

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Soon I won’t even need a wife anymore

 

[genovelle]

Like always, if the service is free, you are the product. A new way for Apple to make some revenue by selling ads and getting paid to recommend businesses.

I won't use it, but I don't like the direction Apple is taking. If I wanted ads & my data sold, I would have gotten an Android for half the price of an iPhone.

It’s a bit different in the sense it’s Apple Maps App, meaning it is on Apple devices and meant to add value to their offerings. The products are the iPhone, iPad, and Macs that become more sticky when useful features are included.

 

[katbel]

Apple is ruining Maps.

I just noticed few days ago when you click on a business in Maps, instead of sending you to their website as it used to be, it opens a page in Maps
I liked better as it was before. There is still a link to the website buried with the sharing button but I had to look for it very carefully
I don't like the page offered by Apple: I guess it's a precursor to what the article is saying, sigh

 

[genovelle]

Bloat.😒

I'd rather they link to a website via Safari or default browser.

Why? If you are already searching in maps or safari and maps opens, why wouldn’t you want to make one click to open the menu and place your order or schedule a reservation right there.

 

[sw1tcher]

I mean, sure, I guess anything can be abused? I trust that Apple isn't someone that would let that happen to their Maps app.

Ya I don’t see how that relates at all to number of ads.

It has to do with how Apple has become more $$$ driven and how it has lead to them making some bad decisions of late. That's what I meant by it (showing ads) getting abused. You say Apple wouldn't let that happen, but their recent actions have shown otherwise.

 

[topdrawer]

currently maps gives me the easiest way to find if a business is currently opened or closed. new added features sound great.

 

[compwiz1202]

Don't forget the heavy, heavy skimming a lot of these apps take from restaurants. They charge absolutely obscene percentages -- 20% or more.

I phone my orders in when I can just to cut out Grubhub or whatever tech vampire is inserting themselves into the middle.

We mostly get Chinese or Pizza where they have their own delivery sites or apps and their own drivers. Wish more types of cuisine would do that. It's so ridiculous how much restaurants upcharge on DD GH UE when they benefit from the service too.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Soon I won’t even need a wife anymore

Are you planning on having a virtual girlfriend via the upcoming Apple AR/VR headset?