• hulfpa@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1022·
    11 days ago

    This move makes zero sense to me. Why, change it? It’s not it’s official name or international recognized name so wtf

    • Steve Dice@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      49·
      11 days ago

      The USA is now part of a list of “sensitive countries” with authoritarian states with their own version of reality. When users in one of the countries on this list visit Google sites, they see that government’s version of reality. This is nothing new. Google does it all the time with disputed territories. It’s only news because it’s the first time the US has an authoritarian government.

      Here’s how it looks when visiting from a Mexican device with the language set to Australian English while located in Hungary.

      1000019054

      Edit: undoxxed myself lol

      • KSP Atlas@sopuli.xyz
        15·
        11 days ago

        In Google maps set to Polish while in the UK, it shows

        Zatoka Meksykańska (Zatoka Amerykańska)

        Which translates to

        Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)

      • ...m...@ttrpg.network
        9·
        11 days ago

        …looks pretty much the same on bing maps, except they’re so committed that they named it twice…

    • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
      31·
      11 days ago

      Distraction from:

      • closing down the Consumer Protection Agency, USAID, and the Education Agency
      • cutting off funding to the universities
      • stealing our student, treasury and health records while taking over the purse
      • not following federal judge’s orders
      • building an unregulated concentration camp in Cuba
      • etc.

      Edit: That’s why trump did it. All tech companies are in his hands now.

    • ooli2@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      9·
      11 days ago

      pleasing the power, so they remove any law that protect our privacy against google prying eye

      • hulfpa@lemmy.mlEnglish
        4·
        11 days ago

        Thayana good point. I need to remember my place in this world 🤣

    • ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      2·
      11 days ago

      Then you must not be paying much attention, or have an understanding of how capitalism functions (nor of how and why it inevitably decays in to fascism).

        • irreticent@lemmy.zipEnglish
          6·
          11 days ago

          Trump signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Executive orders aren’t laws, they’re just memos stating what the federal government will do. Google decided to bend the knee for the new king.

          For U.S. Google Map users only, the body of water formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico will now appear as the Gulf of America when using the navigational service.

          The change comes just several weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order for the gulf to be renamed and on Sunday declared February 9 was officially Gulf of America Day.

          Following the order, Google stated that it has a longstanding practice of implementing name changes when done by official government sources.

    • ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      1·
      11 days ago

      Lmfao, as if Keith would dare stand up to a mega corporation, or a fascist for that matter… I give it a week, at absolute most.

  • helloyanis@jlai.lu
    36·
    11 days ago

    No better time than the present to switch to OpenStreetMap

    For Android, I use OsmAnd~ which uses OpenStreetMap data and allows you to download maps to calculate routes offline, something Google Maps couldn’t do for routes by foot and by bike last time I tried.

    It also has better coverage for some small paths in natural areas like forests. Give it a try!

    • oxf@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      11 days ago

      The OsmAnd~ app, from fdroid, is the premium (and paid) version og OsmAnd, also known as OsmAnd+.

      If you use the fdroid version, and enjoy the app, consider donating to the developers through other means.

      • OfficerBribe@lemm.ee
        1·
        11 days ago

        Google Maps are pretty barebones, but at the same time reliable for general / basic use. Depends on region, but OSM usually will be more detailed. It is also possible your region has some local provider that is even better.

        Google Maps in my region excel only for navigation quality for cars and search for commercial stuff (businesses and shops)

    • OfficerBribe@lemm.ee
      31·
      11 days ago

      In OSM ″Gulf of America″ is added under official_name:en-US tag so if any app uses this tag to display names, it will show up.

      Here is the link to OSM object for Gulf of Mexico. And here is a thread that discusses naming.

      Any country/language can call any object as they want. This change of course was dumb and petty and doubt it will be adopted by other regions, but this is nothing new or special. Google Maps currently show ″Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)″ for me. When checking in another language it shows same naming standard.

      • ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.orgEnglish
        1·
        10 days ago

        Google Maps currently show ″Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)″ for me.

        Same as me (Czech Republic, preferred language English). “Mexický záliv (Americký záliv)” in Czech.

      • mac@lemm.ee
        1·
        11 days ago

        Yeah OSMand and organic maps update their data sets once a month or so. I know this as when I first started contributing I checked the app 100x bummed that my contributions weren’t there yet lol

    • pietervdvn@lemmy.ml
      1·
      10 days ago

      You’re all welcome in !openstreetmap@lemmy.ml to discuss antying OSM-related.

      The namechange of the Gulf has been discussed on our forum; how to deal with this has been decided in consensus.

      And, obligated self-promo: if you want to start contributing to OSM, you can try https://mapcomplete.org/ (which is someting else then the StreetComplete app, but that one is nice too!)

  • Hux@lemmy.ml
    30·
    11 days ago

    Using the website from outside of the US shows it with its proper name, but then the asshat version in parentheses.

      • SeekPie@lemm.ee
        4·
        11 days ago

        I’ve been using startpage floor about a year now, has worked great.

        • the_weez@midwest.social
          3·
          11 days ago

          Isn’t that just Google with an extra MITM for everything? Sure it protects your privacy a little bit but the same bad actors are still getting their ad revenue from your searches, correct? Or do I just not understand how start page works?

          • flora_explora@beehaw.org
            1·
            11 days ago

            Not sure how ad revenue works. Do they get paid, if no ads are shown? Or is it because of SEO and the search results that come up first that give ad revenue?

  • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
    20·
    11 days ago

    Time for a repeat comment: Organic Maps does everything Google Maps does (except traffic conditions), and is FOSS. Please encourage places to contribute business information to Open Street Maps.

  • eldesgraciado@lemm.ee
    181·
    11 days ago

    This is pathetic and reeks of insecurity big time. Hope that this debacle improves your QoL, Americans.

    • Zink@programming.dev
      4·
      11 days ago

      American here. It’s freaking embarrassing. Not as much as all the other shit, and certainly not as sad and tragic. Our neighbors elected a cartoon villain and his best buddy, another cartoon villain.

    • JohnnyEnzyme@lemm.ee
      4·
      11 days ago

      Seems like all the high-visibility, internet-focused corporations are rushing forward to bend the knee.

      I guess it would be pretty interesting to see one of them do the opposite. As in, how easily and quickly would the exec and other branches be able to attack them, maybe even to destroy them?

    • hansolo@lemm.eeEnglish
      3·
      11 days ago

      What’s funny is the rest of the world gets “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” which ups the insecurity I expect.

    • ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      1·
      11 days ago

      reeks of insecurity big time.

      No, it’s literally the opposite, it’s a display of power and support for an openly fascist regime they KNOW will benefit them financially.

      It’s the epitome of capitalism, and precisely why said capitalism will always decay in to fascism.

    • threeduck@aussie.zone
      24·
      11 days ago

      Eh I’m on the opposite side, despite being a massive lefty. Why would an american company not follow an American dictate just for America? (It’s still called the Gulf of Mexico on Google in every other country) It sets a wild precedent where private businesses refuse to follow the fairly inconsequential requests of their government.

      • ShareMySims@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        2·
        11 days ago

        “I’m such a massive lefty, I see no issue with a mega corporation bending the knee to a fascist regime and helping them virtually take over territory that isn’t theirs” 🙄

        (also no, it isn’t only showing in the states, and this being an expected part of capitalism doesn’t make it any less of a problem to be taken seriously)

        • threeduck@aussie.zone
          1·
          10 days ago

          What does google have to gain from saying no? A mild recapture of respect from the people with no political power?

          Also the territory isn’t there’s, sure, but it’s also no one’s. If weird ass trump wants to rename it in their countries name, go for it.

          Google shows Gulf of Mexico to Mexico, and both names to every other country.

          As Bannon literally pointed out, this is absolutely a Trump tactic, to firehouse the news with bullshit stories, and THIS is comparatively a non issue.

  • baggachipz@sh.itjust.works
    16·
    11 days ago

    Yes, Tim Apple bent the knee, but the company seems to be holding steadfast.

    Apple Maps

    Edit God dammit, they changed it. Cowards.

  • Matt@lemmy.ml
    13·
    11 days ago

    Fuck Google and Samsung and everyone else who is preinstalled on my phone from the factory. I switched my phone OS to an AOSP GSI without the Google mobile services. Will probably be switching to WordPress from Blogger.

    • the_weez@midwest.social
      11·
      11 days ago

      You should probably do some research on WordPress before migrating. Personally I wouldn’t touch WordPress with somebody else’s 10ft pole right now, the drama is an extreme turnoff. I’ve tried every AI chat bot except Automattics because I’m not interested in their games. Plenty of other great blogging platforms to choose from.

      • Matt@lemmy.ml
        21·
        11 days ago

        I mentioned it because it is the closest thing to Blogger.

        • the_weez@midwest.social
          1·
          11 days ago

          That’s probably true and totally fair. I’ve heard good things about Ghost lately. Personally I’m looking into SSG’s for a new blog, a bit of setup but after that I really like the workflow. I’m trying out Zola right now. Good luck!

      • Matt@lemmy.ml
        2·
        11 days ago

        Though there’s an option to write Pandoc-based static site blog.

  • Gunpachi@lemmings.world
    12·
    11 days ago

    “There’s no saving America – we need to pull it out by the roots. Wipe the slate clean. Burn it down! And from the ashes, a new America will be born. Evolved, but untamed!”

    — Senator Armstrong.