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I've enjoyed Google Maps for many years and never paid for it. Apple MapKit appears to be free. I improve the experience for others when I help improve the maps

I've enjoyed Google Maps for many years and never paid for it. Apple MapKit appears to be free. I improve the experience for others when I help improve the maps and in turn my experience is improved by the contributions of others. It's costs Google and Apple money to provide the infrastructure for this, which they obtain in various ways such as advertising. It doesn't bother me if someone wants to advertise their store on a map I helped create. In fact, even that improves the amount of information I have about a place. My answer to the title question is a strong "yes" in this case and I consider it akin to a grocery store putting up signs saying "Please help us keep costs down and pass the savings along to you by returning your cart to the cart stand." Giant mega corp Walmart does this if memory serves. I like that humanity has built such an amazing thing as maps and like it when people return their shopping carts.

TheJoeMan 5y ago
Question: if I contribute a fix to Google Maps or Apple Maps, does that fix back-propogate to OSM? My home address needs to be slightly shifted and wondering for best practice.
- thepete2 5y ago
  No and that is IMO the point of using OSM in the first place. The data is public and free for everyone and if you contribute there's the possibility of other services adopting your change. I know that mapbox integrates osm data, Google and Apple might too.
- windthrown 5y ago
  No, in fact copying from Google Maps is a violation of their terms of service: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/FAQ#Why_don.27t_you_just_use_Google_Maps.2Fwhoever_for_your_data.3F https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/FAQ#Why_don.27t_you_just...
- matkoniecz 5y ago
  If you contribute to Google Maps then you fix private Google database.
  - seaman1921 5y ago
    this is not true, you fix it for everyone using Google maps (which is basically everyone)
    - purple_turtle 5y ago
      Where I can download Google map data dataset for my own processing? Yes, Google makes apps usable by general public but their database is proprietary - including what people contribute for free.
      - seaman1921 5y ago
        ok I thought parent comment meant to say it only changes your private maps, not for everyone. I see what you mean
      - KarlKemp 5y ago
        The argument that OP may or may not have intended is that any change in Google Maps benefits a fraction of “everybody” that equal to Google Maps’ share of the market. That’s maybe 80-90%. Telling users of Google Maps that their contribution is worthless if they don’t submit it to a free & open database may be net-negative if only a small fraction gets discouraged from contributing altogether. I have a few million edits on wikidata to proof my sympathy for Open Data. But the openness is only useful if it leads to more people having access to the data. And a proprietary service being involved doesn’t diminish the value by itself.
- astrange 5y ago
  The answers saying “no” are not necessarily correct, but the actual answer depends on which country you live in.
sam_lowry_ 5y ago
> I've enjoyed Google Maps for many years and never paid for it. You did pay for Google Maps indirectly as you were and still are a product Google sells to advertisers.
- juanbyrge 5y ago
  I feel like I have derived so much value from Google Maps, especially turn by turn navigation, than I don't even consider the advertisement aspects. I would happily pay a monthly fee to use it. Before it you had to use paper maps or use those very expensive and crappy Garmin devices.
  - mwattsun 5y ago
    It used to be a joke that married couples travelling would fight over maps. The man was always driving and the wife was always reading the large unwieldy paper map. The man would get mad about a woman's trouble reading the map. The wife would retort "What happened to your vaunted sense of direction? Why are you such a cheap skate to wait until we are lost before buying a map at a service station?" Good times.
    - KarlKemp 5y ago
      Good times for some, traumatic memories of childhood for others…. I used to have this daydream of a red line painted onto the road leading you to your destination. Never expected it to become real (in a slightly different form). Too late for me but another small way later generations will enjoy higher QoL. Few will realize the benefits beyond occasionally getting lost.
  - spookthesunset 5y ago
    I remember back when we were at an intermediate stage of maps when you could type an address into Mapquest and then print out the directions to it and take that stack of paper with you. Now days you can drop into the middle of almost anywhere on the globe and get mostly accurate on-the-ground directions regardless of if you walk, take public transport or drive. Made navigating Tokyo so much easier!

TheJoeMan 5y ago

Question: if I contribute a fix to Google Maps or Apple Maps, does that fix back-propogate to OSM? My home address needs to be slightly shifted and wondering for best practice.

thepete2 5y ago
No and that is IMO the point of using OSM in the first place. The data is public and free for everyone and if you contribute there's the possibility of other services adopting your change. I know that mapbox integrates osm data, Google and Apple might too.
windthrown 5y ago
No, in fact copying from Google Maps is a violation of their terms of service: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/FAQ#Why_don.27t_you_just_use_Google_Maps.2Fwhoever_for_your_data.3F https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/FAQ#Why_don.27t_you_just...
matkoniecz 5y ago
If you contribute to Google Maps then you fix private Google database.
- seaman1921 5y ago
  this is not true, you fix it for everyone using Google maps (which is basically everyone)
  - purple_turtle 5y ago
    Where I can download Google map data dataset for my own processing? Yes, Google makes apps usable by general public but their database is proprietary - including what people contribute for free.
    - seaman1921 5y ago
      ok I thought parent comment meant to say it only changes your private maps, not for everyone. I see what you mean
    - KarlKemp 5y ago
      The argument that OP may or may not have intended is that any change in Google Maps benefits a fraction of “everybody” that equal to Google Maps’ share of the market. That’s maybe 80-90%. Telling users of Google Maps that their contribution is worthless if they don’t submit it to a free & open database may be net-negative if only a small fraction gets discouraged from contributing altogether. I have a few million edits on wikidata to proof my sympathy for Open Data. But the openness is only useful if it leads to more people having access to the data. And a proprietary service being involved doesn’t diminish the value by itself.
astrange 5y ago
The answers saying “no” are not necessarily correct, but the actual answer depends on which country you live in.

sam_lowry_ 5y ago

> I've enjoyed Google Maps for many years and never paid for it. You did pay for Google Maps indirectly as you were and still are a product Google sells to advertisers.

juanbyrge 5y ago
I feel like I have derived so much value from Google Maps, especially turn by turn navigation, than I don't even consider the advertisement aspects. I would happily pay a monthly fee to use it. Before it you had to use paper maps or use those very expensive and crappy Garmin devices.
- mwattsun 5y ago
  It used to be a joke that married couples travelling would fight over maps. The man was always driving and the wife was always reading the large unwieldy paper map. The man would get mad about a woman's trouble reading the map. The wife would retort "What happened to your vaunted sense of direction? Why are you such a cheap skate to wait until we are lost before buying a map at a service station?" Good times.
  - KarlKemp 5y ago
    Good times for some, traumatic memories of childhood for others…. I used to have this daydream of a red line painted onto the road leading you to your destination. Never expected it to become real (in a slightly different form). Too late for me but another small way later generations will enjoy higher QoL. Few will realize the benefits beyond occasionally getting lost.
- spookthesunset 5y ago
  I remember back when we were at an intermediate stage of maps when you could type an address into Mapquest and then print out the directions to it and take that stack of paper with you. Now days you can drop into the middle of almost anywhere on the globe and get mostly accurate on-the-ground directions regardless of if you walk, take public transport or drive. Made navigating Tokyo so much easier!