Google Maps has had a rejig of the colours used to indicate totally different parts, and a good portion of its common customers aren’t blissful concerning the change.
As you might have seen, this variation in shade palette was first spotted back in September, however now it’s extensively rolling out to customers of Google’s navigation app.
Google Maps now has grey roads like Apple, somewhat than white or yellow roads as earlier than, and forests are a darker inexperienced. Alternatively, the shade of blue used for water is lighter.
Nonetheless, the lively route is a a lot darker blue, with alternate routes proven in lighter blue (these was once grey).
See the pic above for a comparability of the previous (left) and new (proper) design, and the one beneath (within the tweet) for one more have a look at the freshly revamped colours.
These could not sound like large adjustments – and to be honest, they aren’t, they’re primarily tweaks. However they’ve rubbed numerous customers up the flawed method. As Android Authority factors out, there’s some fairly spicy suggestions on the brand new Google Maps on Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) and different on-line boards.
So my Google Maps seems to be like this now and my query is, why would you repair one thing that wasn’t damaged? 🙈 The brilliant colours and low distinction are breaking my mind. Please, at the very least let me select previous shade scheme 🥲 pic.twitter.com/Co1ZDaoPW4November 16, 2023
Evaluation: Missing readability?
A few of that is unfamiliarity, as nobody likes change, and it takes time to acclimatize to a brand new look – however there are some constant and well-observed items of suggestions on the redeployment of colours for Google Maps.
One widespread thread is criticism of the brand new colours missing readability, and making it trickier to see what’s what at a look (and when driving clearly you’ll simply be glancing on the show).
As one Redditor put it: “I’m discovering it just a little exhausting to learn as rapidly as I used to. The toned down look is cute however not sensible.”
One other drawback highlighted by a number of customers on Reddit is that the brand new alternate routes being blue – in addition to the primary route, albeit that’s a darker blue – is a matter. It may be troublesome to inform these routes aside on a telephone at a little bit of a distance (and with different potential elements thrown into the combination like solar glare).
General, Google could wish to have a rethink, notably across the alternate routes. That mentioned, not everyone seems to be sad with the adjustments, however the majority appear to be at the very least in keeping with a ballot Android Authority is working.
This exhibits that 44% of respondents don’t like the brand new colours, in comparison with 28% who do (with the remaining abstaining). So, that doesn’t look nice for Google, although after all, it’s a restricted pattern of round 800 individuals (on the time of writing).
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