The Best One Yet đ Google Maps: The *Actual* âEverything Appâ
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May 26, 2025 Discover the fascinating journey of Google Maps, born from the minds of two Danish brothers. Their groundbreaking vision not only reshaped navigation but evolved into a vital platform for modern living. Uncover the struggles with technology and investor interest that propelled them into the Google fold. Explore the emergence of features like Street View and the fierce competition with Apple in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Witness how a simple coding project became an $11 billion juggernaut impacting everything from travel to business!
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Brothers Revolutionize Digital Maps
- Jens Rasmussen was frustrated by slow, static online maps and envisioned a seamless, zoomable map.
- He and his brother Lars coded a new map prototype using tile technology to improve speed and interactivity.
Impact of Product Management
- Google Maps prototype was slow and crashed often before product manager Brett Taylor rewrote the code.
- Brett made it 10 times faster, accelerating the project to meet Google's launch deadline.
DARPA Inspires Google Street View
- The Pentagon's DARPA Grand Challenge inspired Google co-founder Larry Page.
- Larry bought Sebastian Thrun's mapping company to create Street View with 360-degree cameras recording streets.
