It’s been over six months since the redesigned Connect was launched, making this an ideal time to evaluate how effective this transition has been. Initially, I planned to do this review in early February, around the 100-day mark, but I decided to wait for another 100 days for a more comprehensive perspective. Now, almost 200 days later, here is my feedback—along with @PrasadVR 's —based on our experience using Connect on Android and iOS.
One of the primary reasons for transitioning to the new Connect was to keep the content relevant and well-organized. So how well has this objective been achieved? This review aims to provide a minimal yet realistic assessment, free from over-generalized commentary or excessive photos.
1. User Experience (UX)
Navigation:
On Android, navigation is generally smooth and straightforward. A few weeks ago, I encountered an issue where the page would get stuck and refuse to scroll. Despite trying various fixes, such as clearing the cache, nothing worked. Fortunately, this problem has now been resolved, though it seemed limited to the Chrome APK. Browsing Connect on standard Chrome has always been smooth, but I prefer using the Chrome APK.
Search Functionality:
The search feature is efficient. When searching for something, you are presented with several options to refine the results:
Post Title: Search results show matching titles.
Posting Date: You can see when the post was published.
Body Text: The search scans for the keywords or phrases you entered.
Categories and Tags: Results can be filtered based on these.
By tapping the settings icon, you can access advanced search options, similar to the old Connect. These settings are detailed and comprehensive, offering around 10-15 filters for highly refined results. However, I have noticed some difficulty in locating older Connect posts, which might need improvement.
Performance and Speed:
So far, I have encountered no significant issues with page loading speed, menu accessibility, or overall navigation on the Android Chrome Connect app or while browsing on Chrome.
The Solution button in the comment box is placed in a location that sometimes causes LGs to click it accidentally. Additionally, there is no confirmation step after clicking, which can result in comments being mistakenly marked as the solution.
iOS Experience:
On iOS, we are facing an issue with link functionality on Connect. Links added by us work perfectly when we access them. However, when other users click these same links from their accounts, they are redirected to incorrect locations.
The application frequently hangs when used on an iPhone 13 device.
2. Community Interaction
Notifications:
The notification system on the new Connect is comprehensive and highly inclusive by default. If you use the default settings, you will receive a large number of notifications daily. For instance, you are notified whenever someone you follow takes any action. At one point, the volume became overwhelming, prompting me to explore the settings to mute notifications or stop tracking certain topics.
Notably, Connect has now removed notifications for likes on your posts, streamlining the experience. The notification panel is divided into four clear sections:
If you choose the “All” option, you will see a combined list of all notifications. Previously, there was a separate section for “Likes,” but this has now been integrated into the main notifications panel.
Replying to Posts:
Replying under a post has become more organized with a threaded format. Each comment displays the number of replies it has, making it easier to follow conversations.
You can directly edit specific words in a reply by tapping them without needing to open the entire draft. Though I personally feel the edit window for drafts looks very small and putting cursor at right location can be challenging specially if the drafts is bulky.
Quoting specific parts of a post or comment is now much simpler. You can either select a portion of the text and quote it directly or simply copy-paste it. This is one of the most useful features introduced.
Previously, there were issues with using emojis and icons. These problems have been resolved, allowing you to use them freely. However, I suggest that Connect introduces reaction emojis, similar to Google Maps, even if limited to just four options.
Spam Flagging:
Flagging inappropriate content has become significantly easier. A “Flag” icon is now available directly below every post or reply. By tapping it, you can report content for quick review and removal.
You can also tag active moderators for faster resolution.
To find active moderators, simply type “Connect_Moderators” and check for those online.
Messages:
The messaging system has seen notable improvements:
You receive direct notifications for new messages, including the sender’s name and the subject.
Threaded replies make managing conversations more straightforward.
You can now edit messages to correct any typos.
Inappropriate messages can be reported, a feature missing in the old Connect.
There is also a view count by date, though it is still difficult to confirm if the receiver has actually read the message.
3. Content Organization
Content on the new Connect platform is now neatly organized into four main categories:
Connections and Celebrations
Google Maps Contribution Stories
Google Maps Tips and Tricks
Meet-ups
The process of organizing and recapping meet-ups has been significantly streamlined. I recently hosted my first meet-up on the new Connect, and the experience was seamless. There is a facility to set reminders on the calendar. The calendar includes a reminder feature that allows LGs to set both start and end times. However, setting the end time is not necessary. Some LGs mistakenly select an end time, which can lead to missing the event.
For the first time, I could easily categorise my posts without requiring moderator intervention—a common issue with almost every second or third post in the past.
Now, users can efficiently categorise their posts using subtopics, tags, and locations. This not only improves organization but also ensures that posts are accurately classified.
On mobile, the user experience is even better, thanks to:
A bottom navigation bar for quick access.
Enhanced search functionality, allowing users to filter by topics, tags, locations, trending, and bookmarked posts.
Featured topics are pinned at the top for better visibility.
Clear “Read Me First” and guidelines sections that act as a standard for quality and consistency.
The Road Mapper tag and some posts related to Road Mapper are missing in the new Connect platform. Many LG were disappointed.
Some LGs have also noticed that some of their badges from the old Connect platform are missing in the new Connect.
However, despite these improvements, some users continue to post irrelevant content, which slightly affects the platform’s quality.
4. Design and Visuals
The design of the new Connect platform is clean and easy to understand, though not exceptionally modern. Here are some key aspects:
In landscape mode, the screen is divided—four main categories appear on the left, while the right side is used for browsing and scrolling.
In portrait mode, the layout is more intuitive and works without any issues.
Adding a signature to your profile has become easier than before.
Although I do not have exact data, I strongly believe that over 60% of users access Connect via mobile devices. I will be conducting a brief survey on this—please share your choice and feedback in the comments.
Dark Theme Discussion:
A dark theme for Connect was previously discussed by @AdrianLunsong here shortly after the launch of the new Connect in December. This remains an anticipated feature for many users.
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What do you feel about the new redesigned connect ? Share your experience below.
Many Thanks to @PrasadVR for sharing his valuable iOS experience.
Here are some interesting things I would like to know if you could spare a minute to answer them.
How do you primarily access Local Guides Connect?
- Desktop
- Mobile (Android and iOS)
- All the above
How do you manage notifications on Connect?
- I keep all notifications on.
- I have customized my notification settings.
- I have turned off most notifications.
Overall, how would you rate the new Connect compared to the old Connect?
- It’s Great
- It’s good
- Not much different from old one
Thank you
Happy Mapping
Trail_Blazer and PrasadVR
