Sign the Petition!
Hate the new Google Maps as much as I do? Sign the change.org petition to tell Larry Page, CEO of Google to bring back Classic Google Maps. Then please share the link with your friends on social media.
Thanks to all the T4L readers who provided specific examples of problems with the new Maps so I could make the petition stronger!
Update 05/05/15: More than 3,000 people have signed our petition but it’s going to take a lot more than that to get Google pay attention. Do you know anyone who has connections to large groups who might be affected by the new maps that you can share the petition with, e.g. truck drivers & dispatchers, motorcycle enthusiasts, RV associations…? If we can get members of a big organization to join us, that could make a big difference!
Note: I’ve put up a new post that I will keep updated with information about the Bring Back Classic Google Maps initiatives.
In 2014, Google changed their maps product and made it really crappy. So I wrote a post titled “Revert to Classic Google Maps,” which quickly became one of my most popular posts.
You might think that when all these people switched back to the old version, Google would realize they liked it and keep it around. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. If you had made the switch, when you go to Google Maps now, you’ll instead find something called the Lite version. You can tell if it’s rolled out to you by the lightning icon at the bottom right. When you click on it, it tells you you’re in Lite mode and gives you the option to switch back to the Full version.
According to Google, the Lite version is designed to work faster. While I appreciate speed, I’m not happy with some of the functions they’ve removed, including setting a Home location and measuring the distance between places.
See the full list of unavailable features in Google Maps Lite. >>
As I mentioned above, you can switch back to the full version of Maps by clicking the lightning icon. Unfortunately, that takes you back to the “new” version of Maps that a lot of us didn’t like. However, at the moment, you can still access the original version by going to the following URL:
maps.google.com/?output=classic
Well, that didn’t take long. I can’t access the old version at that URL anymore and, based on comments this post is receiving, no one is. I’m going to start looking at alternatives to Google and will post about them if I find anything I think would be helpful to readers.
UPDATE: Reader ger posted a comment saying that this URL with a typo, maps.google.com/?output=classi, still gives you the old version. Reader andrew has also provided this URL: www.google.com/lochp. I’ve tried them and they do, but they also still have the notice that this version will be going away soon. BUT, if you desperately need to use a good maps solution right now, you might as well take advantage of it while it lasts. (Thanks Ger and Andrew!)
The note at the top of the screen takes you to a page explaining why you’re better off with the version you don’t want, which is usually a sure sign that they know people don’t like it.
Update: I’ve received notes from some people about missing features but they’re only missing in the Lite version. (eg. Search Nearby Places) So make sure you’ve switched over to the full version to see if any missing features you like are there.
P.S. Google says you can send them feedback, but I think they’ve clearly shown before that they’re not really concerned about what their users want… Sigh.
Is there a way to get the “satellite” view instead of “earth” view on the new maps? I’ve noticed that near my home, the satellite view is newer than the earth view by almost a year. Plus, no access to the 45 degree aerial images either.
try map quest maps
Classic Google maps was simple and not too much confusion. We need to give the viewer options they like not to be forced to what Google feels best. If that helps you in business wise then that’ll be the only way to go. As for the decision to take something everyone is use and working for them for over 20 years now in doing trucking business just don’t make sense.
Try mapquest maps
I am a tour coach operator and use maps of all kinds, online, paper, etc. I used to use Google maps classic as my go to map for just about everything. However, that will not be the case anymore. The “new improved” Google maps is anything but improved. Very user unfriendly and you do not have near the options/variations of use as classic. Please, bring back the Classic version, you have the opportunity to make many users very happy with Google!
Try map quest maps
Actually you can write (as far as I’ve tried) anything instead of “classic”, as long as you write something, and that link to the previous google maps version will work, at least as of now.
Congrats guys and dolls: You have finally done it. You have destroyed Google Classic Maps, the finesr WEB site of its kind on the NET.
I cannot and will not use the “new” and lousy version.
Why do you people have to reinvent something that’s not broken? Shame shame shame!