Google Maps Learns to Multitask

Google needs to remain competitive across
platforms in the long run, noted Chris Silva,
principal analyst at High Rock Strategy, so it
can't made the technology overly complicated.
"This is technology for them that is a gateway to
get users to use Gmail and even Chrome," he
explained. "So it is a Trojan horse for them, and
they could lose that entryway if they make it too
complex."
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G oogle Maps has become the default source of
directions for many users, but one feature it has
notoriously lacked is the ability to provide
directions to multiple destinations. On
Wednesday, however, the company announced
that it is now rolling out the feature at last.
"Based on your input, we're pleased to announce
one of your most requested features -- directions
for multiple destinations -- will begin rolling out
today," said Florian Goerisch, product manager
for Google Maps. "Whether you're running
weekend errands or planning a cross-country
tour, you can plot multiple destinations for your
trip with ease -- now available for driving,
walking and biking directions."
To get directions for a trip with multiple
destinations, users simply create a starting point
and click to add stops along the way.
Help With Reservations
"The new version of Google Maps is still, well,
new," Lauren Barriere, a Google spokesperson,
told TechNewsWorld. "We've been working hard
to improve maps since we first announced the
preview in May, with the newest addition of
directions to multiple destinations.
"We'll continue to bring both familiar features and
brand new ones to the new Maps over time,"
Barriere added.
Also new in the Google Maps update are new
tools to help users manage their reservations and
discover upcoming events. The reservation tool,
for instance, is designed to work as it does in
Google Search, pulling information from users'
Gmail, Google Calendar and Google+ accounts.
Google first previewed its new features at its
annual I/O developer conference earlier this year.
'More Complex Than People Think'
It isn't clear why the multiple-destinations
feature wasn't available from Google Maps
before, but "I think we're seeing some additions
that come from their purchase of Waze and its
technology," suggested Chris Silva, principal
analyst at High Rock Strategy.
"Google is good at knowing when to bring the
product to market," Silva told TechNewsWorld. "It
could be that the multiple destinations were
hampered in some algorithmic way. This
technology is probably a lot more complex than
people think -- directions that take you way out
of the way because the computer program thinks
it is better won't make for a good product."
Google's incremental additions are also "just the
nature of their approach," opined Rob Enderle,
principal analyst at the Enderle Group . "They
decided to keep the product simple at first and
assure it worked, then added features.
"Given the Apple issues with mapping, this
appears to be a very wise approach after the
fact," Enderle told TechNewsWorld.
'The Attention Span of a Gnat'
Of course, Google also needs to remain
competitive across platforms in the long run, Silva
noted, so it can't made the technology overly
complicated.
"This is technology for them that is a gateway to
get users to use Gmail and even Chrome," he
explained. "So it is a Trojan horse for them, and
they could lose that entryway if they make it too
complex."
Too-frequent change could be another problem.
"Google has the attention span of a gnat, and
their advantage is they can afford to give this
stuff away for free," Enderle said. "They aren't the
best -- they are the cheapest."
Looking ahead, he concluded, "they could be
displaced by another embedded product showing
up in more popular hardware or another free
offering that had a sustainable advantage and
more focus/funding by the provider."