Myat Min Soe

Mobile App Developer

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@Roach_BKK Can I get TM30?

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@samkhyaa @elonmusk @Coinvo Hi I’m from Myanmar. After we got independence, we were richer than Singapore. We fucked up ourselves. Thanks.

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@PCSoonersFan @ResisttheMS 🔫🔫🔫

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@elonmusk Visit Myanmar 2026

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@BG_QZone Please release it for mac

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Threads အကုန်ဒေါင်း lol

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@reasonstudios I'm gonna steal your software real hard.

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

It looks like shit

[Elizabeth Laraki @elizlaraki]

15 years ago, I helped design Google Maps.

I still use it everyday.

Last week, the team dramatically changed the map’s visual design.

I don’t love it.

It feels colder, less accurate and less human.

But more importantly, they missed a key opportunity to simplify and scale.

–––

Google Maps has started to widely roll out updated map colors:

- All roads are now gray

- Water changed from blue to teal

- Parks and open spaces are now mint green

It seems the goal was to improve usability and make the maps more readable.

Admittedly, I do think major roads, traffic, and trails stand out more now.

But the colors of water and parks/open spaces blend together.

And to me, the palette feels colder and more computer generated.

But color choices aside…

If the goal was better usability, the team missed a big opportunity:

Google Maps should have cleaned up the crud overlaying the map.

–––

So much stuff has accumulated on top of the map.

Currently there are ~11 different elements obscuring it:

- Search box

- 8 pills overlayed in 4 rows

- A peeking card for “latest in the area”

- A bottom nav bar

(Personally, I would LOVE to see usage metrics for all these overlays.)

The map should be sacred real estate.

Only things that are highly useful to many people should obscure it.

There should be a very limited number of features that can cover the map view.

And there are multiple ways to add new features without overlaying them directly on the map.

–––

Here’s how it could look:

- Keep the search box

- Keep the bottom bar

- Remove everything else from the map

- Roll the most used features into the bottom bar

- Bury the less used features elsewhere in the app

I assume the search box and directions are top priority and should remain prominent.

My Location and map layers (satellite, traffic, etc.) could move to the bottom bar.

The explore overlays (restaurants, gas, etc.) could live in the bottom bar in “Explore” and open as cards.

The additional space in the bottom bar could be used for Saved, as a “More” option, or could be removed entirely.

There are many variations of how features could be arranged.

But the key points are:

- Dramatically simplify

- Strongly prioritize map visibility

- Bury legacy and low use features

–––

It’s normal for products to accumulate features over time.

But it’s also super important to stay vigilant and continually clean them up.

In many ways, it’s interesting to see history repeating itself.

In 2007, I was 1 of 2 designers on Google Maps.

At that time, Maps had already become a cluttered mess.

We were wedging new features into any space we could find in the UI.

The user experience was suffering and the product was growing increasingly complicated.

We had to rethink the app to be simple and scale for the future.

It seems like it’s time for Google Maps to do this again…

–––

For more on design + tips for early stage founders, follow me on X: @elizlaraki

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@pixelcave_john tailkit website is down

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@ThaiTrainGuide Damn that’s useful. I tried bang sue but it didn’t work.

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@DrewsufGOAT

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@elonmusk after acquiring twitter

[Phu @Phu_twt_mm]

@Save_GlobalNews Who did this? Why don't you mention the culprit clearly?

[Vivian Balakrishnan @VivianBala]

Wishing a Happy 77th Birthday to dear Daw Aung San Syu Kyi. May you continue to be blessed with good health, hope and fulfilment.

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@DrTedros @WHO Why are you protecting a rapist?

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@beINSPORTS_EN Thanks for switching the commentator, he was obviously not well.

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@LiamBrandy1 It was touched by Fabinho so no offside.

[Saifuddin Abdullah 🇲🇾 @saifuddinabd]

At the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Informal Meeting earlier today, I highlighted the following points:

1️⃣ Malaysia fully support the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair in fulfilling his mandate on 5-Point Consensus;

[Myat Min Soe @_MyatMinSoe]

@KentGooner77 Stay strong @KentGooner77