Green Daily

Google, the company whose unofficial motto is "don't be evil," is doing its parts to save the environment (while promoting a new service). When you print out a Google Map, you'll see a little message that says you can save paper (and by extension trees) by downloading maps directly to your mobile phone.

There's just one problem. This message doesn't pop up before you hit print. In fact, it doesn't show up on your computer screen at all, unless you select "print preview." The only time most people will see this message is on a piece of paper after they've already printed a map.

While it's great that Google is promoting a new paper-free way to access maps, it's a bit odd that it's a paper-only message. It's kind of like having a burgler tell you that you need a better alarm system -- after he's broken into your home and sold all of your worldly possessions. OK, it's not really like that at all, but you try coming up with a better analogy.

I can't really figure out why Google would hide this advertisement. Not only is it confusing from an environmental perspective, but it seems like Google would have an easier time promoting its service if it put the ad on its web page where more people will see it.

[via Googlified]