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Spamming Google Maps

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the already-getting-lame dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google organized a flyover of Sydney, Australia last Friday for Australia Day. The images taken on the day will be posted to Google Maps in a few weeks. A number of dotcoms spent hours making huge signs that would be visible from the air. It will be interesting to see whether Google will repeat the event in other cities. If they do, get prepared early. What sign would you make?"

48 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. None by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 4, Insightful

    None, because it ruins the entire point of maps if you turn them into nothing but billboards.

    --
    I like muppets.
    1. Re:None by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Interesting

      None, because it ruins the entire point of maps if you turn them into nothing but billboards.
      Does it, though? I could see, for instance, fast food chains getting in on the action. Imagine, if you will, if all of the KFCs got together and on the roof of each of the KFC restauraunts is a huge image of Colonel Sanders at the time Google is doing the fly-by photos. You'd know right where get your Original Recipe(tm) Bucket of Chicken without even searching!
      --
      My blog
    2. Re:None by Score+Whore · · Score: 5, Interesting

      None, because it ruins the entire point of maps if you turn them into nothing but billboards.
      Ummm. This is Google we're talking about. The guys who do everything they can to convince people to place ads on every page on the internet? (As an fyi, Google's ads frequently make up 20-30% of the data transfered when you load up a page with their ads.)

      Have you ever put something like "Mt. Rainier" into Google maps? Does it seem fucking stupid that Mt. Rainier is not one of the returned results? Maybe Google has already "ruined the entire point of maps."
    3. Re:None by suv4x4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is easily solved by putting in place a corporate policy to include roof decoration for all franchises.

      You can't actually be against people doing what they want with their own roofs right? In fact, putting readable symbols on your own roof will make the building easily recognizable in a map, so it's a positive thing.

      The problem in my opinion is people like those in the article which "spammed" a public park.

    4. Re:None by Spacezilla · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As an fyi, Google's ads frequently make up 20-30% of the data transfered when you load up a page with their ads. I think you just made up that number in your head, but I guess if you found some REALLY small web pages with no images at all, you might be right.
    5. Re:None by General+Wesc · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I thought maps were for finding your way around. Seems like if my house had 'Wesc's House' painted on the roof, it would be beneficial.

      I think putting something up just for the mapping and then removing it could be problematic, as you're intentionally making the map quickly become out-of-date, but unless your banner obscures something, still no real harm. Though, I suppose it could get annoying if everyone did it.

    6. Re:None by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 5, Funny

      Uhm...if Google maps gets you to the right intersection, and then you can't take over from there and figure out which of the four corners has the Taco Bell, you shouldn't be going out for food on your own in the first place.

    7. Re:None by sethawoolley · · Score: 3, Interesting

      For places without street addresses, the geocoder can look up the information directly in the POI (point of interest) database and find coordinates for any feature the website is exposing. Google's map interface isn't the most well-written, even though the geocoder software they use/license (or used at one point) is perfectly capable of this.

      For road routing of non-road-network points, they can either "snap to" the nearest road, or the POIs often have "entry links" where you're supposed to be routed to on the road network to get enter there (often more accurate than finding the nearest road).

      Full disclosure: I work in the data department of a location-based services company that has a technology-providing business relationship with Google Maps, but I don't deal with Google directly and I'm not authorized to talk on behalf of my company to the public. If you want them to do better geocoding with better routing integration, send them a request, and they might be able to do it in short order. They should already be "capable" of it.

    8. Re:None by DjReagan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Did they really fail? What was the point of the "experiment" that Google tried? What was the purpose behind them announcing the flyover in advance? Perhaps this is what Google wanted? Perhaps they wanted something else? What makes one action a success and another a failure?

      --
      "When I grow up, I want to be a weirdo"
    9. Re:None by Omestes · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Good point, but this isn't how things work anymore. For some reason companies have eschewed things such as the concept of brand loyalty, for the idea of shoving their image down your throat until you gag.

      Go watch some sports, especially NASCAR, and notice that you've somehow been conned into watching a 2 hour commercial for Redbull, Oil, and Viagra, with the added joy of some commercials in between. All sports are like this now, I caught part of ESPN2's recap of the winter "X" Games, pardon, the JEEP winter "x" games, and found myself marveling at how EVERYONE had a commercial stuck on them, for things that they don't (probably) use, and that has nothing to do with snow boarding (Visa? Monster Energy Drink?). It all would be so much more convincing if these competitors advertised things that they used. Then your product would actually speak for itself.

      Sorry for the rant, I'm getting rather feed up with the whole thing. I'm wondering how long it will be until all Americans are legally forced to tattoo some product to themselves in a visible area.

      If KFC wants more business, then they should make better food, and change their original recipe back to the original recipe, the one that didn't make me camp in a bathroom for an hour after eating it. No amount of advertisement can ever match a quality product.

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    10. Re:None by Dachannien · · Score: 2, Funny

      Around here, there's only room for one Starbucks per intersection, what with all the CVSes, Walgreenses, and Rite-Aids in the way.

    11. Re:None by noidentity · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Sorry dude, if Google were really spamming, their ads would appear on pages without the author's consent.

    12. Re:None by Hrodvitnir · · Score: 2, Informative

      "I'm wondering how long it will be until all Americans are legally forced to tattoo some product to themselves in a visible area."

      Don't be silly. The government won't need to make a law like this. The free market will handle it. By 2040 we will all need the revenue from these tattoos to stay above the poverty line.

      --
      "There are more important things than stopping terrorism. Upholding the Constitution is one of them." - Ars Forumer.
  2. Of course by LlamaDragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Hi Mom!"

    She always loves that.

  3. Naughty naughty by rawket.scientist · · Score: 5, Funny

    An arrow pointing to my asshole neighbor's house with the caption "Unsecured wireless network here!!"

    --
    John Hancock wuz here.
  4. "Here's your sign" by wowbagger · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's only one thing to put on such a sign:

    "Mostly Harmless"

    --
    www.eFax.com are spammers
    1. Re:"Here's your sign" by SkyDude · · Score: 4, Funny

      There's only one thing to put on such a sign: "Mostly Harmless"

      C'mon, we're geeks here: "Hello world" is what belongs on the sign
      --
      == First cross river, then insult alligator.
  5. All Your Base Are Belong To Us by Fuyu · · Score: 2, Funny

    All Your Base Are Belong To Us

  6. I'm still waiting for this area to be updated by markh1967 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Where I live right now is just a very low-res blur on Google Earth and Maps. We've had a banner on the roof of our garage that reads "Fuck off Google!" in 3' high letters for the past two years just waiting for the day they update their imagery. We're still waiting...

    --
    Input error. Replace user and press any key to continue.
  7. The best part. by Eevee · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The signs were too small. All you'll see in the final resolution is a thin white line. You're talking about possibly four or five pixels wide.

  8. Maybe you should... by mdobossy · · Score: 2, Informative

    ... the park ranger stopped by, but was nice and "turned a blind eye". They were there for the "event", and were not $800 out of pocket.

    But yes, a homeless man did help them pick up.. AFTER the event.

  9. Bullseye by krygny · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you look at the roof of the Target store in College Point, NY, there's a huge logo. Not such a good idea.

    --
    Research shows that 67% of those who use the term "research shows", are just making shit up.
    1. Re:Bullseye by ortholattice · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you look at the roof of the Target store in College Point, NY, there's a huge logo. Not such a good idea.
      For those too lazy to look it up: Target store in College Point, NY
    2. Re:Bullseye by maxwells_deamon · · Score: 5, Funny

      So if I am flying over this is a hot air balloon, do I have permission to drop things on that roof?

    3. Re:Bullseye by 1u3hr · · Score: 2, Funny
      If you look at the roof of the Target store in College Point, NY, there's a huge logo. Not such a good idea.

      Why isn;t it a good idea?

      Terrorists? Martians? Pigeons?

    4. Re:Bullseye by jlindy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Gives a whole new meaning to "Google bomb"

  10. Penis Spam on GoogleMaps by blantonl · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There is even Penis Spam on google maps:

    The Yarm School in the UK (Kids Drawing a Penis on the Roof)

    http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=&c=&t=k&hl=en& ll=54.506361,-1.35223&z=19

    .. and of course the classic Penis-on-the-frozen-lake:

    http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=1211&c=&t=k&hl =en&ll=41.049308,-73.600947&z=18

    --
    Lindsay Blanton
    RadioReference.com
    1. Re:Penis Spam on GoogleMaps by kleptonin · · Score: 2, Funny

      You're just jealous because they're bigger than yours.

  11. Does it matter... by ForestGrump · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does it really matter when google has spammed first?

    For example, look
    here. It is off the california coast, near LAX.

    Grump

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
    1. Re:Does it matter... by pla · · Score: 2, Insightful

      For example, look here. It is off the california coast, near LAX.

      Sorry, I don't get it - I see you got modded funny, but unless the joke comes from getting people to follow the link for no reason, I just don't know what you meant to link to.

      Do you mean the Google watermark on all their images, which shows up better on smooth water than on varied terrain?

      I tried zooming both in and out, but see nothing.

  12. Nah, you can see penis drawing from space by Mr.+McD · · Score: 4, Funny

    This fine rooftop example for instance:

    http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=1211&c=&t=k&hl =en&ll=54.506361,-1.35223&z=19

    Or this gem in Arizona:

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=85022&ie=U TF8&z=17&ll=33.634542,-112.059485&spn=0.004582,0.0 13475&t=k&om=1

    As long as they had a ballpark sized ad, they should be ok.

    Ryan-

  13. this field is... by picob · · Score: 3, Funny

    Intentionally Left Blank

  14. Already done? by Bigbutt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Don't know if it's on Google's maps, but GeoEye has done it already.

    http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5047747

    [John]

    --
    Shit better not happen!
  15. Many of you are missing the point by Syde · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Its kind of hard to be calling it spamming when Google actually asked people to do this... If you think its stupid, then call google stupid, not the people that participated. http://www.google.com/intl/en_au/events/australiad ay2007/index.html

  16. new spin on old news by thekm · · Score: 4, Informative

    Many companies have invested a lot of money/effort into putting signs on the rooftops of warehouses and large buildings. This is just that there's a "new" reason to put a sign on the roof, one that has companies without warehouses wanting to do it (like a .com). Sydney's a great example... take a train from western sydney into the city, and you'll pass a half dozen places with truly enormous signs on their rooftops. Arnotts is one of them.

    ...these signs have been around for many decades. My father (a signwriter) explained them to me on my very first trip into sydney as a kid. He actually made one for a tractor parts distributor that had a huge shed under a flight path (regaled me with how interesting it was to create such a big layout accurately). So, it's certainly not time now to be getting all bent out of shape because there's just one more reason to make signs for a higher viewpoint.

    When the pics finally make it up to google maps, you'll see all the signs that have preempted this article by probably more than my life time. Anyone mad about rooftops becoming big billboards... you'll need to find something actually "new" to whinge about :)

  17. goatse by smoker2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    see subject (if you're exceptionally unlucky ! )

    1. Re:goatse by BillX · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thanks for that. Now if I ever go to Google and they've added an "I'm feeling exceptionally unlucky!" button, I'm selling my modem and becoming a forest ranger.

      --
      Caveat Emptor is not a business model.
  18. An old nostalgic favourite... by RealGrouchy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Here be dragons!"

    - RG>

    --
    Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  19. Re:Chimpeach! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's clever... I was going to go with "Kill Bush", but yours is punnier.

    We will be along very soon. I take my coffee black, by the way.

    Signed,

    The Secret Service

  20. Shocked at the negative comments by gary+gunrack · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People (slashdotters?) left some really vitriolic comments on their blog. It would be a completely different situation of soulless corporations were making the ad. But this is just a geeky couple doing something creative that took alot of their time and energy, and was obviously done out of love, not greed.

    1. Re:Shocked at the negative comments by wombert · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, except it wasn't their own land. From the write-up, it sounds like they were in a public park (and almost got kicked out, but for a park ranger who decided to let it slide). So anyone looking up a map to that park gets to see their ad.

      --
      Did I say overlords? I meant protectors.
  21. Douglas Adams by smilinggoat · · Score: 2, Funny

    So long, and thanks for all the fish.

    --
    Shouldn't You expect more from your DJ?
  22. We apologise for the inconvenience by nietsch · · Score: 2, Funny

    If we're doing hitchhikers guide the sign should be in big flaming letters saying 'we apologise for the inconvenience'

    Wouldn't that be a nice message from dog?

    Btw: Hey Wow where is my insult?

    --
    This space is intentionally staring blankly at you
  23. An obvious one... by niktemadur · · Score: 2, Insightful

    John 3:16

    Rest assured, if and when Google announces a flyby over a United States city, this one will rear its' obnoxious head.

    --
    Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
  24. Reactions by NoahKing · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Interesting to compare the response generated by this article to another where a group of open-source advocates built a crop circle in the shape of the firefox logo. As a community, our response to the giant firefox logo was overwhelmingly positive, while this article has had an overwhelmingly negative response. What makes this one spam, but the firefox advocacy a cool way to spend a weekend?

  25. YOUR AD HERE by cavehobbit · · Score: 2, Funny

    what else?

    Maybe a giant goatse?

  26. Re:how could anyone forget.... by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't decide whether you're talking about the parent poster's mom or not, but I like it either way.

  27. No-Fly Zone Spolied the Day!!.. by Guzzitza · · Score: 3, Informative

    Turns out that Google didnt think the plan through, with several portions of Sydney being deemed a no-fly zone on the day - in particular several parks and beaches such as Bondi Beach - where many people congregated to create large signs. One company even spent $10,000 on a sign, only to miss out!!

    See article here:

    http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/google-botch-sy dney-flyover/2007/01/29/1169919256978.html/