After the news that Google maps will rename the gulf of Mexico to the gulf of America I finally decided to change maps app(not confirmed).
What recommendations do you have? What to look out for?
OSMand
This, although you should probably mention that the full version is gratis on F-droid.
Open street map with organic map
Organic Maps. Living in a somewhat walkable area, it gives me good walking directions. I might be a bit out of touch though since I just commit routes to memory if I’m driving.
For the occasional satellite map, Google Maps unfortunately. If anyone knows of a privacy-respecting map with satellite views, I’d be interested.
Organic Maps and FacilMap
Actually people from OpenStreetMap are currently discussing about the renamming of the Gulf of Mexico here: https://lemmy.ml/post/25024889
Google has many faults, but the one responsible for this one is someone else :)
The FOSS google maps alternatives I hear recommended most often are OsmAnd+ and, especially, Organic Maps.
Personally I don’t use maps very often (I know my way around my area pretty well, so I usually just lookup the location of wherever I want to go before leaving home), but I’d say Organic Maps is simpler and more user friendly than OsmAnd+.
Both can work offline if you download the maps for your area.
The maps are pretty good (at least in my area), but compared to Google Maps you’ll have to rely more on street addresses as there aren’t as many points of interest.
Google in 2008:
By saying “common”, we mean to include names which are in widespread daily use, rather than giving immediate recognition to any arbitrary governmental re-naming. In other words, if a ruler announced that henceforth the Pacific Ocean would be named after her mother, we would not add that placemark unless and until the name came into common usage.
The maps are pretty good (at least in my area)
For the unfamiliar that’s another cool thing about using OSM data. If some of your favorite places are missing from the map you can just add it!
There’s several ways to do it but if you have a laptop the easiest way is to use the editor on openstreetmap.org. They have a quick and easy interactive tutorial to show you the ropes and then you are free to add what you feel is important!
Google has many faults, but the one responsible for this one is someone else :)
No, the executive order only applies to the federal government. Google chooses to follow it.
Magic Earth. Organic Maps as a backup. I’ve found that Magic Earth is the happy middle ground of map apps.
Closed source client, but uses OSM for its map data. European company, so better on the data front.
I tried using Organic Maps as my main navigation app, but there were slightly too many times where it couldn’t find the address, or the navigation got stuck, etc.
My IT job requires me to get to places quickly if they need on-site support. I have to be able to depend on my map app to get me there reliably. Magic Earth does that, Organic Maps is very good, and I keep it around to use in case I have issues with Magic Earth, but at least in my region of the country, it just isn’t quite up to snuff.
You can use GMAPS VW, an app that uses the Google Maps web version. It cannot provide navigation, but it allows you to find any address just like on Google Maps, while maintaining your privacy.
Then, you click on “Share”, copy the link, and paste it into another app called GeoShare. This app converts a Google Maps link into GPS coordinates.
Finally, you copy and paste the GPS coordinates into Organic Maps, which will locate the place for you.
All of these apps are open source.
- For directions, I use OrganicMaps.
- For location bookmarks/pins, I’m currently building an app, so I use that.
- For checking business information, sometimes i’ll still use google maps
OSM
OSM (no “app”, just Web) at https://www.openstreetmap.org/
CityMapper
Organic Maps. It is quite fast and I really like its UI.
OsmAnd~ is really good and feature rich but a bit complex. I use it because it has very good navigation with the public transport where I live. I tryed Magic Earth, it’s simpler but at some point it stopped suggesting me navigation with the public transport here. And if you don’t need public transport suggestions try Organic Maps, it’s very simple. On Linux- Marbel by KDE or Gnome Maps. If I need to check something on the map I just use OpenStreetMap in a browser.
If you are trying to minimize google maps use Organic Maps is the way to go imo. Fast loading, simple slick interface with minimal fuss. It’s a beautiful thing!
OSMand is not nearly as slick and polished and is kind of clunky by comparison. That is because it isn’t trying to be like Google maps at all. It runs fine straight from the app store but the real beauty of it is the tinkering it allows. You can make multiple map presets fine tuned the way you like it. It’s the midpoint between Organic Maps and ATAK
Google maps
Organic street maps just don’t have good enough public transit integration where I live
I don’t really understand the logic, but there are plenty of reasons to not be using Google Maps, so I will give my two cents.
I have had the best luck with MagicEarth. I still use Google Maps sometimes when I need to use the most reliable navigation or if MagicEarth can’t find something. When I was driving professionally I found out that sometimes MagicEarth (OSM) got residential addresses right when Google Maps did not but also vice versa. I have used HERE Maps (HereWeGo) in the past and also tried OSMAnd.
Besides organic, I use watch duty (fire tracking), MyRadar (weather) and waze (driving)
Waze is owned by Google…
