this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2024
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I'm sick of using google maps, they started putting gigantic ads for stores on the map and I'm tired of them tracking me. So I ask you Lemmy, what should I switch to?!

EDIT: Was not expecting so many replies, thank you Lemmy! I am checking out Open Street Maps currently thanks for the recommendations!

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[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 80 points 3 months ago (6 children)

Any OpenStreetMap (OSM) app/website:

Organic Maps on iOS/Android: https://organicmaps.app/

OsmAnd (small price) on Android/iOS: https://osmand.net/

OpenStreetMap off course: https://www.openstreetmap.org/

OsmAnd web maps: https://osmand.net/map/

Maybe some things like TomTom Go or Sygic Maps (is this still a thing?)

[–] Fleppensteijn@feddit.nl 24 points 3 months ago (5 children)

None of them seem up to date on public transport when I tried, which makes it kind of useless

[–] eco_game@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Public transport in Magic Earth mostly works for me. It's not as good as Google Maps, but it's better than nothing.

[–] Caligvla@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 months ago

Magic Earth seems much more complete than OSM from experience, which is curious considering they use OSM data. I wonder where they get the extra info.

[–] 2xsaiko@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 3 months ago

Organic Maps is planning on implementing it. For now I just use a dedicated app for that though, ÖPNV Navigator is great for Germany for example.

[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 3 months ago

Probably better to use local services.

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[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Including all maps and features?

[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 14 points 3 months ago (2 children)

yeah, OsmAnd is open source, so someone else built it to be released on fdroid, and the original developers have said that they don't have a problem with that I think as long as they don't release it on Play/try to sell it

[–] juliorapido@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] authorinthedark@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 3 months ago

i found this out after reading through osmand documentation and seeing a bunch of features marked as premium that I DEFINITELY hadn't paid for, and trying to figure out what happened lol

[–] Librerian@beehaw.org 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It does lack a few features though, as they rely on proprietary software/libraries. Android Auto for instace, as well as ANT+ for connecting sensors. At least for those features you need the Google Play version.

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[–] scytale@lemm.ee 7 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Do you know which of these has the most updated real-time traffic data, like for accidents and road closures? I depend heavily on maps not just for navigation but to also get the fastest routes to my destination. Obviously google maps is great with that because of the sheer amount of crowsourced data it collects, but it’s also effective with rerouting quickly for unpredictable events.

[–] Ironfist@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Magic Earth is closed source but it claims it respects the users privacy, it uses open street maps and it has decent traffic data for navigation for some countries. It also has the advantage that you can configure it to stick to the original route if you prefer. This is very important for me because sometimes I want to take a scenic route, or just routes I prefer but that are not necessarily the fastest.

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! This looks promising. Unfortunately it doesn’t even have my address yet (new neighborhood). I’ll park it in the meantime but will definitely keep it on my phone and will try it on familiar routes (in case something goes wrong).

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[–] pingveno@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I love OSM in so many ways, but unfortunately its address resolver is kinda garbage compared to Google Maps. For example, the string "10392 SE 23, portland, or, usa" correctly resolves to what I meant, "10392 SE 23rd Ave, Milwaukie, OR, USA" in Google Maps. OSM needs the exact city (Milwaukie is a suburb of Portland) and the "rd" on 23 to resolve.

[–] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Then write to their support team, not just rant here. And donate too.

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[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 4 points 3 months ago

I second this. OsmAnd has done me well for several years.

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[–] theshatterstone54@feddit.uk 51 points 3 months ago (5 children)

organic maps has gotten pretty good recently

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thank you for this, I like the map design, and it claims to work with car play!

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[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Second this. It's also way better than Google maps for downloading and using maps outside of cell service too. I've noticed it's got lots of hiking trails as well

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[–] nadiaraven@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (6 children)

There are no street numbers in osm for my city, Bend, OR. It has a population of 100,000+, so I'm guessing this app is really only useable for major cities.

[–] luckystarr@feddit.org 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Install StreetComplete and put some of them in. Spread the word, it's really low effort.

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 6 points 3 months ago

Low effort and just super fun. I don't know why but helping out while walking around activates the happy parts in my lizard brain.

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[–] governorkeagan@lemdro.id 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

True to some extent. I know there’s been a big effort to get buildings mapped in the US, but it’s not always possible to get house/street numbers from aerial imagery.

Once buildings are mapped you can either add the remainder of the details with on the ground mapping (e.g using an app like StreetComplete) or if the data (e.g from the government) becomes open and available to use.

[–] als@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

It's all dependant on the community, if there's missing data that you can add, please do! StreetComplete is a very acessible way to contribute

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[–] B0rax@feddit.de 3 points 3 months ago

Did you report it? Maybe no one noticed yet.

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[–] jeffreyosborne@lemm.ee 17 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Any openstreet map clients, I enjoy magic earth

[–] doehni@feddit.org 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I use osmand for hikes as it has all the obscure trails.

The ui could be better.

[–] BarHocker@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 3 months ago

Have a look at Organic Maps if you don't need all the features of OSMand. It is simpler but more polished with a clean and tidy UI.

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[–] hyacin@lemmy.ml 16 points 3 months ago

I just switched to MagicEarth since it works with Android Auto. Pretty happy with it so far.

[–] Walking_coffin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 3 months ago

Some great apps have already been mentioned here so I'll share a last resort if you need: GMaps WV (Google Maps WebView Wrapper). It's Google maps in a restricted sandbox made by the Divest OS dev and app is on FDroid.

When I used it on a more regular basis a year ago it didn't have ads and after installing it just now to test and share this, I haven't found any either.

Privacy wise it's not as good as omsand~ or Open Street map but you could use it on another profile in your phone if you have android if that is a concern.

More info can be found here along with the source code of the wrapper: Https://divestos.org/pages/our_apps#gmapswv

[–] clark@midwest.social 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Great thread this.

Adding onto it; anybody know any FOSS alternatives close enough to Apple Maps in terms of functionality? I mean making routes and tracking your vehicle on your way to the destination along with any warnings of construction work or accidents.

[–] Aphelion@lemm.ee 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Please excuse my non-iOS using ignorance, but isn't FOSS antithetical to Apple's closed ecosystem and extreme limitations on side-loading?

[–] clark@midwest.social 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes. I am asking for FOSS alternatives that have the same level of functionality and efficiency as Apple Maps.

[–] Aphelion@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Yeah, I totally get that, but how are there FOSS applications on iOS that aren't side loaded? At best you can get paid ports/skins of open source software through the app store, but Apple changes developers a small fortune to put apps in the store, which generally equates to no free apps that don't rely on ads or in-app purchases.

[–] clark@midwest.social 5 points 3 months ago

I am not looking to download a FOSS app on an iPhone. I am merely looking for a FOSS app similar to Apple Maps in terms of functionality.

[–] Ciderpunk@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

An Apple Developer account is $99 a year and the only prerequisite to putting an app on the store. If it’s free, there are no other fees. I wouldn’t call $99 a small fortune.

There are many “open source” apps on the App Store, though most may argue they technically are not because you never have the option of compiling yourself, so perhaps “source available” would be more apt. Things like KDE-Connect are on the App Store so clearly there is some demand for iOS counterparts to open source multiplatform applications.

[–] doehni@feddit.org 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)
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[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I've used maps.me for years. Works online and offline. Even took it abroad and used it instead of the stuff locals used, with the exception of london and liverpool, since I couldn't find a way to check train schedules.

[–] thepreciousboar@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Organic Maps is the open source evolution of maps.me, by the same developers, have a try

[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago

Oh, thanks! For anyone reading this, it's on fdroid. Looks solid.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Is there any way to export Google maps saved places and or lists to any of: magic earth, open street maps, organic maps? I’ve got lots of lists I’d rather not throw away if I can

[–] thepreciousboar@lemm.ee 6 points 3 months ago

If you use Google takeout (the service that lets you access all your data), you can download your Google maps favourites as a GeoSON file. It depends on specific apps if they can directly import it, but there's surely some converter around to export it to .kml or .gpx, that can easily be imported in other apps

[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Other people have mentioned phone apps so I’ll add that I got a Garmin device for hiking and it’s got road navigation. It’s better in some cases because the maps are downloaded so if you’re somewhere without service, it can still do navigation.

Obviously, they’re meant to supplement a phone for off-grid stuff like hiking, boating, etc. but the road directions seem perfectly fine. It knows where gas stations are. And some of their models are car-only so I guess they’re also used by drivers in areas with spotty phone coverage.

The downside is, obviously, that you have to update the maps and there’s no traffic details. But I just thought I’d mention it as an option. (You also don’t have to use their maps if you prefer OpenStreetMaps or whatever.)

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