Ask HN: Is Google putting ads in map directions?

5 points by caspercrf 6 years ago | 2 comments

Yesterday I was driving and had Google maps directions on audio. For the first time, one instruction said: "In 300 feet, make a right at the In and Out Burger." It's the first time I heard a business name in the directions. The interesting thing is that this was making a right onto a freeway, and on the corner was the back of a large strip mall. There could have been 4-5 other business names it could have said.

Has anyone else noticed this before?

mtmail 6 years ago |

It's called landmark routing and available for a couple of years. Usually in countries without complete street name coverage where "go left after the post office" is what people used for ages (even if the post office moved).

https://googleindia.blogspot.com/2009/12/turn-right-after-pe...

https://ezdrivingdirections.com/ "[Mapquest] offers landmark-assisted routing by providing places of interest along the way for both driving and walking directions. For example, it may tell you to turn left on Route 19, right after the tennis courts."

HugoHobling 6 years ago |

I've heard the same thing with the instructions saying "Continue past Starbucks" or something similar. This was a few months ago.