# We knew it was coming - Google Classic Maps is gone

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 29, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825 "2015-04-29T17:04:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/81 "2015-06-08T23:42:49Z")

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> [@Foggy](#):
>
> Welp, my old computer can’t handle the new maps, even in Lite Mode.:mad:
> 
> What is a good alternative for an 12yo computer running Win XP?
> 
> Thanks:)

Desktop? Maybe a computer store for a different one of later vintage. Even Win 7 if it is not filled with high $ stuff.

Laptop, Wall\*Mart

How much are you willing to/can spend?

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/82 "2015-06-09T06:40:14Z")

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> [@Allthegood](#):
>
> And I can no longer get MapQuest to load anything but a blank screen.

That’s all I get with new Google maps too.

Some improvement.

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**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/83 "2015-06-09T15:38:23Z")

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> [@GusNSpot](#):
>
> Desktop? Maybe a computer store for a different one of later vintage. Even Win 7 if it is not filled with high $ stuff.
> 
> Laptop, Wall\*Mart
> 
> How much are you willing to/can spend?

Sorry, I messed up my question, it should have been:

What is a good **map site** alternative for an 12yo computer running Win XP?

I have no money for a computer. I’m trying to figure out how to mug one of the neighborhood [drug dealers](http://www.bugmartini.com/comic/a-mule-and-his-money-are-soon-parted/). 😉

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**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/84 "2015-06-10T23:40:07Z")

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> [@ak\_chlx](#):
>
> [https://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces](https://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces)  
> worked fine with Google Chrome on Mac, at least until a minute ago.

Aaaand this one’s been assimilated now, too. Stopped working for me a little earlier today.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/85 "2015-06-11T00:09:33Z")

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> [@teela\_brown](#):
>
> Aaaand this one’s been assimilated now, too. Stopped working for me a little earlier today.

Still working for me, but only in a browser I’ve left open. When I open it in a new one, the Classic view is gone.

So I’ve got two Classic version browsers still open. But inevitably I’ll have to reboot, and lose them. ☹

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**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/86 "2015-06-11T00:22:55Z")

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> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> But _someone_ must like the new version. Who are these people? Do you know any?

I remember when the ill-fated Google Buzz first came out, and pretty much everyone hated it. A friend of mine was dating an engineer at Google, I asked him about Buzz at a party, and he seemed completely mystified that anyone would dislike it.

I suppose some people just fixate so much on the benefits of some new feature that they completely ignore that other people won’t want that new feature and are perfectly happy with the way things work now.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/87 "2015-06-12T01:28:25Z")

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> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> Still working for me, but only in a browser I’ve left open. When I open it in a new one, the Classic view is gone.
> 
> So I’ve got two Classic version browsers still open. But inevitably I’ll have to reboot, and lose them. ☹

Well, my computer informs me it will do an automatic reboot to update things tomorrow, so I guess this is my last night of using google classic maps.

☹

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/88 "2015-06-12T08:17:04Z")

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You know what, folks?

There will _always_ be paper maps. Paper maps will never go extinct. Paper mail will never go extinct. Paper books will never go extinct.

This is why.

Next up: Wait until we’re all driving Google cars. Then what happens every time they decide to “improve” the product?

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/89 "2015-06-12T12:33:44Z")

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> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> You know what, folks?
> 
> There will _always_ be paper maps. Paper maps will never go extinct. Paper mail will never go extinct. Paper books will never go extinct.
> 
> This is why.
> 
> Next up: Wait until we’re all driving Google cars. Then what happens every time they decide to “improve” the product?

You’ll have the option to accept the changes or start walking? 😛

I wonder if anyone’s done the “If Google built cars” schtick yet?  
-If Google built cars they’d move the gauges inside the glove compartment to simplify the user interface… and you’ll need to log in to Google+ to open it.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/90 "2015-06-12T13:00:21Z")

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> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> There will _always_ be paper maps. Paper maps will never go extinct.

I love paper maps, atlases, books about maps. My library (which has 10 foot tall bookshelves and a rolling staircase to access them) is loaded with them. I’ve got a 17th century map of what’s now the Netherlands, my county’s 1875 Atlas and Plat book, and the London Times’ Atlas of World History, etc. etc. The Royal Throne (in the master bathroom) has a map rack by it, holding many Nat Geo maps of national parks and other regions. I’ve got DeLorme’s Atlas’ of all 50 states on my shelves and scattered in random places. I’ve got old US Geo service topographical maps stored in boxes organized by regions.

But when I want to get a close up view of some random spot in Borneo or Spisic Bukovica, I like doing it on Google Classic Maps.

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/91 "2015-06-12T16:26:17Z")

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Someone is resurrecting the old maps: [http://www.gokml.net/maps](http://www.gokml.net/maps)

Joy of joys to be able to go back to street view on one half of the screen and the map on the other.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/92 "2015-06-12T18:12:03Z")

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> [@Ale](#):
>
> Someone is resurrecting the old maps: [http://www.gokml.net/maps](http://www.gokml.net/maps)

Nice! Dodged the bullet _again_!

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**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/93 "2015-06-12T18:12:05Z")

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> [@Ale](#):
>
> Someone is resurrecting the old maps: [http://www.gokml.net/maps](http://www.gokml.net/maps)
> 
> Joy of joys to be able to go back to street view on one half of the screen and the map on the other.

Yay! I’m quickly making street view guy walk around in Bali or Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro while I can. Thanks for the link.

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**Author:** ![ak\_chlx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ak\_chlx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ak_chlx)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/94 "2015-06-16T01:17:41Z")

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> [@Ale](#):
>
> Someone is resurrecting the old maps: [http://www.gokml.net/maps](http://www.gokml.net/maps)
> 
> Joy of joys to be able to go back to street view on one half of the screen and the map on the other.

Thank you, Ale, for the link!! I am glad to visit here for the 2nd time! I was so down when the URL I had posted before did not show the Classic Maps any more. Is anybody from Google watching and ready to kill any of good links to anything like the Classic Maps as soon as they find them??

I would also like to get the small icon back (don’t know what to call it) that used to be on the Classic ones just below the zoom control (vertical) bar and allow us to zoom into whatever the area we selected directly, not using the control bar. Hope this (missing function) rings somebody’s bell.

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**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/95 "2015-06-16T04:47:15Z")

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> [@ak\_chlx](#):
>
> Thank you, Ale, for the link!! I am glad to visit here for the 2nd time! I was so down when the URL I had posted before did not show the Classic Maps any more. Is anybody from Google watching and ready to kill any of good links to anything like the Classic Maps as soon as they find them??
> 
> I would also like to get the small icon back (don’t know what to call it) that used to be on the Classic ones just below the zoom control (vertical) bar and allow us to zoom into whatever the area we selected directly, not using the control bar. Hope this (missing function) rings somebody’s bell.

The person(s) behind that page are asking for feedback like yours, so you may want to contact them to get that icon back.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/96 "2016-01-08T00:19:35Z")

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> [@Ale](#):
>
> Someone is resurrecting the old maps: [http://www.gokml.net/maps](http://www.gokml.net/maps)

**Zombie thread revival**

And now this is gone too. Just tried to access it today (worked fine yesterday) and got this notice:

“This page has been removed at the request of Google, because it potentially violates the Maps API Terms of Service. Sorry.”

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/97 "2016-01-08T03:17:11Z")

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“Potentially”? Come on, Google, either it does or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, your request can be ignored.

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**Author:** ![bluezooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@bluezooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluezooky)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/98 "2016-01-08T06:02:07Z")

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The google earth zombie api was "potentially’ being deprecated last December, at the end of this month its gone for good, time to get used to the new Google Maps

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/99 "2016-01-08T16:43:03Z")

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> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> **Zombie thread revival**
> 
> And now this is gone too. Just tried to access it today (worked fine yesterday) and got this notice:
> 
> “This page has been removed at the request of Google, because it potentially violates the Maps API Terms of Service. Sorry.”

Fuck them! Goddammit!

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-knew-it-was-coming-google-classic-maps-is-gone/718825/100 "2016-01-08T17:52:32Z")

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> [@Sunspace](#):
>
> “Potentially”? Come on, Google, either it does or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, your request can be ignored.

I suspect GOOG’s answer would be “you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

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