Safari 6.1.6 crashes at Google Maps

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.

I was in the middle of using Google Lite…(sadly, still prefer the full version). I also found out that Chrome has also stopped support for OS 10.7.5 too..(what the heck is wrong with these folks).

Anyway, I'm not sure if this may be the reason why Google Maps crashes…but I went to see their requirements...

Browsers

To use the full Google Maps with 3D imagery and Earth view, you need the latest version of one of these browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Internet Explorer
• Firefox
• Safari

Note: If you're using Google Chrome, make sure to turn on hardware acceleration by going to Menu > Settings >Show advanced settings > Under "System", check the box next to "Use hardware acceleration when available."

Operating systems

To use the full Google Maps with 3D imagery and Earth view, you need the latest version of one of these operating systems:

• Mac OS 10.8.3 and up <==============
• Windows 7 and up
• Chrome OS with an Intel CPU
• Linux

Not really certain if i'm right…just my 2 cents...

This is in fact still a Google problem, as stated in the specs of the full version of GMaps:

• Mac OS 10.8.3 of higher
• Windows 7 of higher
• Chrome OS with Intel-processor
• Linux

So, if you stick to the lite version it will be ok, for the full options switch to Firefox.

Google Maps Lite still works for me in Safari 6.1.6 and OS 10.7.5.

To enter Lite mode, use the URL www.google.com/maps/?force=lite

Subsequent navigation in Google Maps may not show "force=lite" in the URL. The program sets a cookie which maintains Lite mode until you delete the cookie. Look at the lightning icon at the bottom right of the screen to verify whether you are in Lite or Full Map mode.

For me, using that lightning icon at bottom right to switch back to Full Map mode crashes Safari.

The App, a one-click icon I keep on my desktop that opens the full version of Google Maps in FireFox, is written entirely in Applescript. Find the native Applescript Editor inside the Utilities folder inside your Applications folder. Open it.

Here's a link to a web page with details on how to write the code:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3645763/how-do-i-instruct-applescript-to-open -a-new-firefox-window-with-a-link

My code ended up looking like this:

tell application "Firefox" to activate

tell application "Firefox"

open location "https://www.google.com/maps/"

end tell

After you've successfully run and/or compiled the code, save your work as an Application. Mine sits on the desktop and looks like this. I substituted a custom icon for the default Applescript Icon so it's a little easier to spot on the desktop.

One small thing about this code... if Firefox is not already open -- when it opens, it opens a blank page and then opens an additional page to load Firefox so you end up with two Firefox windows instead of one. Not a big deal. The extra window sits beneath the active Google Map and doesn't impede workflow. It's just an extra window to close when you're done with Firefox. There's probably a way to write this script such that you'll only get one window when you activate Firefox and load Google Maps but the extra window was not enough of an annoyance for me to sort it out. This code was tested in OS X 10.7.5 and works great.

_________________________________

The Service, written for Safari, enabling you to open your current Safari page/URL, in Firefox, is actually written using Automator (native). Find Automator inside your Applications folder, open it, and select "Service" from the icon options and drag "Run Shell Script" from the list of actions, into the Automator workflow area. Here's a link to a page with detailed instructions.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6624316?start=0&tstart=0

Follow them exactly as explained in the post by Hiroto -- careful to make sure you execute all the instructions in both step 0 and step 1. If you duplicate his settings in "Run Shell Script", it should work perfectly. Again, I've tested this service in OS X 10.7.5 with Safari 6.1.6 and it works every time. The only catch is that the Safari active webpage URL must be highlighted entirely in order for the Service to show up in the Services Menu. (click URL field + command A). This is what the Safari Service looks like when it's done. When I saved it in Automator, I named it "Open Safari URL in Firefox".

HI

I have had this problem too. I can still use google maps now by using the lie version. ONly problem is that you have to be in maps to switch to the lite version…. unless you use a link… here is one based on the UK

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.6509879,-0.2717946,7z?force=lite

Not outdated for your Mac but your Mac is four OS X's behind. v10.8 Mountain Lion, v10.9 Mavericks, "v10.10 Yosemite, and v10.11 El Capitan.

Meaning you're going to have issues with Google Maps and some websites.

That's why you are seeing the alert to upgrade to Google Chrome.

That's why I suggested upgrading your Mac to El Capitan so you have the latest OS X available. It's free.

Well… I just tried loading GMaps Lite and it works again so the problem seems to be intermittent. I've added "?force=lite" back to the end of the URL, though I was able to load GMaps Lite without it and it worked fine. When I load GMaps Lite, it brings up a map of the USA and what appear to be its GPS coordinates in the URL. It's working for now so I'll save this link and use it when I can.

Given that it didn't work yesterday however, I'd resigned myself to the Firefox workaround and wrote a couple of easy Applescripts to facilitate the workaround.

The first is an app icon that sits on the desktop (You could just as easily put it in the dock). One click and it launches Firefox, opens a new page and loads the full version of Google Maps. If Firefox is already open, it just opens a new page and loads the full version of Google Maps. One click and done.

Given the fact that many web pages for stores, restaurants, bars, etc., that embed Google Maps actually open to the full version of Google Maps and subsequently crash Safari 6.1.6, the second applescript is a service that now sits in the Safari 6.1.6 services menu, such that, if you load a page in Safari with a link to Google Maps and you're not sure if it's going to open the full or lite version of Google Maps, you can just highlight the URL of the page your on, pull down the services menu and activate the service which will open the current page in Firefox. Once it opens in Firefox, you can proceed to use the links to Google Maps, even if they open to the full version. You can also write a keyboard shortcut for the service such that all you have to do it highlight the URL (cursor in URL field and command-A), then type the shortcut to activate the service. Fairly easy workaround.

If anyone is interested, I can post the Applescripts for the app and the service, for those instances when Google Maps Lite also crashes Safari 6.1.6.

Thanks for this tip. Google Maps Lite works for me in Safari 6.1.6 with OS 10.7.5.

This link takes you to the lite version: https://www.google.com/maps/?force=lite

Try using lite mode: https://www.google.com/maps/?force=lite

No more crashing for me!

I have this problem too.Started in early May 2106. Running Lion and cannot upgrade due to compatibility with the hardware/software i run. It works fine on OPERA 35 though. Regarding Flash, just be careful as there is a fake Adobe installer doing the rounds. it is named as Flash-installer and not the correct Adobe Flash-installer. the ADOBE is missing in other words. Looks like i will have to drop using Safari and start using Opera full time. I don't like the workflow/navigation layout on Opera though.

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?…

Yes. I clicked on the link and the Lite version appeared and was tested with no crash. I then saved the URL as "Google Maps Lite" into a bookmark folder.

or did you actually download some kind of Google Lite App or Plug-in?

Not to my limited knowledge. GMaps Lite is saved as a bookmark like any other site I want to revisit.

Likewise, when you say you trashed the "heavy" version, did you again… trash an app or extension?…

Again, not to my limited knowledge. I did not go to an applications or extensions file and delete anything.

...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?

That's pretty much what I did. I put the old full version bookmark in the trash, so the only workable reference to GM Maps was the to the LIte version.

It seems that any site that uses GMaps will go to the Lite version by default if that's what's on board. I can also open the Lite version from a bookmark.

When I called Apple support about this shortly after Safari crashed I was told that it's just time for a newer machine. No suggestion of a workaround or other solution. I have used Apple products exclusively since the IIe, and have been disappointed with their lack of legacy support. I think that Google's option to crash the browser rather than just deny access to the full GMaps version without crashing is pretty greedy.

I have the same issue with Google Maps crashing Safari 6.1.6 on OS 10.7.5 on iMac. Google Maps worked fine on May 5, 2016 until about 3 PM MDT, then started crashing Safari. I tried the same things that you did; also tried deleting Safari preferences. Nothing helped, and the problem still exists. I suspect something on Google's end. Google Maps works in Firefox, so I'm using that for now.

I'm guessing that the users posting this problem have their preferences set to allow Adobe to automatically update their Flash version on their machine; I do not. One of you states that the problem began on May 5; I'm guessing that's when the Flash update became available for auto-install. Yesterday, May 6, I manually updated my Flash version from Adobe's website, after receiving their notification of a newer version of Flash; this morning, May 7, Maps crashes. I too am on 10.7.5 and 6.1.6. The culprit would seem to be the Flash update, which I'm aware of installing and which the rest of you probably had installed behind the scenes. Hopefully, they'll find their bad line of code, despite "no longer supporting."