Combo exhibits Google Maps previous look and new up to date design.
Courtesy: Google Maps
If you wish to spark a good-hearted debate on the workplace water cooler, ask your coworkers what they consider the brand new Google Maps shade scheme.
The brand new replace, which has been out for weeks, was a lightning rod for on-line banter over the week of Thanksgiving journey. The prevailing opinion: Individuals are mad concerning the new colours.
The roads at the moment are grey as an alternative of yellow and our bodies of water are teal as an alternative of a deeper blue. Parks traded of their inexperienced for mint.
“It feels colder, much less correct and fewer human,” former Google Maps designer Elizabeth Laraki wrote on X (previously Twitter) final week. Her submit additionally highlighted methods she believed Google Maps might clear up its consumer interface.
“For those who’re gonna undergo such a big shift that could be very noticeable to folks, it appeared an fascinating option to focus a lot on making these very noticeable dramatic adjustments to the map tiles themselves however nonetheless go away all of the crud on high of the map that’s there,” Laraki instructed CNBC.
Laraki additionally stated that it felt “extra much like Apple Maps coloring than Google Maps coloring.”
Laraki was not alone, as others took to X and Reddit to specific their frustration with the brand new colours. Some agreed with Laraki’s stance on them being chilly, whereas others have been upset that there was not sufficient distinction between the brand new colours.
“We’re at all times eager about learn how to make Google Maps extra precisely mirror the true world. We designed our updates primarily based on in depth analysis and suggestions from customers — with a purpose of creating the map simpler to make use of and perceive. For instance, the roads at the moment are darker to look extra like precise roads and supply a greater canvas for useful particulars like lanes,” stated a Google spokesperson in an e-mail.
Laraki additionally stated that it was a dramatic change to make with out making a transparent public assertion concerning the causes behind the brand new adjustments.
The net boards had a choose few sticking up for the brand new replace, although they have been dramatically outnumbered.
Google Maps has come out with plenty of new updates over the past month, together with new methods to search out issues to do and use emojis, nonetheless none have obtained as a lot opinionated consideration as the brand new colours.
