3 ms·

I agree and have moved mostly away from everything Google. But it's hard to replace maps. I know open street maps exists but it's hard to beat Google's data gat

by fooqux 4mo ago

I agree and have moved mostly away from everything Google. But it's hard to replace maps. I know open street maps exists but it's hard to beat Google's data gathering.

handedness 4mo ago
I've settled on running CoMaps in the Owner profile, with Google Maps/Waze/etc. in the Owner profile's Private Space for when they're necessary.
- fooqux 4mo ago
  Can that setup work with android auto? If so, I'll need to try that.
  - NoGravitas 4mo ago
    I use CoMaps in the owner profile with Android Auto. Only caveat is that even with Android Auto developer mode enabled, I still had to install CoMaps from Play Store to get it to show up in Android Auto.
donalhunt 4mo ago
There are players in the OpenStreetMap ecosystem attempting to change that. I know the team behind Organic Maps are actively working to make their app as viable as possible by sourcing appropriate data for example.
- DarkUranium 4mo ago
  Organic Maps is amazing. I actually find that it blows Google Maps out of the water for cycling (which is why/how I discovered it). I haven't really used it for driving much because my own car has a builtin nav, so can't really comment on that. YMMV of course.
  - flaburgan 4mo ago
    Organic Maps has been forked to CoMaps as a community managed project btw
    - Markoff 4mo ago
      TIL there has been some drama about Organic Maps, what is the difference between OM and CoMaps? Left from Maps.me to OM because of drama and intrusive features, do I need to leave OM for CM? edit: seems CM shouldnt have that annoying gift icon edit 2: CoMaps doesn't display (colored) hiking trails, so completely useless compared to Organic Maps, also can't even display tram lines after tapping on tram stop in Prague
      - dvdkon 4mo ago
        Please don't declare software "completely useless" just because it lacks a feature you need. I personally also need hiking trails on my map, but I know people who don't and happily use CoMaps.
        Markoff 4mo ago
        what's the point of the fork if it's missing basic features of the original app? it can't even display tram lines when tapping on tram stop... and let's not get into making fork of a niche map app of a fork of a niche map app, already Maps.me was very niche app, Organic Maps even more and they make another fork because of their feelings about something?
theandrewbailey 4mo ago
I've been using HERE WeGo for almost a year. I had to install a text to speech engine in order to get voice directions. (I installed the GlaDOS one, now the evil computer tells me where to go.) https://www.here.com/products/wego https://www.here.com/products/wego https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html
eblanshey 4mo ago
I use Google Maps on Graphene. It works perfectly. You still get the benefits of the rest of the phone being degoogled. Just allow it to access your location only when you're actively using the app. When it's closed, it's closed.
wolvoleo 4mo ago
I think OSM is way way better. It has every little path in the hills I walk. On Google Maps I'm just walking in a featureless green blob. OSM even has unofficial trails that are no more than a worn-down line in the brush. Maybe for cars Google is better but I don't use those. But even there I see really detailed stats. OSMAnd is a really great full featured mapping app. A real tool that you can configure in detail. And Organic maps is more simple and quick like Google maps. There's just two things I still need Google for: most businesses don't bother keeping their opening hours etc updated on other mapping services, and in my city they have live data on the public transport network. This should really be mandated to be offered to open street map too.
- flaburgan 4mo ago
  Don't forget to update the business hours in OSM when you see they are missing / wrong
  - wolvoleo 4mo ago
    Yes but I mean special holiday opening hours etc. Most places do keep these up to date in google.
    - fooqux 4mo ago
      Or Google will call them and ask which automatically updates the data.
thefz 4mo ago
Different scopes and purposes. Google Maps is made to find commercial activities and addresses, OSM is there to map the territory around.
fph 4mo ago
I recommend Magic Earth. Free with traffic and navigation, and strong privacy promises (unlike Here Maps).
- Scrounger 4mo ago
  > I recommend Magic Earth. LOL Bruh... this has a 1.7 rating on Android based on 42k reviews https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmag...
  - NoGravitas 4mo ago
    It used to be really good, and then it went to a subscription model, with a lot of back-and-forth uncertainty about the change. I suspect the rating reflects that.

by fooqux 4mo ago

I agree and have moved mostly away from everything Google. But it's hard to replace maps. I know open street maps exists but it's hard to beat Google's data gathering.

handedness 4mo ago

I've settled on running CoMaps in the Owner profile, with Google Maps/Waze/etc. in the Owner profile's Private Space for when they're necessary.

fooqux 4mo ago
Can that setup work with android auto? If so, I'll need to try that.
- NoGravitas 4mo ago
  I use CoMaps in the owner profile with Android Auto. Only caveat is that even with Android Auto developer mode enabled, I still had to install CoMaps from Play Store to get it to show up in Android Auto.

donalhunt 4mo ago

There are players in the OpenStreetMap ecosystem attempting to change that. I know the team behind Organic Maps are actively working to make their app as viable as possible by sourcing appropriate data for example.

DarkUranium 4mo ago
Organic Maps is amazing. I actually find that it blows Google Maps out of the water for cycling (which is why/how I discovered it). I haven't really used it for driving much because my own car has a builtin nav, so can't really comment on that. YMMV of course.
- flaburgan 4mo ago
  Organic Maps has been forked to CoMaps as a community managed project btw
  - Markoff 4mo ago
    TIL there has been some drama about Organic Maps, what is the difference between OM and CoMaps? Left from Maps.me to OM because of drama and intrusive features, do I need to leave OM for CM? edit: seems CM shouldnt have that annoying gift icon edit 2: CoMaps doesn't display (colored) hiking trails, so completely useless compared to Organic Maps, also can't even display tram lines after tapping on tram stop in Prague
    - dvdkon 4mo ago
      Please don't declare software "completely useless" just because it lacks a feature you need. I personally also need hiking trails on my map, but I know people who don't and happily use CoMaps.
      - Markoff 4mo ago
        what's the point of the fork if it's missing basic features of the original app? it can't even display tram lines when tapping on tram stop... and let's not get into making fork of a niche map app of a fork of a niche map app, already Maps.me was very niche app, Organic Maps even more and they make another fork because of their feelings about something?

theandrewbailey 4mo ago

I've been using HERE WeGo for almost a year. I had to install a text to speech engine in order to get voice directions. (I installed the GlaDOS one, now the evil computer tells me where to go.) https://www.here.com/products/wego https://www.here.com/products/wego https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html

eblanshey 4mo ago

I use Google Maps on Graphene. It works perfectly. You still get the benefits of the rest of the phone being degoogled. Just allow it to access your location only when you're actively using the app. When it's closed, it's closed.

wolvoleo 4mo ago

I think OSM is way way better. It has every little path in the hills I walk. On Google Maps I'm just walking in a featureless green blob. OSM even has unofficial trails that are no more than a worn-down line in the brush. Maybe for cars Google is better but I don't use those. But even there I see really detailed stats. OSMAnd is a really great full featured mapping app. A real tool that you can configure in detail. And Organic maps is more simple and quick like Google maps. There's just two things I still need Google for: most businesses don't bother keeping their opening hours etc updated on other mapping services, and in my city they have live data on the public transport network. This should really be mandated to be offered to open street map too.

flaburgan 4mo ago
Don't forget to update the business hours in OSM when you see they are missing / wrong
- wolvoleo 4mo ago
  Yes but I mean special holiday opening hours etc. Most places do keep these up to date in google.
  - fooqux 4mo ago
    Or Google will call them and ask which automatically updates the data.

thefz 4mo ago

Different scopes and purposes. Google Maps is made to find commercial activities and addresses, OSM is there to map the territory around.

fph 4mo ago

I recommend Magic Earth. Free with traffic and navigation, and strong privacy promises (unlike Here Maps).

Scrounger 4mo ago
> I recommend Magic Earth. LOL Bruh... this has a 1.7 rating on Android based on 42k reviews https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmag...
- NoGravitas 4mo ago
  It used to be really good, and then it went to a subscription model, with a lot of back-and-forth uncertainty about the change. I suspect the rating reflects that.