TechCrunch has noted today that google maps on the iPhone has recently incorporating ads and user-generated content. I’m not very surprised about the ads, but the user-generated content does seem slightly odd.TechCrunch notes how it’s slightly unusual that the user-generated content is being incorporated since it doesn’t really bring anything to the table. Also, there is no apparent way to turn it off either. I think I would have to agree that having a feature where random people are pushing unnecessary content onto your maps is pretty useless. Granted, if you were looking for a random place of interest nearby, it might actually prove useful; but when you’re actually just trying to find something or go somewhere, then there really isn’t a point.
Hopefully Google and Apple won’t keep pushing these updates onto users without warning. Also, hopefully, but unlikely, there will be a way to disable the ads on google maps as well. Or at least filter them to useful ones, such as restaurants, hotels, gas, and whatnot.
.
[Content and Image via TechCrunch]
