MapQuest used to be huge. If you're over 30 (or so), you probably recall your parents printing out routes with it or doing such a thing yourself. With the rise of map apps on the phone, the idea of printing a bunch of pages with step-by-step directions for vacation or even to find a new spot locally became less than needed. MapQuest didn't really leave or stop existing, but it was a bit of a relic of the past with the most recent notable thing being a company called System1 acquiring MapQuest in 2019, with nothing else of interest happening, until recently. A smidgen ago, System1 launched, "Private Maps by MapQuest," which uses the tech of MapQuest to allow folks to have an app that doesn't, "Save," information about users in a sense. There is no data tracking, it doesn't show ads tailored to your interests, and your travel data isn't shared with other companies (i.e., if you always drive to McDonald's a certain time of day, you won't suddenly start seeing ads for the golden arches in the app). The standard MapQuest has been tweaked heavily, too, even if it lacks the extra privacy features--and it is being advertised with gusto. I mean, I learned that MapQuest in general was, "Back," when I started hearing ads for it and was intrigued.
New updates both of the MapQuest-related apps continue to make it an appealing proposition with upgraded traffic monitoring features and the like. That is snazzy, but I'd argue the privacy aspect of Private Maps by MapQuest is a big selling point in an era where all of our information is always just...out there. In the same manner that Duck Duck Go has gained increased popularity thanks to not tracking IP addresses, tracking browsing history, or such, Private Maps by MapQuest could appeal to people who find the constant surveillance of Google and its Maps (or Apple Maps, if you're freaky like that), admittedly a bit creepy. I'd love to try the Private Maps by MapQuest app...but it isn't on iPhones.
Yes, that's right, Private Maps is unavailable on iOS. You can use the aforementioned, "Regular," MapQuest and its handy traffic features, but Private Maps is out of reach if you're on an iPhone (and not skilled at fancy hacking tricks or such). It is a bummer, but that could change at some point in the future. As it is, with an Android or iPhone, you can use a newer MapQuest--which is cool--but you need an Android to get the privacy-focused program. MapQuest has risen from a grave of obscurity to be the surprise underdog in a field it once dominated, and now you don't even need your printer!
No comments:
Post a Comment