Level 1

8 points

Safari 6.1.6 crashes at Google Maps

Today Safari 6.1.6/Mac OS 10.7.5/Mac Pro started crashing at Google Maps. All other sites work fine. Tried the usual fixes (reset etc.) but no relief. If I go to a page like a hotel reservation where a Google map comes up to the side, no crash, but I DO get an alert to "upgrade" to Google Chrome. Hmmm… Tried it a while back, too invasive. Mapquest, Bing, and Here work fine also.

In the crash log the first line mentions Javascript if that helps. If you turn off Javascript, the page does not load and just tells you to turn it on.

Anyone else?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on May 5, 2016 6:52 PM

Top-ranking reply

KiteSurfer

Level 1

25 points

Posted on May 6, 2016 1:33 PM

I have the same problem on MacBook Pro running OSX 10.7.5 and Safari 6.1.6. Was opening and navigating Google Maps without problems and late last night Safari started crashing when opening Google Maps. I was attempting suggested fixes in Safari Preferences/Extensions when I found this thread and its unfortunate conclusion that we can now only open Google Maps in Firefox, which though inconvenient, works just fine.

As some suggest above, simply updating to the latest operating system is not always viable nor reasonable for all users -- particularly those whom employ perfectly functional peripherals and processing cards that have compatibility problems with newer versions of OSX -- particularly so with third-party media production peripherals and processors which are quite expensive.

Also, seems like the newer, "improved" versions of OSX since Lion/Mountain Lion have sacrificed features and flexibility for the end user -- herding us into a more IOS-like environment that doesn't necessarily serve the needs of more advanced users, particularly media producers.

So I'll accommodate the Firefox workaround and check back once in a while to see if either Apple (Safari) or Google Maps either release a patch or make some adjustment.

Interesting to note here that I'm using Firefox more and more these days because at this point, Mozilla/Firefox appears to be offering a better, more reliable and secure browser for OS X Lion users than Apple. Safari 6.1.6 has problems with more than a few websites that Firefox navigates flawlessly. At some point, I imagine we'll have to abandon Safari completely in favor of Firefox. Unfortunate, because Safari is fairly intuitive and easy to use.

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71 replies

May 21, 2016 7:19 AM in response to daysailor

This is exactly what happens for me. I can open Google Maps, but if I try to zoom, or input data, then it crashes.

Though it would be nice to be able to use the full version in Safari 6.1.6, the workaround using the Light version of Google Maps seems reasonable enough under the circumstances, particularly if Google Maps has set their spec for a minimum of OS X 10.8.3. It is what it is, and that's no fault of Apple as asserted previously. Apologies Apple. That said, I'm looking for a little clarification on a couple of things...

Vector50 wrote:

I downloaded the Lite version, saved it to a bookmarks file after naming it Google Maps Lite, and dragged the bogus "heavy" version into the trash. It now seems like the Lite version has become the default. Real estate pages that use Google Maps have called up the Lite version, and it seems to run OK for now. Hope this helps.

Vector50… when you say you downloaded the Lite version, do you mean you clicked on the link and loaded the lite version into your browser?… or did you actually download some kind of Google Lite App or Plug-in? Likewise, when you say you trashed the "heavy" version, did you again… trash an app or extension?… or did you simply trash the bookmark/link to the full version of Google Maps and replace it with a link for the lite version?

Also...

neversweatMay 20, 2016 6:03 PM Re: Safari 6.1.6 crashes at Google Maps
in response to neversweat
Seems to be working! Did my periodic test, no crash. Took off "?force=lite" and still no crash! Could others please confirm?

Let's hope this sticks.

Neversweat… I used the original UK link to load the lite version and it was stable and functional. I also tried removing "?force=lite" and it didn't seem to make a difference. Still loaded and remained stable. I guess for me, the question is, if we're surfing in Safari, and encounter a page with a Google Map and/or link to Google Maps, how do we make sure that that link will trigger the lite version every time. In my experience, it seems that many web pages with Google Maps links open the full version of Google Maps. Any thoughts about this? What have others experienced?

May 5, 2016 8:36 PM in response to neversweat

"I don't think you understand. I cannot upgrade to a later OS. I am already running the latest OS I can for this hardware."

Since you didn't mention this in your original post, we have no way of knowing.

Minimum requirements for the Firefox browser is v10.6 so your Mac can run Firefox.

When you have problems with Safari, you can use Firefox as a backup.

May 9, 2016 11:20 AM in response to neversweat

I have been a loyal Mac enthusiast for 30 years, having began with a Mac Plus and many other models over the years as the Mac OS, hardware and 3rd-party peripherals and software evolved to meet the needs of the market. I have always tried to use native Apple software or Apple Partner Software whenever possible. In the beginning we all began with Netscape Navigator until 2003 or thereabouts with the release of Safari on the Panther OS. I have been surfing with Safari since then, only turning to 3rd-party browsers for specific websites non-friendly to Safari. More recently, given Apple's lack of interest in keeping Safari relevant for those of us quite happy with OS 10.7.5, I've been turning to Firefox for web tasks requiring a higher degree of security while using Safari for everyday browsing. That said, and for the first time since 2003, I've been left no other choice but to set Mozilla Firefox as my default browser. It runs flawlessly on all websites, offers excellent security, and is updated often to remain current, resilient, safe and secure -- even for OS 10.7.5 users! If Apple doesn't want to solve the problem, Mozilla Firefox will, and has! Problem solved!

May 23, 2016 2:16 AM in response to daysailor

Thank you day sailor, Google Maps Lite works for me too. Thanks for sharing.

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 18, 2016 6:03 PM in response to neversweat

My plan is to use the lite version (h/t thehelpagency) and/or MapQuest, and check every now and then for a fix (unlikely). They changed the code once, they may inadvertently fix it with another change.

Thanks to all for responding!

P|xeL

Level 1

8 points

Jun 8, 2016 11:55 AM in response to neversweat

Same for me. Just updated my early 2007 Macbook (Macbook 3,1) from OS X 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) to 10.7.5 (Lion) and got the same issue.

I cannot update more than this (this Macbook does not meet the minimum requirements of Mountain Lion) but I decided to upgrade from Snow Leopard just because with iOS9 I couldn't sync anymore my device with the Macbook (the supported iTunes version is declared as obsolete).

I will go with Firefox, but it's a shame for Apple. Lion is an OS just 5 and half years old. The latest version of Lion is just 3 years and half old (source: Wikipedia).

Is Apple going to think we have to update our OS every half year like kiddies?

Emanuele

May 16, 2016 9:16 AM in response to daysailor

I have the same trouble as everyone else. I noticed the crashing May 15th. Firefox works.

Jul 16, 2016 5:54 PM in response to P|xeL

FYI, in the last 24 hours the full version of Google maps is not working properly for me in Safari 6.1.6. The satellite view doesn't load. The lite version seems to work OK.

May 17, 2016 12:20 PM in response to neversweat

I, too, am one of those who cannot upgrade my version of OS X because of hardware limitations, so I'm happily using OS X 10.7.5 and Safari 6.1.6 (until several days ago) when Google maps started crashing Safari. I guess I'll move to Firefox and move all my bookmarks to Firefox as well.

May 18, 2016 8:54 AM in response to neversweat

That feels better. Thanks for the tip. I can get Google Maps Lite on my Mac. No crashing. Seems to be working OK on my OS X 10.7.5 with Safari 6.1.6. However, I too, am getting the beach ball at other random times, and the 'Comments' from the Daily Mail Online newspaper are no where to be seen. I can live without that. Cheers everyone.

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 21, 2016 5:00 PM in response to KiteSurfer

I got fooled. I think once you use Google Maps Lite, it remembers, even if you delete "?force=lite". I just tried deleting all Google cookies and now it crashes again. So back to square one. Sorry, folks, false alarm.

There's a little lightning bolt at the bottom right corner. On trying this again, an alert popped up saying "you're in lite mode" (IIRC). Next time it didn't appear, but I was still in lite mode. Then I could look up an address from another app and not crash. "More research is needed."

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2016 8:29 PM in response to daysailor

I should add that using another map is another workaround. Here was a little iffy, but Mapquest worked very well. Looks a lot like Google but they know how to write code that doesn't crash Safari.

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 5, 2016 7:27 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

That's the latest OS and Safari my Mac Pro 2,1 will run, so they are not outdated for this Mac. None of those are solutions. Already checked all that. Also, it worked fine yesterday. I bet Google made an incompatible change. I also tried changing the user agent to fool it (works in Netflix to fix buttons), but no joy.

Also lots of beach balls, seems to be Flash related, and yes, I have the latest Flash.

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 5, 2016 7:20 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thread 0 Crashed:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

0 com.apple.JavaScriptCore 0x00000001098d5493 JSC::DFG::SpeculativeJIT::convertLastOSRExitToForward(JSC::ValueRecovery const&) + 371

Draws most of the page, then crashes.

neversweat Author

Level 1

8 points

May 5, 2016 7:56 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

I don't think you understand. I cannot upgrade to a later OS. I am already running the latest OS I can for this hardware. The only way I can run another OS is to buy a new or later Mac.

The Chrome alert is coming from a Google web page. It's basically an ad.

No issues with other web sites including map sites.

Java has no relation to Javascript.

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Safari 6.1.6 crashes at Google Maps