Ary

Yet another techie with their take on Products, AI and all things Tech (or not).

[Ary @Arynotes]

techie's wardrobe, we might not appreciate it everyday, but we know it’s a necessity.

[Ary @Arynotes]

The only way I'm going down, is when Google Maps tells me! 👀

To start my '60 Apps Later' series, I couldn't think of anything other than the one without which I'd be lost (literally and metaphorically).

@googlemaps

[Ary @Arynotes]

out, this feature still seems quite dated - like a survey form that you should be paid to fill out.

I've got tons of feature suggestions, but I'll hold my emotions here since this isn't a Product Teardown.

All in all, Google Maps on our phones is like a black turtleneck in a

[Ary @Arynotes]

but the map types still seems to be stuck to three - I end up toggling between Satellite and Terrain for novelty. The 'Contribute' option is like a needy but opinionated friend - there is a very tight structure for any input. With all the Gemini models that Google keeps rolling

[Ary @Arynotes]

are now spared that extra click to go to Google for any queries.

What makes me Sigh…
Which PM decided to make the "Share live location" feature a multi-step process? By the time I'm able to share it, the location itself has changed. There are so many newer features in the app,

[Ary @Arynotes]

completion ETAs that we promise our managers, the ETA on Google Maps is something we all swear by (or not). Nonetheless, the "Best AI Feature in a Debut Role" award goes to 'Ask Maps', where you can ask anything - I ended up getting Chicken Curry recipe. All of us lazy folks

[Ary @Arynotes]

limited to searching for routes and adding stops, it’s the other smaller but carefully placed features that make life all the more convenient. Be it searching for top rated restaurants in unfamiliar places, or checking out literally all the modes of transport. Unlike the project

[Ary @Arynotes]

I'd have added 'guiding lost souls' but I'm no Rumi.

What makes me Stay…
Navigational skills don't come naturally to me - with Maps I don't have to rely on anyone, and the feeling is liberating (much more than I give the app credit for).
Besides my primary usage isn't just…

[Ary @Arynotes]

understand the native language that 80% of the drivers speak. There is a whole new kind of empowerment that comes with knowing that no matter where you are in the world, you'll not be lost and clueless.

Google Maps isn’t selling directions.
It's selling certainty.

[Ary @Arynotes]

even if you know the route, no harm in being 200% sure anyways. We can think of it as a co-pilot, except that it doesn't hog as many tokens (AI pun intended). On a serious note, there is no other way I would feel nearly as safe to take a cab in a completely new city where I don't

[Ary @Arynotes]

Ironically, being lost is not the only reason why we are dependent on Google Maps. After all, it's not just a matter of being guided directionally, it’s the reassurance and the confidence that comes with it. It is a rare kind of addiction that isn't unhealthy -

[Ary @Arynotes]

It won’t be a product teardown per se, but my personal take on these apps covering -

Hooks/ Hiccups
Delights/ Frictions
Why I Stay/ Why I Sigh (I still stay though)

I’ve decided to call the series ‘60 Apps Later’

Stay tuned for the first edition! ;)

[Ary @Arynotes]

I have 60+ apps on my iPhone -

EXCLUDING the Default, authenticator and enterprise security ones.

[Ary @Arynotes]

Instead of using the apps solely for the 2-3 mundane tasks which have become muscle memory at this point, I wanted to carefully analyse how and what are these trying to sell (not literally).

[Ary @Arynotes]

As much as I wanted to de-clutter my phone by uninstalling a few, except for 2-3 apps, I couldn’t convince myself to uninstall any of the rest.

So after making peace with the Digital Consumerism, I’ve decided to do a fun exercise for the next 60 days…..