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I concur. OSMand may not be super user friendly, but the quality of OSM maps is way above Google in terms of details.

by wiz21c 3y ago

rob74 3y ago
Google (and Apple) maps are very car-centric, so they are on the same level as OSM in that regard, but OSM knows about every foot/cycle path and even has different levels of "quality" for them. What I miss in Organic Maps compared to OSMAnd is being able to choose a category of POIs which are then shown even when zoomed further out - useful if you are looking for e.g. restaurants nearby.
- Vinnl 3y ago
  Either this doesn't do what you want, or you just haven't discovered it yet, but in case it's the latter: I can e.g. search for "restaurant" in Organic Maps, then tap the Floating Action Button with the map icon, and then it will show all search results on the map, even when zoomed out.
  - rob74 3y ago
    Actually that's exactly what I wanted, thanks for the hint! I just wasn't expecting to find it under the "search" function - I have mostly used OSMAnd until now, and I only learned of Organic Maps through HN and installed it a few weeks ago, same as the author of the blog post. Even better, the search function also has a "categories" tab where you can select "places to eat", "sights", "transport", "petrol", "parking", "ATM" etc. Looks like they put a lot of thought into "streamlining" the UI, and the individual functions are more versatile than you might expect...
dagw 3y ago
but the quality of OSM maps is way above Google in terms of details. For some data in some part parts of the world. In rural (and even suburban) Sweden for example half the buildings are missing, many roads aren't named and search is straight up broken. What it will give you over Google is that every hiking trail and bike path is included.
- kaba0 3y ago
  For what it’s worth, mapping addresses to locations is a completely different problem to mapping itself.
  - dagw 3y ago
    True, but it is also one of the most commonly used functions for mobile map apps, and without that feature working reliably your app can never become someones primary map app. At best you can become a backup app for those times Google/Apple Maps doesn't work.
- tmcdos 3y ago
  I experience the same in Bulgaria - many street names or street numbers are missing or even wrong (e.g. I search for a street and Maps.ME finds a feet track inside a park 2-3km away of the real street)

I concur. OSMand may not be super user friendly, but the quality of OSM maps is way above Google in terms of details.

by wiz21c 3y ago

I concur. OSMand may not be super user friendly, but the quality of OSM maps is way above Google in terms of details.

Google (and Apple) maps are very car-centric, so they are on the same level as OSM in that regard, but OSM knows about every foot/cycle path and even has different levels of "quality" for them. What I miss in Organic Maps compared to OSMAnd is being able to choose a category of POIs which are then shown even when zoomed further out - useful if you are looking for e.g. restaurants nearby.

Vinnl 3y ago
Either this doesn't do what you want, or you just haven't discovered it yet, but in case it's the latter: I can e.g. search for "restaurant" in Organic Maps, then tap the Floating Action Button with the map icon, and then it will show all search results on the map, even when zoomed out.
- rob74 3y ago
  Actually that's exactly what I wanted, thanks for the hint! I just wasn't expecting to find it under the "search" function - I have mostly used OSMAnd until now, and I only learned of Organic Maps through HN and installed it a few weeks ago, same as the author of the blog post. Even better, the search function also has a "categories" tab where you can select "places to eat", "sights", "transport", "petrol", "parking", "ATM" etc. Looks like they put a lot of thought into "streamlining" the UI, and the individual functions are more versatile than you might expect...

dagw 3y ago

but the quality of OSM maps is way above Google in terms of details. For some data in some part parts of the world. In rural (and even suburban) Sweden for example half the buildings are missing, many roads aren't named and search is straight up broken. What it will give you over Google is that every hiking trail and bike path is included.

kaba0 3y ago
For what it’s worth, mapping addresses to locations is a completely different problem to mapping itself.
- dagw 3y ago
  True, but it is also one of the most commonly used functions for mobile map apps, and without that feature working reliably your app can never become someones primary map app. At best you can become a backup app for those times Google/Apple Maps doesn't work.
tmcdos 3y ago
I experience the same in Bulgaria - many street names or street numbers are missing or even wrong (e.g. I search for a street and Maps.ME finds a feet track inside a park 2-3km away of the real street)