The Huge, Unseen Operation Behind the Accuracy of Google Maps
Google Map's data keeps getting better and better, they now have lane warnings (e.g. "right two lanes," etc) and traffic warnings with the offering to re-route (if they can find a quicker route). Although Google Map constantly offering to re-route me onto a slower route is a little odd (e.g. "want to re-route? It will be a 5 minute longer trip!").<p>That all being said, while Google Maps as a data source is amazing, Google Maps as an app and or web-site has a lot to be desired. Up until a few versions ago they had a way to add "My Places" but no way to actually access those places from the app (what?!). They have no search history (still, today), they do have suggestions but they are just somewhat useful, they have no compass (got removed), plus they went all "minimalist" and hide all the UI elements (and removed things like offline maps, for nearly a year).<p>I've actually been forced to stop using Google Maps as GPS as the app keeps closing during navigation and when re-opened it has "forgotten" what I was navigating to or previously searched for. So now I am forced, mid-journey to exit the freeway just to re-open Google Maps, re-search for my destination, and then re-start navigation just hoping it won't re-close-randomly before I get there...<p>It doesn't crash. It just closes. It is just gone. Like "poof." Then of course the phone goes into standby as nothing is keeping the screen on. At least if it had search history the situation MIGHT be recoverable, but nope...