Answer the questions on the desktop browser? Is it a bug or an unwelcome workaround?

In the previous week, I mentioned about reporting an inappropriate photo on the desktop in fewer steps without the need to add an email or prove that you are not a robot.

Some users stated the feature was there for the past two years.
Besides, there was an opinion; it could be a bug.

Another feature I marked that when a POI is in your timeline & if the questions are ready, a prompt appears here too in the browser asking “Do you know this place?”

I attempted some of the questions & there was a corresponding increase in the points also.

However, there is a concern. Is it a bug or an unwelcome feature?

Answering the questions through the Maps app on the phone is straightforward. Doing something through a workaround is always deplored!

PS : I overlooked to mention the name of the user @MaoTouYing who highlighted this feature first.

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Hi @C_T , I am not sure if I got your point.

Why are you calling it as an unwelcome feature? If the place is your timelines it means that you may have visited it and are able to answer the question. You can always skip if you do not have visited the place or do not know the answer

Maybe I misunderstood it. If I did, I apologise.

Best wishes!

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Hello @AlexandreCampbell

Thanks for your reply.

I am not calling that as an unwelcome feature. I have put a question-mark & I am seeking clarification from the experienced members.

To make the question clear, I am adding a screenshot as below.

Trust, the clarifies the query.

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Hi @C_T ,

I have to agree with @AlexandreCampbell . Your first post and your screenshot does not make it clear to me either what your point is. Please try to write on plain language what it is you think could be a bug or unwelcome workaround. Cheers.

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Hi @C_T thank you for reaching out. I do understand your question, I never went that deep my self to check if it was possible to answer these popup questions as what happens on mobile such as Android or IOS. Desktop version which is a browser does not support popups as compared to mobile. I did not know my self that it was possible to answer these questions, but I just learnt it from you. This method is completely welcomed, remember that this is still part of your contribution, it is linked to your Google account, I think that if you did not link your desktop or PC with your account you would not be able to answer these questions as it will prompt you to login before you can answer them. The only unwelcome act is when you break the local guides rules, from the Google Maps Help Forum we do not have have any information about answering questions on Desktop or PC, we only have information based on mobile as Answer questions on mobile.

I managed to answer a few questions after seeing your post. I am used to your language, meaning that I understand you better, I know what you meant by bug or unwelcome workaround, what happens here is that we as local guides go beyond what other users do, we uncover information which may not be easy to find and share with others, just like what you did here. You did a very good job. Cheers!

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I believe I have to review my previous answer @C_T , and this feature, even if not mentioned on the help page Answer questions (cannot find any mention about desktop, @AlexandreCampbell ) works exactly like a mobile, with a pop-up and the same procedure that we have on our phone.

Definitely not a workaround, but I believe that the help page need to be updated to reflect this functionality adding Google Browser on desktop, together with Mobile, @KatyaL

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Hi @C_T

Thanks for flagging this topic to us.

Please be aware that at the moment the option to Answer questions on Google Maps is currently available on Andoid devices.

Thanks @ErmesT for adding me to the conversation.

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Well, not really, @KatyaL , answering questions is in fact available also on Chrome browser for desktop.

That’s why @C_T is asking if this is a bug or a wanted feature of Google Chrome.

I made a search for Artesella on Chrome browser,

then I clicked on the Map view

Clicking on one of the proposed business, you get a view very similar to the one in mobile

And from there, when available, you can answer to some questions, like for this restaurant

I was surprised at first, but in fact @C_T is correct

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Thanks for the reply @ErmesT

I have marked your answer as a solution, though there is a small difference.

There is no need to click a map view as you can note in one of my replies. As I stated earlier, the window that appears in a desktop search of a POI is a replica of Maps data without a map. One can write reviews, post photos, report inappropriate content and answer the questions as well. I wanted to ascertain whether that would get treated as an over smart workaround or a perfectly legitimate one.

(I observed this feature in a mobile browser also when we invoke the desktop version. However, the popup window opens in a corner making that somewhat difficult.)

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Hi @ErmesT ,

Thank you for adding more information regarding that. What I meant with this being available only on android was that this function is currently displayed in the interface of the maps for android, however you are correct, you can do this by visiting places when searching them and then answering questions related to them. We are looking into what you flagged here.

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Thank you for the feedback @KatyaL , and for removing the solution.

I was just coming to do it by myself, @C_T , because my answer is not the solution of your post, and I think we still waiting for a feedback from a Googler, of for an update of the help page.

There is indeed a deep integration between Chrome and the other Google product, so it would be very nice to have this also indicated on the Help Page

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Hello @ErmesT

Today, I explored the feature on an I-pad. And surprise! In the chrome browser, I received questions to answer, here too.
Nevertheless, seeing the identical feature on an I-phone would be difficult as the pop-up window stays partially visible.

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