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Google Backs Down On Maps Redirect

Posted by samzenpus on from the on-second-thought dept.

Dupple writes "A few days ago Google blocked access to its maps on Windows Phone 8, claiming that it 'worked best' on WebKit-based browsers — effectively excluding WP8 users. This, despite Google Maps working fine on desktop versions of IE that use the same rendering engine and users being able to spoof the user agent string on their WP8 devices to gain access. Now it appears that Google has backed down and is now allowing WP8 users access."

7 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Don't be evil by kawabago · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How soon they forget.

    1. Re:Don't be evil by __aasehi2499 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If they hadn't made the grand declaration of it being their motto in that holier than thou kind of way which was directed at companies like Microsoft, then yes, but since they did, then no.

    2. Re:Don't be evil by andydread · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But Microsoft has denied access to any other browser on Windows Phone. where is the outrage?

    3. Re:Don't be evil by Eskarel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Microsoft have denied access to anyone, period, writing native code for Windows Phone. It's perfectly possible for any of the major vendors to release a browser(even a pretty decent one) in managed code, but it would involve all of them creating and maintaining a parallel code base which none of them want to do. If you want to port webkit to a managed language supported by windows phone and build a browser around it, nothing I've seen in Microsoft's Terms of Use will stop you(unlike Apple which allowed native code but forbid browsers).

  2. I don't know why /. does not understand Google. by Andy+Prough · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This whole idea that Google wants to shut device users out from their services is beyond stupid. Google wants one thing - to make money serving up ads. They want users of ALL devices looking at their maps, using their search, using their gmail, etc, etc, etc.

  3. Re:Don't wory by moronoxyd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, as a Opera user I can use pretty much any website that works with Firefox or Chrome. As long as the designer of that page didn't artificially exclude Opera or I mask my browser as Firefox or IE.

    The problem is not Opera but bullshit web designers.

  4. Re:Google's possible complaint... by Luckyo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually when it comes to navigation, WP uses nokia maps as base. Those are ahead of google map by a very big margin in terms of accuracy, as they use NavTeq mapping data.

    NavTeq collects mapping data from paid local agents and organisations, and has been doing so before Google came to existence.