Google Loses Santa To Bing

I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Kenja · 2012-12-13 08:10 · Score: 5, Funny

And that's why no presents, he got lost.

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"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"

Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by durrr · 2012-12-13 08:15 · Score: 5, Funny

The mayans predicted the disaster that is Apple maps. The end of the era is due to Santa using his iPhone to navigate and strays into NK airspace, being mistaken for a US spyplane and swiftly shot down.
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:19 · Score: 3, Insightful

The NK rockets only hit the ocean by accident. They weren't aiming for it.
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by eldavojohn · 2012-12-13 08:19 · Score: 5, Funny

And that's why no presents, he got lost.
"No presents this year, little Timmy. Also, I just got off the phone with the Australian Authorities who said they found Santa dead in Murray Sunset National Park. Unfortunately it looks like Santa had a new iPhone for navigation and was forced to eat eight of his reindeer. Then there was apparently a struggle between him and the last reindeer. After several blows, it broke free and eventually flew off to leave Santa to bleed out in the dirt from gory antler wounds. These are sad times but we still have each other, just no more frivolous Christmas gifts -- ever again!"

*walks away nipping on a fifth of bourbon*

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My work here is dung.
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Anubis+IV · 2012-12-13 08:58 · Score: 1

Ironically, while the initial problem and police warning got a lot of press coverage, neither the fact that Apple fixed their directions by the very next day nor the fact that Google Maps has had an ongoing similar issue (Australian police also issued a warning for Google Maps this week, since it's routing traffic, including buses, down a one-way dirt track through the wilderness) have been reported very much.
I know the saying is that a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can put on its shoes, but that applies to things like this as well, it would seem. Everyone is quick to latch onto issues with Apple Maps (which definitely do exist, don't get me wrong), while ignoring the fact that Google Maps had similar issues when it started and continues to have similar issues today. Google Maps is simply a more mature product that has less of these issues overall (which is why I still use it most of the time), but Apple Maps is already solid enough that none of the people I've talked to who use it on a regular basis have had any issues, nor can I remember having any problems, other than a few funky looking buildings when I tried out their 3D view on the day it launched.
Of course, the fact that Apple Maps strands people in the middle of nowhere may explain why I haven't been able to talk to the people who are having problems...
BA-DUM-tish
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 09:54 · Score: 2, Funny

"We got a Red Sleigh down, we got a Red Sleigh down!"
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Omnifarious · 2012-12-13 10:04 · Score: 1

I agree. I've had horrible luck trying to find places the few times I've used Bing. It's an awful service.

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Need a Python, C++, Unix, Linux develop
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 11:11 · Score: 2, Funny

Ironically, while the initial problem and police warning got a lot of press coverage, neither the fact that Apple fixed their directions by the very next day
Good news! The courier sent to deliver that press release has been found. You'll never guess what happened....
Re:I tell my kids he uses Apple maps. by lipanitech · 2012-12-14 00:59 · Score: 1

I had no idea Bing had maps news to me.

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http://thetechnologygeek.org/

Multi angle aerial shots by sorensenbill · 2012-12-13 08:13 · Score: 3, Informative

I've never used them for navigation but Bing maps(furnished by Nokia I believe) have much better aeriel photos. I can see my house from 6 angles on Bing, which is mostly blocked by a large tree on Google. That being said I still use Google maps for pretty much everything else just because I'm used to it.

Re:Multi angle aerial shots by Grand · 2012-12-13 09:01 · Score: 3, Informative

You can do multiple angles on the satellite images on google maps. It is not as intuitive as Bing, but you have to drag 'N" that surrounds the Pan tool to the different cardinal directions to get it to rotate. I will agree with you though that Bing's aerial images are better (at least in my experience).
Re:Multi angle aerial shots by admdrew · 2012-12-13 09:13 · Score: 1

I can see my house from 6 angles on Bing
Source?

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LegendMUD
Re:Multi angle aerial shots by cayenne8 · 2012-12-13 09:43 · Score: 1

I didn't know Bing had maps.
Then again....I've not seen Bing since I think they came online and everyone took a look a them....

--
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Re:Multi angle aerial shots by magarity · 2012-12-13 10:12 · Score: 1

I've never used them for navigation but Bing maps(furnished by Nokia I believe) have much better aeriel photos. I can see my house from 6 angles on Bing, which is mostly blocked by a large tree on Google. That being said I still use Google maps for pretty much everything else just because I'm used to it.
You know you really need to step away from the computer and get outside more if seeing your own house on the screen makes you so happy!
Re:Multi angle aerial shots by cellocgw · 2012-12-14 04:59 · Score: 1

I can see my house from 6 angles on Bing
Doesn't count unless you can see Putin's house.

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https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw

More appropriate? by Sesostris+III · 2012-12-13 08:15 · Score: 5, Funny

I'm not exactly sure why, but when it comes to mapping some non-existent being's non-existent journey, Bing seems somehow so much more appropriate than Google.

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You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. - Blake

Re:More appropriate? by high_rolla · 2012-12-13 10:54 · Score: 4, Funny

All so it can be viewed by Bings non existent users.

--
Ryans Tutorials - A collection of technology tutorials.
Re:More appropriate? by R3d+M3rcury · 2012-12-13 14:00 · Score: 1

"Non-existant being?" What are you implying?

This is what they get for the new filter settings. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:18 · Score: 5, Funny

It has made Santa very mad that he has to specify the pictures he is looking for... naughty or nice...

Google Maps Pricing by Ashenkase · 2012-12-13 08:20 · Score: 1

The reason for this switch were not disclosed, but since nearly 25 million people are expected to use this tool come this Christmas

Google Maps pricing probably forced them to Bing which at this point is still cheaper by an order of magnitude compared to Google Maps.

Re:Google Maps Pricing by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-12-13 08:28 · Score: 2

that or Microsoft offered it for free or is paying for it just to get the publicity.

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---Saying gnome 3 is better than windows 8 not so much a compliment as it is damning with light praise.
Re:Google Maps Pricing by dj245 · 2012-12-13 08:39 · Score: 1

that or Microsoft offered it for free or is paying for it just to get the publicity.
I'm fine with that. Bing web search might suck but Bing maps are really Nokia maps. Which are quite good. Better than Google maps in some cases.

--
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
Re:Google Maps Pricing by morcego · 2012-12-13 09:02 · Score: 4, Insightful

Also, it is not like Google is the small kid that needs to be protected against Microsoft.
Whatever the reason for the switch, in a nutshell we can simply say: Google dropped the ball.

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morcego
Re:Google Maps Pricing by Lehk228 · 2012-12-13 10:17 · Score: 3, Interesting

their data may be ok but their software that interfaces it is horribly out of date, it would have been acceptable during the era of streets and trips '97

with google maps i can put a search string (such as a business name town and state; or even something more generic like Gas town state) in as a destination address and it will automatically retrieve the address if it has it, if there are multiple matches it pops up a (did you mean) dialog then plugs them in for you.

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Snowden and Manning are heroes.
Re:Google Maps Pricing by Nyder · 2012-12-13 11:19 · Score: 2

Also, it is not like Google is the small kid that needs to be protected against Microsoft.
Whatever the reason for the switch, in a nutshell we can simply say: Google dropped the ball.
My guess is MS made an offer ($$) that Santa (NORAD) couldn't refuse.

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Be seeing you...
Re:Google Maps Pricing by grcumb · 2012-12-13 12:11 · Score: 3, Funny

My guess is MS made an offer ($$) that Santa (NORAD) couldn't refuse.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. But he's just a ho (ho ho).

--
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.

It was the year without a Santa Claus... by Lemmy+Caution · 2012-12-13 08:21 · Score: 1

At least we'll get the Heat Miser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqVwYx-YT-I

So, that answers that... by John+Pfeiffer · 2012-12-13 08:21 · Score: 5, Funny

NORAD, using Microsoft products... Well, at least we know how the world ends.

--

Friend: "The NIC is misconfigured..." Me: "No prob, I'll just telnet in and fix it." *Silence*

Re:So, that answers that... by brianben · 2012-12-13 08:46 · Score: 2

Gives new meaning to BSOD
Re:So, that answers that... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:51 · Score: 1

I haven't coded to either in about two years, but at the time Bing maps had superior APIs and were much nicer to work with from the dev standpoint. Quality of the maps themselves were pretty comparable. In our app we used Bing for that reason (nicer APIs).
Re:So, that answers that... by Rattenhirn · 2012-12-13 09:22 · Score: 1

NORAD, using Microsoft products... Well, at least we know how the world ends.
The software worries you, but not the fact that they spend their resources to fictionally track a fictional character, possibly making gullible people (children) believe it's real? Makes you wonder what other information they fake, if you're a conspiracy theorist at least. :)
Re:So, that answers that... by ByteSlicer · 2012-12-13 10:49 · Score: 1

at least we know how the world ends
Have you tried turning it off and on again?

Microsoft: king of fallacy by alexandre · 2012-12-13 08:23 · Score: 1

Well, useless fantasy information ending where it belongs? ;)

Re:What's Bing? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:24 · Score: 5, Funny

The correct question is "Who's Bing?", and the answer is that he starred in White Christmas with Danny (effin) Kaye, so using Bing is entirely appropriate.

Use Bing or we'll shoot this elf by Tough+Love · 2012-12-13 08:27 · Score: 1

Microsoft simply made an offer nobody could refuse.

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When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.

Re:Use Bing or we'll shoot this elf by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:58 · Score: 3, Insightful

Somebody woke up with a reindeer head in their bed. On a more serious note, WTF is wrong with people that they go to this much trouble to lie to children?

yeah? by Triv · 2012-12-13 08:28 · Score: 2

"But since nearly 25 million people are expected to use this tool come this Christmas, this will definitely benefit Bing in the ongoing competition for online map applications."

Yeah? Prove it.

Re:yeah? by Nyder · 2012-12-13 11:21 · Score: 2

"But since nearly 25 million people are expected to use this tool come this Christmas, this will definitely benefit Bing in the ongoing competition for online map applications."
Yeah? Prove it.
I imagine the first kid that says "I binged Santa's flight last night" is going to get laughed at by rest the school kids.

--
Be seeing you...

Seems like a great fit by Revotron · 2012-12-13 08:28 · Score: 1

After spending the last few years watching their users' every move, they've moved on to tracking other imaginary beings.

Well... by empty_other · 2012-12-13 08:32 · Score: 5, Funny

Well payed, Microsoft. Well payed..

Re:Well... by CanHasDIY · 2012-12-13 08:44 · Score: 1

+1 Zing!

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Re:Well... by mattack2 · 2012-12-13 12:36 · Score: 1

Or, as Sheldon Cooper WOULDN'T put it, Za-Bing-a!

Coming to age by gmuslera · 2012-12-13 08:32 · Score: 1

Now Santa won't be your parents anymore. Now will be your Big Brother.

Re:Boycott Christmas! by N0Man74 · 2012-12-13 08:33 · Score: 1

Ah, memories. Thanks for taking me back to the 90's. When you make it to the present, don't forget to say 'Hi!'

Re:What's Bing? by JustOK · 2012-12-13 08:37 · Score: 1

You're thinking of David Bowie.

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rewriting history since 2109

Freedom of information request? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-12-13 08:50 · Score: 2, Interesting

I would like to see the actual decision making process behind this....

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pdf

and any and all emails from any Microsoft employee associated to this decision.

WTF? by TheRaven64 · 2012-12-13 08:54 · Score: 2

How on earth does NORAD not have its own satellite imagery that they could use?

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I am TheRaven on Soylent News

Re:WTF? by Quince+alPillan · 2012-12-13 09:44 · Score: 1

I'm sure they do have the imagery. On someone's hard drive. In a vault.1
Google / Bing have the technology that makes it far easier to implement over the web. Why reinvent the wheel when you can have the professionals do it?
Re:WTF? by RivenAleem · 2012-12-14 07:16 · Score: 1

Yeah, so you could track Santa down your chimney and into your living room!

Re:But the reason the switched from Google.. by Sylak · 2012-12-13 08:55 · Score: 1

There's a fair chance that Google was asked to hide the airport though...

Marketing to cover weakness by MarcAuslander · 2012-12-13 08:55 · Score: 1

The story prompted me to look at bing maps. Very first direction request produced a poor route. When dragging the route to change it gives less time and distance, you know it's not the source to use! There is no way to reset a drag! etc. etc. I'll stick with google.

But one wonders how this government agency was co-opted.

It's funny though by rk · 2012-12-13 08:56 · Score: 1

It's much better now, but for a while I had a heck of a time with Google Maps crashing where Bing Maps worked great. This was in Google Chrome... on Linux. I use both now, and the Google Maps app on my Android phone is getting laggy and crashy enough that I put Bing on it as backup. Still like the Google Maps interface better on Android though.

FSM uses Google maps by olddoc · 2012-12-13 09:00 · Score: 4, Funny

I read on some gold plates that the Flying Spaghetti Monster uses Google Maps for His flying.

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Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Re:FSM uses Google maps by Tablizer · 2012-12-13 13:36 · Score: 1

I read on some gold plates that the Flying Spaghetti Monster uses Google Maps for His flying.
No, it's Noodle Maps; you misread it.

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Table-ized A.I.
Re:FSM uses Google maps by girlinatrainingbra · 2012-12-13 16:29 · Score: 1

Re:FSM uses Google maps
But what kind of tablet does God use?
.
Yeah, but I want to find a good high resolution picture of Moses coming down the mountain and zoom in using CSI super-resolution-zoom capabilities and find out what kind of tablet he used to read those ten commandments on. If that brand of tablet was good enough for God, it ought to be good enough for me to give out as presents this year, right? ;>)

NORAD got their heads up by Mister+Liberty · 2012-12-13 09:16 · Score: 1

their asses.

Microsoft is just part of the story... by Matt+Amato · 2012-12-13 09:22 · Score: 1

In addition to Bing Maps, NORAD is also using a new open source, WebGL-based, 3D globe called Cesium: http://cesium.agi.com/2012/11/30/NORAD-Tracks-Santa-Tech-Preview/

This is one of the most significant uses of WebGL to date and will hopefully do a lot to increase awareness of the technology.

Disclaimer: I work on Cesium.

Re:Microsoft is just part of the story... by grcumb · 2012-12-13 12:43 · Score: 1

In addition to Bing Maps, NORAD is also using a new open source, WebGL-based, 3D globe called Cesium: http://cesium.agi.com/2012/11/30/NORAD-Tracks-Santa-Tech-Preview/
This is one of the most significant uses of WebGL to date and will hopefully do a lot to increase awareness of the technology.
Disclaimer: I work on Cesium.
No, that's a disclosure. A disclaimer is 'CAUTION. Cesium is a known mutagen.'

--
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
Re:Microsoft is just part of the story... by kring790 · 2012-12-13 15:17 · Score: 1

No, the stable isotope, Cesium-133, is not mutagenic. It does tend to explode when exposed to water, though. It's also the basis for atomic clocks, which are a critical part of the GPS satellites that help all of us, presumably including Santa, get to where we're going.
Re:Microsoft is just part of the story... by grcumb · 2012-12-13 15:45 · Score: 1

No, the stable isotope, Cesium-133, is not mutagenic.
Disclosure: I know. I was just making shit up.
Disclaimer: I never said it was a true disclaimer.

--
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.

Re:But the reason the switched from Google.. by _xeno_ · 2012-12-13 09:24 · Score: 1

or accidentally flying over a major airport Google does not show.

Google Maps does show the airport.

Click on that link anyway. It includes a search for "airport." When I did it originally, it came up with Los Angeles International as the only result. Clicking on it again to make sure the zoom level is the same shows me Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia as the top hit, followed by San Fransisco International Airport. At least Google's got both coasts covered?

It's weird because there's a "Denver Airport" place marker on Google Maps, but I guess it doesn't count for some reason.

--
You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.

Bing Maps? by MMC+Monster · 2012-12-13 09:26 · Score: 1

Am I the only one surprised to find out that Bing has a map application?

I always assumed they would use Yahoo Maps for some reason.

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Help! I'm a slashdot refugee.

Re:Bing Maps? by Lehk228 · 2012-12-13 10:20 · Score: 2

they have a crappy knockoff of everything Google puts out

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Snowden and Manning are heroes.

It could be worse by maroberts · 2012-12-13 09:35 · Score: 1

If Santa was using Apple Maps, your presents would be delivered down someone's chimney 7 miles away......

--

Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon

Re:It could be worse by azalin · 2012-12-13 20:29 · Score: 1

So for some people this might actually offer some improvement over the usual lump of coal.

Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-13 09:36 · Score: 1, Redundant

Santa is a completely fictitious figure who does not go flying around on Christmas Eve!

And NORAD is not tracking a real thing!

And anyone, can make up a "track Santa" map application!

WTF?

If having a "track Santa" map is important to Google, I'm sure they can create just that. This story makes no sense at all.

Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by magarity · 2012-12-13 10:23 · Score: 2

Santa is a completely fictitious figure who does not go flying around on Christmas Eve! And NORAD is not tracking a real thing! And anyone, can make up a "track Santa" map application! WTF? If having a "track Santa" map is important to Google, I'm sure they can create just that. This story makes no sense at all.
NORAD has been doing this tracking Santa gimmick annually since the 50's, well before just anyone could make a map app, when a published wrong number caused kids to call them instead of a department store. The base commander who answered the first calls had a sense of humor, liked children, and thought fast enough on his feet to give a "tracking report". It gives people serving in uniform a chance to talk to citizens they're protecting while on duty on a holiday and vice-versa. I suppose you would have yelled at them to stop wasting your time with nonsense?
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by huntes · 2012-12-13 11:04 · Score: 2

They actually do still have phone banks on the 24th, and the public can call up and speak to real volunteers. It is certainly not "all done with".
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by PhxBlue · 2012-12-13 11:05 · Score: 1

You are, apparently, unaware that they don't do this any more.
Apparently, NORAD is also unaware that they don't do this anymore, because they're advertising the program and asking for volunteers again this year (.pdf).

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!#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-13 11:12 · Score: 1

Wow! Cool. I didn't know that.
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-13 11:13 · Score: 1

Nice. Glad to hear some of the old stuff is still going on.
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by Nyder · 2012-12-13 11:22 · Score: 1

Santa is a completely fictitious figure who does not go flying around on Christmas Eve!
And NORAD is not tracking a real thing!
And anyone, can make up a "track Santa" map application!
WTF?
If having a "track Santa" map is important to Google, I'm sure they can create just that. This story makes no sense at all.
wow, I imagine you are just super festive around the kids!

--
Be seeing you...
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-13 11:28 · Score: 1

wow, I imagine you are just super festive around the kids!
I didn't think I was talking to kids. If anyone reading this is a child, I take it all back: Santa is real!
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by Rockoon · 2012-12-13 13:43 · Score: 3, Informative

You are, apparently, unaware that they don't do this any more.

You are, apparently, unaware that you have three options when you don't know what you are talking about.

A) Don't talk.
B) Talk anyways, but make it clear that you are guessing and making assumptions.
C) Talk anyways, but act like you know what you are talking about.

You blew right through both A and B and went right to C, the one that proves that you care more about looking like you know what you are talking about, than actually knowing what you are talking about.

--
"His name was James Damore."
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-14 04:24 · Score: 1

Gee, thanks! That's so very, very kind of you to help a poor, misguided individual such as myself to improve himself. I'm so glad you are here to impart your incredible wisdom to those less fortunate. Truly, I am so very grateful. I hope you can hang around and continue to help me in all my posting endeavors. Once again, you have my deep and undying gratitude for your careful, thoughtful and detailed instructions. I really don't know what I would do without your tremendous assistance. Thanks again!

Also, did you notice that I have been corrected for this one mistake twice before? Did you miss that or did you just think I hadn't been insulted enough for your satisfaction?
Re:Now just WAIT a minute! by miltonw · 2012-12-14 07:04 · Score: 1

Before yet another kind commenter feels compelled to correct me (and insult me for my mistake) I'd like to acknowledge that I was mistaken about NORAD not taking phone calls any more.

Better title by miltonw · 2012-12-13 09:42 · Score: 5, Funny

I think a better title for this story would be "Apparently, NORAD owns 'Santa' and has now sold him to Microsoft"

meh by hurfy · 2012-12-13 09:57 · Score: 1

A little less impressed with Google maps when it didn't have the TOWN i was looking for listed. Bing and Mapquest were both able to show me but Google comes up with nada. Tough to find the cars hidden in barns hidden in the middle of wheat fields when one has no clue where the town in the ad is at for the start point! To be fair they all found the actual gravel road and Bing also lists it as next city over. Google just doesn't label or recognize the small old town nearest it.

Re:meh by Nyder · 2012-12-13 11:23 · Score: 1

A little less impressed with Google maps when it didn't have the TOWN i was looking for listed. Bing and Mapquest were both able to show me but Google comes up with nada. Tough to find the cars hidden in barns hidden in the middle of wheat fields when one has no clue where the town in the ad is at for the start point! To be fair they all found the actual gravel road and Bing also lists it as next city over. Google just doesn't label or recognize the small old town nearest it.
let it all out. we are here for you.

--
Be seeing you...

I say good! by alexo · 2012-12-13 09:57 · Score: 1

Google is definitely getting too big and powerful.
It's good to show people that there are alternatives.

Have we already forgotten this?

Re:I say good! by Nyder · 2012-12-13 11:26 · Score: 1

Google is definitely getting too big and powerful.
It's good to show people that there are alternatives.
Have we already forgotten this?
Wow, just wow.
If you think that is the worse thing that google could do, then I'm glad I don't live in your glass house. That change is so small, and considering the public that used google, a smart change.
I find them not paying $10 billion in taxes to be a worse offense myself, but whatever.

--
Be seeing you...
Re:I say good! by lilfields · 2012-12-13 13:30 · Score: 1

I think we shouldn't have a corporate tax at all, most finance experts agrees that they don't make sense (liberal, conservative, whatever)...they just make for good politics. I'd much rather make the tax on corporations 0 in the U.S. and hike the top tax brackets, it makes tons of economic sense. Billions are sitting off shore because of the corporate tax, it could all come home if it were 0 and spur job growth and people using the U.S. as a tax haven rather than vice-versa.
Re:I say good! by alexo · 2012-12-14 03:41 · Score: 1

Wow, just wow.
I am amazed by your eloquence.

If you think that is the worse thing that google could do, then I'm glad I don't live in your glass house.
I provided a recent example that was discussed on slashdot.
Where exactly did I say it was the worst thing they could do, or has done?

That change is so small, and considering the public that used google, a smart change.
Look at the big picture.
Google have now demonstrated that they are able and willing to manipulate search results according to their agendas.
Everybody complains about biased news outlets trying to manipulate public opinion and perception. And yet, when the largest search engine, run by an advertisement company (Google's latest financial filings show that over 95% of their revenues comes from advertising) does that, it is magically OK?

I find them not paying $10 billion in taxes to be a worse offense myself, but whatever.
You chose the worst possible example.
As a publicly traded corporation, they have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to minimize the amount of taxes they pay using every legally possible way.
The fact that US law allows such machinations is not Google's fault. If you have a problem with it, ask your Congress why do they fight tooth and nail against any attempt to close such loopholes.
Re:I say good! by alexo · 2012-12-14 03:50 · Score: 1

If there is no corporate tax then a lot of money will stay within the corporation, to be spent on "corporate" perks.
Did you think that the high-up executables pay for their private jets with their own money?

Re:But the reason the switched from Google.. by X0563511 · 2012-12-13 10:21 · Score: 1

I can't find KATL either. If I search for it I just get a hotel, which happens to be on the premises.

--
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...

Bing? by Holammer · 2012-12-13 10:58 · Score: 1

So wassat? something cool? Lemme google that!

Doesn't show in search results... by SuperKendall · 2012-12-13 11:18 · Score: 2

Click on that link anyway. It includes a search for "airport."

Right, that's zoomed in - you could see the shape of it also on the image I linked. But you couldn't see any sign that shape was the airport - if you were a traveller you would not know where to zoom in, when I travel I just zoom out from the city and search for "Airport" all the time. If you zoom out on your link you'll find that none of the search results are at that location although at least they are in the same city!

I was actually pretty astounded that this error existed in Google, as this kind of vague contextual search that should use past searches by lots of people to guess what the user is really looking for, should be right up Google's alley. You'd think that searching on an airport code would be better, but this morning a search for "DIA" took me to somewhere in France... it works better now but the main result for DIA is not the airport.

Interestingly at iOS6 launch , that "airport" search pulled up the wrong airport in Denver. But after about a month (I did submit a correction) DIA was properly the featured airport for any kind of wide search. That is why I say that competition is good for both map apps, because it is bringing to light flaws that have been in Google a long time and should not have been, and those will probably get corrected faster now than they were.

It's weird because there's a "Denver Airport" place marker on Google Maps, but I guess it doesn't count for some reason.

Why could that possibly be? That makes no sense to me. It really makes you question the advantage of Google having all these great placemarks (which they do) if they are not used all the time by map search.

To me the interesting thing about comparison results from Google Maps to Apple, is that Apple while being sometimes too cagey with results ("found nothing"), Google is often too permissive with results ("I found nothing but perhaps you'll enjoy this random set of locations that have nothing to do with your search whatsoever"). No-one ever questioned that behavior of Google much before but I think they may start if other mapping apps get better at returning the most relevant point of interest.

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"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley

Re:who cares? by SkimTony · 2012-12-13 11:43 · Score: 1

Elves. It's flying elves. Also reindeer. Although I suppose what the reindeer do while they're in the air is their own business.

What's Bing? by cashman73 · 2012-12-13 12:23 · Score: 1

I didn't know Bing was a map application. I thought Bing was that guy that was tap dancing with Danny F**king Kaye on the hap-hap-happiest Christmas ever with those jolly bunch of a**holes at the Griswold's? :-)

Bing? by Trogre · 2012-12-13 12:30 · Score: 1

Isn't that that search engine that nobody uses, except characters in Hollywood action movies?

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"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife

Bing has some good services by lilfields · 2012-12-13 13:27 · Score: 1

People make fun of Bing, but Bing Maps, images and video searches are all excellent, in some ways better than Google...it's in text search Google hands down beats the snot out of Microsoft, since that's what I mostly search for I use Google...but I wouldn't laugh at Bing, it's fairly good in it's non-core elements.

Simple explanation: by Tablizer · 2012-12-13 13:40 · Score: 2

NORAD asked for a "Bing Crosby Xmas", and somebody fscked-up the order.

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Table-ized A.I.

Re:What's Bing? by Trogre · 2012-12-13 15:43 · Score: 3, Funny

Easy - it's not Google.

As in: Bing Is Not Google.

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"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife

No Xmas presents for China then by ukoda · 2012-12-13 15:58 · Score: 1

I'm living in Jiaxing, China, a medium size city of 4 million people. Google Maps is close 100% acurate, but Bing thinks the whole city is just a single T junction of two roads. Guess which mapping application is often blocked here...

Re:What's Bing? by girlinatrainingbra · 2012-12-13 16:32 · Score: 1

Who's Bing? What's Bing? Where's Bing? Where's Santa bing?
.
Sounds like a bunch of questions to ask on G'oogle!
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(And for the reporters hiding amongst us, also remember to 'oogle the existential question "Why is Bing?" and the temporal question "When is Bing?")

Re:But the reason the switched from Google.. by pmontra · 2012-12-13 19:16 · Score: 1

I just fired up Google Maps on my Android phone, asked for Denver International Airport and found it, but who knows, different devices might return different results or Google fixed it.

Re:Why would you type the whole thing by pmontra · 2012-12-13 20:12 · Score: 1

Oh well, I think I'm not qualified to discuss location aware queries because I don't share my position with Google (all position sharing settings off) but I understood your point now.

Re:Boycott Christmas! by azalin · 2012-12-13 20:24 · Score: 1

Ah the good old days of MS bashing...

Re:who cares? by azalin · 2012-12-13 20:32 · Score: 1

Elves. It's flying elves. Also reindeer. Although I suppose what the reindeer do while they're in the air is their own business.

Don't eat the "white" snow then?

Can't Google do it anyway? by Shemmie · 2012-12-13 23:31 · Score: 1

Surely Google can do their own version of Santa flying, anyway?

I don't believe it's exclusive, trade-secret information. Or even particularly accurate - is Santa REALLY over France at that exact moment?

Scrooge Santa by ehiris · 2012-12-14 05:22 · Score: 1

Don't blame the fiscal cliff, it's Bing that will make Santa fall off the cliff.

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