Help break the US hold on map data
Help break the US hold on map data
Currently there's only 3 big players when it comes to maps. You've got Google, Apple and Microsoft.
Let's try to make OpenStreetMap the best map there is. Go grab StreetComplete and start mapping your surroundings when you're out and about.
All the data is under a public license and managed by a non-profit foundation in the UK.
It's very easy to get started, and quite addictive.
The non-profit is even moving from the UK to the EU. I think Belgium but I'm not fully sure. As an OSM mapper its good for traffic away from these big players. I personally can recommend Osmand or Organic Maps for navigation
I made 3 edits to things in my local neighborhood on Open Street Map this morning
There is a cool app called StreetComplete if you wanna gameify your editing experience a bit :Dhttps://f-droid.org/packages/de.westnordost.streetcomplete
Im blind and skipped right to the comments before reading the post
There should be something for grabbing store information too. Like phone numbers, websites and open hours
Open hours is a task in StreetComplete, so that's covered. For additional metadata you'd probably have to use something like OrganicMaps and be logged in there. It's quite possible to add the data if you want to, even without going to the computer and doing it from there.
Just noting that while Organic Maps does allow a pretty good level of editing, it's not a feature complete map editor. There are many others apps/sites that are purpose-built for editing if you need more functionality. i personally use Vespucci on Android.
Yep. I've been mapping for OSM since back in 2007. When I started, there were a few Autobahnen and major roads and the rest of my area was a white, empty triangle, 50km in every direction. Now I'm mapping wastebaskets and surfaces and width of residential streets. Not that I'm complaining. OSM is the most usable map material for anything related to hiking, biking and walking places, at least here.
Not so great for driving though, because no major navigation app based on OSM uses crowd sourced movement data - hence, no traffic jam prediction. Still need Google Maps for that.
At least https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ seems to be using OSM data, but while their charging planning is excellent, the traffic predictions are unusable. Works well for long distance travel, really does, but when I'm close to an urban center I always switch to Google Maps.
Magic earth does traffic. Linked in another post. Not open source, but at least it's European.
In my opinion, depending on the exact location, OSM is already much better than other map providers. But continuing to improve it obviously is still a great idea.
I really want OpenStreetMap to allow us to run an app that gives them GPS data so we can get some open traffic data. I'm using Waze for that, but Google bought them too.
That's MagicEarth. It's not open source, but it is based on Openstreetmap data and it has traffic and obstacles in it, as reported by other users. The company is also based in the EU.
What about an app for iOS?
Seems it's being worked on, but not done.
You can make changes using Organic Maps. It’s also a very good app in general imo. It’s open source, gives you OSM maps offline and has decent navigation. I have switched to it almost fully (from Google and Apple Maps) a while ago already.
I'm in the US but this post made me finally download Organic Maps...
...is there a way to get rid of the "about" button in the bottom left?
Kind of draws the eye and it's not exactly a useful button on the main screen
I don't know I'm afraid. I just don't click on it myself, but I agree, it's not a very useful button to display on the main screen all the time.
Edit: Removed comma so that it doesn't sound like I'm scared. Thanks for correcting my English.
Why are you afraid lol
Just kidding. Bummer but not really a huge deal
FYI, crossposted to [email protected] for wider reach
ESRI