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!
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)
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.
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
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!)
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!
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.
Is using alternative maps even worth it if you have google’s Android and location has to go through google play services anyways?
you can use gps without play services.
How?
Disable “(improve) location accuracy” in settings and location history in Google settings (I think)
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gms
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gsf
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.ims
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)
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.
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
Same as me (Czech Republic, preferred language English). “Mexický záliv (Americký záliv)” in Czech.
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!)