this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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DeGoogle Yourself
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No better time than the present to switch to OpenStreetMap
For Android, I use OsmAnd~ which uses OpenStreetMap data and allows you to download maps to calculate routes offline, something Google Maps couldn't do for routes by foot and by bike last time I tried.
It also has better coverage for some small paths in natural areas like forests. Give it a try!
In OSM ″Gulf of America″ is added under official_name:en-US tag so if any app uses this tag to display names, it will show up.
Here is the link to OSM object for Gulf of Mexico. And here is a thread that discusses naming.
Any country/language can call any object as they want. This change of course was dumb and petty and doubt it will be adopted by other regions, but this is nothing new or special. Google Maps currently show ″Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)″ for me. When checking in another language it shows same naming standard.
Yeah OSMand and organic maps update their data sets once a month or so. I know this as when I first started contributing I checked the app 100x bummed that my contributions weren't there yet lol
Is using alternative maps even worth it if you have google's Android and location has to go through google play services anyways?
Google Maps are pretty barebones, but at the same time reliable for general / basic use. Depends on region, but OSM usually will be more detailed. It is also possible your region has some local provider that is even better.
Google Maps in my region excel only for navigation quality for cars and search for commercial stuff (businesses and shops)
It won’t prevent Google from tracking your location, but it might help support these alternative maps by increasing their popularity on the PlayStore and whatnot.
you can use gps without play services.
How?
Disable "(improve) location accuracy" in settings and location history in Google settings (I think)
google play services would still periodically query your location, even when on gps only. it's a privileged app so you can't even block it from doing so. MicroG (on lineageOS or calyxOS), or GrapheneOS' sandboxed play services can help with that
The OsmAnd~ app, from fdroid, is the premium (and paid) version og OsmAnd, also known as OsmAnd+.
If you use the fdroid version, and enjoy the app, consider donating to the developers through other means.
I've been using it and evangelizing it for some time now. I don't have a data plan and it works. My data, location, preferences or anything is not sold to anyone.
It can be a little overwhelming at first. It can be difficult to use at times (the search isn't great), but in using it, I feel like I'm a part of something good and I can rest better knowing that.
OsmAnd is a nightmare in terms of user experience! I dropped it 8 years ago because it was a horror. I gave it a try again last month because, you know, maybe people have done something about the useless navigation, the totally overpacked UI, the sluggish behaviour etc. Guess what? It's the same terrible (!) app it was 8 years ago!
FCK Google, but if that's all that there is as an alternative, well...
I use Magic Earth. It's not Open Source afaik but they claim they dont collect data (...🤔). I don't believe this so use these apps as little as possible.
Greetings, an open source enthousiast
Agree with you, OsmAnd is practically unusable for me due to the ancient UI. I hated it every time I used it.
I found Organic Maps to be a decent modern alternative. It's open source and uses data from openstreetmaps as well, but it's a million times less cluttered.