from frondo@lemmy.ml to degoogle@lemmy.ml on 25 Jan 14:18
https://lemmy.ml/post/42191459
I’ve posted this in Open Source as well, please remove if you think it’s redundant.
Some time ago I started replacing all services and apps that I use with FOSS altnernatives. Most of them were easy to replace but some corpo/big-tech apps had ecosystems too advanced to be conveniently replaced. For example, substituting Google Maps on Android (or I guess Apple Maps on iOS) was a bit of a struggle as the most popular FOSS alternative app was OsmAnd. First of all mad respect and huge kudos to OsmAnd team of contributors but for me the UX was overwhelming and too customizable which is probably a huge bonus to power users but IMO that makes it very unlikely to become a large scale alternative to Google maps. Probably other people realized that too and some 6-7 months ago CoMaps was released, a FOSS app that is also based on OpenStreetMap layer but this time with a simplistic and smooth UX/GUI.
In case somebody is not familiar with OpenStreetMap (OSM) - basically it is a non-profit org, but its heavily maintained by community members and anybody around the world is allowed to contribute and enrich map content. Even if org can theoretically get corrupt I think anybody can make a fork and continue with community contribution. Creating an account is easy, you could start contributing in like 3 minutes. A huge number of services and apps are basing their map layers on OpenStreetMap, such as CoMaps above.
The quality of OpenStreetMap/CoMaps/OsmAnd is as good as the contributions to it are - so the more people use it - the better and more content it will contain. I would like to invite everybody to give it a chance and use www.openstreetmap.org on desktop and CoMaps on mobile devices. You should have enough motivation to abandon Google or Apple products, but final piece of motivation is that eventually Google Maps will start censoring content (like Reddit or Instagram) or just share your location history to ICE or perform some other serious violation like that (like Microsoft did recently).
CoMaps has a really nice and simple interface where you can add missing places (business, community services, recreation areas etc) while OpenStreetMap on web browser allows to update anything you imagine (e.g. see a missing street? Add it. A new building was developed - just add it!). If everybody enriched only their local neighborhood with features on the map we could really build something beautiful. Existing layer probably already contains 90% of the stuff you’d ever search for as contributors really did a outstanding job throughout all these years. But that additional 10% makes a real difference for it turning into a much bigger scale tool, and this feels like the right time to kick that off.
It is important not to get demotivated that not many people maintain and contribute as your neighborhood might remain a lonely detailed places for years. OSM existed for a long time now and is very likely to keep existing for decades to come, everything that you update or create remains a legacy that stays forever saved in the map (unless somebody further updates it). Perhaps, in 20 years time people will be grateful. And to tidy up and make max out of your neighborhood you really need one weekend or so.
For example, in my local area I’ve started adding location marks of recycling bins, dumpsters, parking lots, playgrounds, pathways, building tunnels and monuments, but also I’ve added missing shops and updated working hours and websites for shops that existed.
Also #1, be responsible when making changes, don’t overwrite other people’s work unless it is an improvement. Double check everything that you add, and also if you don’t have any experience with map editors or GIS software take a watch of some OSM editing tutorial.
Also #2, I most likely omitted some other useful FOSS tools, and it doesn’t matter which one you decide to use as long as it is based on OpenStreetMap or any other community driven layer.
Also #3, tell all your friends and family to do the same.
Yeah, this might not be the most important thing to cure the world at this moment but developing community-driven mindset where everybody takes a small or big part in it is the way to go. Cheers!
EDIT: Amazing input in the comments, I’ll try to summarize additional suggestions provided by other people. Thank you for pointing out URL errors in my post too.
Very useful suggestion by illusionist:
We need more wikipedia images and content, there is still a lot to improve on maps just by contributing to wikipedia. Osmand added custom buttons and now you can enable wikipedia connections with one click which is great
Related lemmy communities:
- !osm@feddit.uk
- !CoMaps@sopuli.xyz
- !openstreetmap@lemmy.ml
- !osmand@lemmy.ml
List of alternative and open-source maps:
- On Android: alternativeto.net/software/osmand/?license=openso…
- OpenStreetMap curated list of iOS apps that use it (wiki.openstreetmap.org/…/Comparison_of_iOS_applic…) + one additional map missing on the list: Mapply
- Send official OpenStreetMap as a shortcut to desktop and use web-view instead of an app (works on any OS)
- CartesApp (Only in French for now)
- Cardinal Maps (GitHub)
List of tools for contribution & content management:
- StreetComplete
- Vespucci
- CoMaps for simplistic POI edits
- Official OpenStreetMap website
threaded - newest
It’s FOSS, not FFOS
Thanks, I will make an edit!
As someone who doesn’t leave locations services turned on all the time, I find both Co-map and Organic annoying. Each time I open the app they ask multiple times for me to turn on location services. If I’m searching in the for a store, I don’t need to know where I am. The only time I need to show my location is when setting a route.
For this reason, I continue to use OSMAnd. I do like the simple UI of Co-map and Organic but detest apps throwing unnecessary popups at me.
The reason for that is you don’t want to search the entire world for your store, it’s reasonable to request location to make searching easier.
If I’m zoomed in on my region the app should be searching that area first.
that’s what CoMaps does. You can even choose “show on map” to see the search results around you
If you’re on Android (not sure if iOS has an equivalent app), one of the easiest things you can do is download Street Complete and take 15 minutes a day to use it in order to fill in information about your neighborhood.
Street Complete is kinda fun to use. I tend to drive everywhere so I seldom get a chance to use it.
Thanks, will check it out. Here’s the link for anyone interested https://streetcomplete.app/
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Yeah, they really need to tighten up if they want to be taken seriously.
I can hotspot an old Android phone to my iPhone, and use the app on Android (I have a Galaxy S10 and an iPhone 16 Pro Max, but only the iP16PM has active service; the GS10 is strictly WiFi only), and I can even charge both of them as I have two fast-charging USB-C chargers in my car, but most people are only going to have one phone, and if we’re trying to get away from Google, buying a phone from Apple is the best way to do that, though paying Google for a Pixel and then de-Googling that (i.e. installing GrapheneOS) is another way, it just depends on your motivation. “Fuck Google entirely?” Get the iPhone. At this point, just the base 17 is enough. 256GB storage, 1-120Hz variable refresh, 6.3", two cameras, and more powerful than anything else but the 17 Pro series? You can go cheaper than $800 but you can’t get much better for the same amount. “Get away from American company data collection?” Better to buy the Pixel and install GrapheneOS. The Pixel 10 is only about as powerful as an iPhone 11, but unless you’re really pushing the hardware playing the latest games… it doesn’t matter nearly as much as these companies (Apple in particular) want you to believe.
That said, I kinda wanna do it, and just might. Because I can. And it would do good.
Edit: Ooh, I was able to install it, from my Mac, remotely to my GS10. Which is currently turned off. I assume it will install next time I power it up, though. I just have to remember to carry it with me when I go out. Which is not bad, I actually love using the little thing (and its keyboard kicks the iPhone’s keyboard’s ass).
You’re timing is great, because I came here to post a question about this exactly.
I have a few work trips coming up this year. I used to make a travel dashboard on my phone with Google maps shortcuts to specific locations like my hotel, and conference/work venue, rental car return location. That way when I hop in the car, I have gps nav without any fiddling.
Side note, travel dashboard can include other things, like link to agenda (email or phone notes), packing list, local and home clocks, weather, hotel key, etc.
I’ve had Google maps deleted for a while, and been using organic maps instead, but I don’t need it often. Now that I have a few trips set up I’m realizing it’s missing some of these features. No widgets for one, and honestly I didn’t look any further.
You guys have suggestions on how I can do this or something similar?
I’ve used OsmAnd+, Organic Maps, CoMaps, MapComplete, etc.
My favorite app that I’m looking forward to is CartesApp. Unfortunately it doesn’t have an English translation yet. It’s only geared towards French users for now.
It has an interface that’s very familiar to Google Map users, and clicking on locations brings up the kind of information you’re used to when using Google Maps.
cartes.app
codeberg.org/cartes/web
Edit: That being said, the web app works fine for me when “installing” with a browser that has a built-in translation service.
looks like it’s browser only?
It’s a web app, so it can technically be installed, like Voyager:
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/…/Installing
It’s kind of like a middle ground between a full app and a browser bookmark. This has the advantage of making it compatible with both Android and iOS, or you can just use it through a normal browser.
this is from cartes’ developer’s blog
L’homme à coque
La voiture est la carapace de l’automobiliste. Il fait corps avec elle.
Se sentant profondément protégé par sa coque, qui n’est autre qu’une extension de lui-même dès qu’il se déplace, souvent dès le premier kilomètre, il est incapable d’apprécier sa vitesse. Il peut même oublier qu’il se déplace.
Le principe même du pare-brise, c’est de parer la brise, d’extraire l’automobiliste de cette expérience qui réveille les sens et nous permet de savoir que nous sommes dehors et que nous avançons.
Mais ce terme est complètement désuet : une brise, c’est un vent doux et léger. Il est réservé aux vents allant de 1 (très légère) à 39 km/h (bonne brise), soit la vitesse atteignable par un cycliste déjà costaud.
Non, à 50km/h, c’est un grand vent, le marin est à l’alerte depuis déjà longtemps, et si l’automobiliste n’a pas les larmes qui lui brouillent la vue, c’est parce que le plastique, l’acier et le verre l’ont extrait de son environnement.
Ainsi il n’y a rien d’étonnant à la situation si fréquente et dépénalisée consistant à se faire frôler son vélo à moins d’un mètre par un automobiliste ne voulant pour rien au monde admettre son erreur, celle qui vous a mis en danger, incontestablement.
Rien d’étonnant non plus au fait que l’automobiliste veuille systématiquement dépasser le cycliste. Lui voler la priorité. Exiger du piéton qu’il lui dise merci, à lui, le roi ou la reine de la route qui a daigné donner au badaud l’autorisation exceptionnelle de traverser le passage… piéton.
Wow the public transit navigation is amazing in that app. It reminds me a lot of mapy.com but it’s open source!
Link to OpenStreetMap: www.openstreetmap.org (The link OP posted is slightly different and Firefox says it’s a security risk. I’m assuming typo.
For apps, I found these links:
iOS on their Wiki. Tells you what iOS is (useless), then lists some iOS apps. wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/IOS
Comparison of iOS apps. This tells you which ones are free and shows some more information on them. Linked from above page. wiki.openstreetmap.org/…/Comparison_of_iOS_applic…
Another iOS app that isn’t listed on either of the above links (not sure why): apps.apple.com/us/app/…/id1591409886
Another iOS app that maybe isn’t listed on either of the above links: apps.apple.com/us/app/…/id1241524252
I don’t see anything that says you can edit the maps on iOS.
Also worth noting, OpenStreetMaps says you can just open the site (top link) in Safari. From there you could send a shortcut to the desktop/Home Screen and then it’s a web app (loads in a Safari container). This should be good enough for most users.
Do any of these Google Maps alternatives have any traffic functionality? That’s been my sticking point so far. Most people who are switching off Google are doing it for privacy reasons, which is great, but that generally means they’re not giving up location data for traffic purposes.
The only one I knew of was Magic Earth, but the newer version makes it paid, so you’ll have to use a version from before October or so. This is what mine says:
version 7.1.25.34.36A60BB6.67629954
com.generalmagic.magicearth versionCode 2025122009
I think HereWeGo also is an alternative, although I haven’t used it, and reviews on Google Play are mixed (3.3).
Yeah, this is a huge sticking point for me. I use nav for routes I’ve driven a hundred times because someone will always manage to roll their semi or something in the middle of my drive home.
AFAIK Mapy.com have traffic info and same with OSMand.
Thank you for mentioning mapy.com .Yes its not FOSS but it is the only non big tech map that I know of that has traffic and even location ratings. The later beging the thing I miss the most when using other FOSS apps.
No such app has that feature unfortunately, at least not that I am aware of. Traffic functionality but also busy hours histogram are both pretty great features that depend on location data, I really hope somebody figures out a non-sketchy way to have that in other apps.
Now that Magic Earth closed almost every setting behind a paywall, Im now left without a navigation alternative that has traffic data. This is a feature we are sorely missing in the FOSS navigation apps.
I like osmand but I only use it for hiking. I use google maps for real time traffic navigating
I moved to OSMand a while ago, but have a couple of things that stop me switching over completely. Like others, traffic would be the main one.
On a few occasions been caught in unusual traffic, eg when there’s a crash, or when there’s an event on. So when I need a more accurate ETA I still need to fire up Waze or Google Maps.
I do also miss the near-realtime reports in Waze - object on road, mobile speed camera etc, as well as the constantly-updating traffic of course.
Oh another thing that would be good, is accounting for rules that vary by time of day, day of week, number of passengers, or type of vehicle. Eg school zones, or transit lanes, bus lanes that allow motorcycles at certain times, etc. It might already do this and I’ve just missed it.
There are some UI annoyances in OSMand too, but those are mostly subjective, and will hopefully improve in time.
@postnataldrip
There are also OpenStreetMap apps with traffic jam avoidance.
I’ve been using CoMaps for a good while now and you do have to take your time to get to know the app. Also the maps don’t update by themselves.
I’ve had some passengers complain about it not being as feature rich as the typical Waze or Maps.
But yeah, not everyone is ready for the data privacy conversation…
Other than that, I’ve found it refreshing in a way that you’re forced to actually mind the road a bit more. Having a feature that tells you where traffic jams are is great. Keeping your eyes on the speed limit and being attentive is better.