Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Google Maps on iPhone now showing ads.

dcorban

dcorban

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 29, 2007
915
30
Usually, I type in the address I want to find and Maps shows me a zoomed in view of the address. This is sufficient for me to figure out how to get there. It's quick and easy.

Today, I perform an address search as usual, and I am instead presented with this:



This is totally unacceptable. Instead of the usual result, I get a completely useless zoomed out view, and a "sponsored link" for something totally unrelated to my search.

I don't mind ads if they are unobtrusive or relevant. This is neither. Apple Maps can't come soon enough.
 
The sponsored links are unobtrusive. Just don't click the icon on the map. Personally, I don't care if a minuscule icon is on a free service.
 
The way you worded your title I was picturing a ten or fifteen second video ad showing up every time you got directions or searched for something. A misleading title is misleading.
 
Look at it this way. Apple is replacing Google Maps with their own app. Now you'll get iAds. Better now?
 
Roessnakhan said:
The sponsored links are unobtrusive. Just don't click the icon on the map. Personally, I don't care if a minuscule icon is on a free service.
Click to expand...

I explained in my OP why this is obtrusive. By default when performing an address search, it instantly provides a zoomed in view. When this ad came up, it didn't do that. It stayed zoomed out to show me the ad.

This is the first time I have seen this and I have been using my phone and maps for two years.
 
So you're complaining about seeing an ad on something you DON'T pay for? You are able to go into the app and get directions, sat views, traffic ect ect for FREE yet you complain? Wow.... just wow.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was saying to myself, "I've never seen these ads!". So I opened the maps app and realized it was a miserable app and I never use it. Hopefully we won't see iAds with iOS 6.
 
this is not new, however it does seem to be very infrequent on my end. I will go a month without seeing a sponsored link and then all the sudden one will pop up next time I search for a place. No big deal, we're using a free google service on an Apple device.
 
dcorban said:
I explained in my OP why this is obtrusive. By default when performing an address search, it instantly provides a zoomed in view. When this ad came up, it didn't do that. It stayed zoomed out to show me the ad.

This is the first time I have seen this and I have been using my phone and maps for two years.
Click to expand...

FWIW I agree with you and your title / post were clear. I've used an iPhone since day one and I've never seen a Sponsored Link. Unfortunantly it's how they make their money. I'm anxious to cut Google Maps loose and they can randomly cold sell products I have no interest in to someone else.
 
AFDoc said:
So you're complaining about seeing an ad on something you DON'T pay for? You are able to go into the app and get directions, sat views, traffic ect ect for FREE yet you complain? Wow.... just wow.
Click to expand...

It's not free. It's $200 with a 2 year contract.
 
The Maps app on the iPhone has had these for years in the UK. Perhaps they're just new in Canada? Canada is always the last to get new stuff :)
 
Sponsored Links

I looked up a popular hotel chain when I was traveling and I inadvertently clicked on a sponsored link. I created a reservation with what I thought was the hotel site and later learned that it was a SCAM site. Still trying to get my money back from this "sponsored link". :mad:
Cannot wait to replace google maps for this reason. There is a setting to disable iAds. From what I can see, there is no way to disable "sponsored links"!
 
smiles813 said:
I looked up a popular hotel chain when I was traveling and I inadvertently clicked on a sponsored link. I created a reservation with what I thought was the hotel site and later learned that it was a SCAM site. Still trying to get my money back from this "sponsored link". :mad:
Cannot wait to replace google maps for this reason. There is a setting to disable iAds. From what I can see, there is no way to disable "sponsored links"!
Click to expand...

I myself have not seen this at all or even knew about it up until now, but let me tell you, if this happened to me I would be outraged. Why would they implement ads into this? Dumb.
 
smiles813 said:
I looked up a popular hotel chain when I was traveling and I inadvertently clicked on a sponsored link. I created a reservation with what I thought was the hotel site and later learned that it was a SCAM site. Still trying to get my money back from this "sponsored link". :mad:
Cannot wait to replace google maps for this reason. There is a setting to disable iAds. From what I can see, there is no way to disable "sponsored links"!
Click to expand...

u get a FREE service

stop complaining!

what u can't wait for a subpar Apple Maps program on the new iphone?!?! :eek::eek:

jeeeesus christ!

oh but youre okay with iAds i bet :rolleyes:
 
I don't think it's THAT obtrusive. I do understand the maps service they are providing is "free" or at least no upfront premium from me that's paying for the service.

Keep in mind, there are a lot of other apps in the app store where you can pay a monthly fee or an upfront premium where they have no ads. So it is your choice ultimately on which app to use.

If it were a 15 second pre-roll ad after a search in the maps app, then I'd be a pissed. But just a sponsored link, embedded in the map itself, somewhat near the location of where I searched. I could care less. It's not like they are panning the map over across the country to show me a sponsored link from where I searched. I understand the business model. I'm ok with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back