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I'm unfamiliar with maps.me or organicmaps -- what's the value prop versus just downloading a region from the Google Maps app? Is it opting out of big tech? Or

I'm unfamiliar with maps.me or organicmaps -- what's the value prop versus just downloading a region from the Google Maps app? Is it opting out of big tech? Or is there some other capability that doesn't exist in Google/Apple's apps?

orblivion 5y ago
Opting out of Big Tech is one. Opting out of tracking is the benefit of organicmaps over Maps.me (as per organicmaps' site). But then there's OpenStreetMap. Are you familiar with that? It's open data, which is sort of related to opting out of big tech. It's "free" like Wikipedia, nobody can forbid access to the data itself. Practical benefits: Among OSM applications, Maps.me and organicmaps are more snappy. OsmAnd is a leading OSM application, and it just has a ton of options which is perhaps good for a power user but it's not streamlined. And then the practical benefit of OSM itself is that while you often don't get as much info as Google Maps, sometimes you get stuff that Google misses. I think a big one is foot trails and stuff. Local enthusiasts like to walk them and fill them in on the map. I added a water reservoir in Berkeley once that was somehow not on Google Maps.
blendergeek 5y ago
There are three main value propositions in my mind. While these could loosely be summed up as opting out of big tech, I think there is much more here than that. 1. Freedom. When using Organic Maps, you have the right to use the app in any way you choose; this includes the right to modify and redistribute the app should the developers ever start violating your principles. In fact this is exactly what Organic Maps is. Before Organic Maps, there was Maps.me; this app was also open source but became increasingly user hostile over time. Organic Maps is what happens when the users have this freedom. 2. Privacy. Even when used offline, Google Maps tracks and reports your location to Google. Organic Maps does not track and report your location to anybody. 3. Giving Back. While it is possible to suggest edits to Google Maps, these edits become part of Google's proprietary map database and can only be used in accordance with Google's ToS. This means that ultimately, Google's profits are what you are contributing to. Organic Maps, on the other hand, uses OpenStreetMap [0] and allows the user to contribute to it. Data contributed to OpenStreetMap can be freely used by anybody, for any purpose, thus benefiting all humankind rather than just one massive, US based, corporate entity that may not have humankind's interests at heart. [0] https://www.openstreetmap.org/ https://www.openstreetmap.org/
et-al 5y ago
1. Maps.me and Organic Maps were initially designed for an offline experience, so they don't even try use data when I have a spotty connection. Unless you explicitly disable data, Google Maps will always try to load new tiles. This can be annoying when your reception is weak and Google renders fuzzy tiles instead of falling back on the already downloaded tiles. 2. You can't download offline maps for South Korea in Google Maps. There may be other areas in the world like this. 3. OSM data is better for hiking trails in my experience.
- luke2m 5y ago
  Japan is one.
  - darren_ 5y ago
    It was, shouldn't be any more (IIRC it got enabled about 2 years ago?)
austhrow743 5y ago
Far more walking tracks. Also Google being an internet connection assumed on in general company makes me worry a bit about being in a situation where I need to use my offline maps and finding they were wiped in an update or something.
- martyvis 5y ago
  This. I've been rediscovering trails in my local area and recording them with my GPS watch. A quick upload and edit into OSM and hopefully others can make use of it. None of this level of detail is available elsewhere.
mellosouls 5y ago
I can't speak to the two you ask about, but, eg. OpenStreetMap has far more useful data than Google/Apple maps (at least in my region). It's a functionality choice rather than privacy/ethical. For me on Android: In-car navigation - Waze + AmiGo; Town centre navigation - Here/OsmAnd; Searching - Google Maps; Off-road, tracking, poi info, terrain, overview etc - OsmAnd (OpenStreetMap). OsmAnd search UX sucks or I'd use it for that as well; the data is there. Here and OsmAnd are both offline after initial setup, which you will do when you install them, no need to remember to manually prepare local tiles as with Google maps offline.
wiredfool 5y ago
The styling of Google maps is horrible when you're outside and trying to pick out their super low contrast small roads.

orblivion 5y ago

Opting out of Big Tech is one. Opting out of tracking is the benefit of organicmaps over Maps.me (as per organicmaps' site). But then there's OpenStreetMap. Are you familiar with that? It's open data, which is sort of related to opting out of big tech. It's "free" like Wikipedia, nobody can forbid access to the data itself. Practical benefits: Among OSM applications, Maps.me and organicmaps are more snappy. OsmAnd is a leading OSM application, and it just has a ton of options which is perhaps good for a power user but it's not streamlined. And then the practical benefit of OSM itself is that while you often don't get as much info as Google Maps, sometimes you get stuff that Google misses. I think a big one is foot trails and stuff. Local enthusiasts like to walk them and fill them in on the map. I added a water reservoir in Berkeley once that was somehow not on Google Maps.

blendergeek 5y ago

There are three main value propositions in my mind. While these could loosely be summed up as opting out of big tech, I think there is much more here than that. 1. Freedom. When using Organic Maps, you have the right to use the app in any way you choose; this includes the right to modify and redistribute the app should the developers ever start violating your principles. In fact this is exactly what Organic Maps is. Before Organic Maps, there was Maps.me; this app was also open source but became increasingly user hostile over time. Organic Maps is what happens when the users have this freedom. 2. Privacy. Even when used offline, Google Maps tracks and reports your location to Google. Organic Maps does not track and report your location to anybody. 3. Giving Back. While it is possible to suggest edits to Google Maps, these edits become part of Google's proprietary map database and can only be used in accordance with Google's ToS. This means that ultimately, Google's profits are what you are contributing to. Organic Maps, on the other hand, uses OpenStreetMap [0] and allows the user to contribute to it. Data contributed to OpenStreetMap can be freely used by anybody, for any purpose, thus benefiting all humankind rather than just one massive, US based, corporate entity that may not have humankind's interests at heart. [0] https://www.openstreetmap.org/ https://www.openstreetmap.org/

et-al 5y ago

1. Maps.me and Organic Maps were initially designed for an offline experience, so they don't even try use data when I have a spotty connection. Unless you explicitly disable data, Google Maps will always try to load new tiles. This can be annoying when your reception is weak and Google renders fuzzy tiles instead of falling back on the already downloaded tiles. 2. You can't download offline maps for South Korea in Google Maps. There may be other areas in the world like this. 3. OSM data is better for hiking trails in my experience.

luke2m 5y ago
Japan is one.
- darren_ 5y ago
  It was, shouldn't be any more (IIRC it got enabled about 2 years ago?)

austhrow743 5y ago

Far more walking tracks. Also Google being an internet connection assumed on in general company makes me worry a bit about being in a situation where I need to use my offline maps and finding they were wiped in an update or something.

martyvis 5y ago
This. I've been rediscovering trails in my local area and recording them with my GPS watch. A quick upload and edit into OSM and hopefully others can make use of it. None of this level of detail is available elsewhere.

mellosouls 5y ago

I can't speak to the two you ask about, but, eg. OpenStreetMap has far more useful data than Google/Apple maps (at least in my region). It's a functionality choice rather than privacy/ethical. For me on Android: In-car navigation - Waze + AmiGo; Town centre navigation - Here/OsmAnd; Searching - Google Maps; Off-road, tracking, poi info, terrain, overview etc - OsmAnd (OpenStreetMap). OsmAnd search UX sucks or I'd use it for that as well; the data is there. Here and OsmAnd are both offline after initial setup, which you will do when you install them, no need to remember to manually prepare local tiles as with Google maps offline.

wiredfool 5y ago

The styling of Google maps is horrible when you're outside and trying to pick out their super low contrast small roads.