Mastodawn

ingwar Sep 27, 2023

#Google is trying again to convince you, YES YOU, to contribute for free to Google Maps.
Please don't.
It is 100% #proprietary, Google has full control over the data you added and people can only access Google Maps over proprietary channels where Google dictates the rules. This gives them too much power.

Contribute to #OpenStreetMap instead, it's a project by the community, for the community.

https://www.openstreetmap.org

#OSM #GoogleMaps #PSA #scam #capitalism #OpenData

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

OpenStreetMap

Paranoid Factoid Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy OMG. This latest update forced ad tracking, which I disabled. Then, in the photos app, useful tools like crop and resize were removed and offered as an in app purchase

Fuck Google.

Ferrichrome Sep 27, 2023

@ParanoidFactoid @Wuzzy Source? Where is Google photos locking stuff behind IAPs? I’m totally with you guys on “fuck Google” of course but I need to see evidence for stuff like this, a cursory search isn’t showing anything

Paranoid Factoid Sep 27, 2023

@Ferrichrome @Wuzzy In my phone.

Shine Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy there is also a great app for gamified mapping. https://streetcomplete.app/

StreetComplete

OpenStreetMap surveyor app

Hippo 🍉Sep 27, 2023

@shine @Wuzzy yepp, I was just going to suggest this too! I haven't used it yet but it's the reason I'm considering finally switching over to an Androidish device (currently on KaiOS)

alastair87 (old account)Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy The only thing I would say is that sometimes it's in someone's interests pragmatically. It would be really helpful if I could convince Google Maps that I am not my local library.

Sebastian Krzyszkowiak Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy And if using Android (either directly or containerized), check out https://streetcomplete.app/ which makes it super easy to contribute!

StreetComplete

OpenStreetMap surveyor app

Jeramee Sep 27, 2023

Thank you. I just downloaded StreetComplete.

Artificial Stupidity Sep 27, 2023

@dos installing! and f… Google!

fbievan Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy where? (where is google doing that?)

Jes Moved to @[email protected]Sep 26, 2023

@[email protected] @Wuzzy waze

Janealogy Scottish Fam Hist Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy very novice question here, is this in anyway suitable for mapping the names of crofts that have or are about to disappear and not named on OS maps? On a quick look there is not the detail for that to be done with much accuracy. Or am I missing the point??

benoitdd Sep 26, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy
I'm not sure what crofts are (farms? piece of land?), and how they can be mapped (as a point or an area?), but for things already gone, there is a specific project called OpenHistoryMap.
As for details, almost everything can be mapped (benches, trees, bins..) so I see no limitation

benoitdd Sep 26, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy
An example of detailled mapping in Scotland: at the max zoom level, even walls and barriers between fields have been mapped. https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=17/58.49035/-6.24027

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.

OpenStreetMap

Janealogy Scottish Fam Hist Sep 27, 2023

@benoitdd @Wuzzy croft is essentially a small farm. I'd be looking to map the house really, or what remains of it. I'll check out OpenHistoryMap.

benoitdd Sep 27, 2023

@Janealogy
This is an example how farms are mapped in OSM, it is possible to add the name to the area.
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:landuse%3Dfarmyard

The tag historic=croft might be used, but you should discuss it with the local OSM community to find the best way to do it

Tag:landuse=farmyard - OpenStreetMap Wiki

Colm Ó Donnchadha Sep 26, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy I'd say so

I'm not fully sure what a Croft is, is it the whole farm a crofter has and their home, or just the land immediately around their house?

Anyway, assuming it's 2 or more areas of land,(if it's all one connected piece of land it's even easier)
You can draw an outline, and tag it with the Croft name.
When you go to edit the map, there's aerial photography from a few years ago, so you can see land boundaries

Janealogy Scottish Fam Hist Sep 27, 2023

@ColmDonoghue @Wuzzy it's all the land, the house would be a croft house - but that is really what I would be mapping. For boundaries problem is that most are now incorporated into bigger farms so boundaries (if they were ever recorded) would be hard to draw.

Derick Rethans Sep 27, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy Nope, adding locally known data to OpenStreetMap is great, as long as it can be verified on the ground.

I suspect, the crofts have a sign with their name?

Janealogy Scottish Fam Hist Sep 27, 2023

@derickr @Wuzzy No, no signs for most, and many are in ruins now.

Derick Rethans Sep 27, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy As an example, could I show up and ask a local, and they wouldn't know the name?

That way, I'm still be able to verify it.

Don't sweat it though, OSM isn't *that* strict with this rule.

Janealogy Scottish Fam Hist Sep 27, 2023

@derickr @Wuzzy Depends who you speak to! I have experimented with Google Maps but if there is an alternative without a steep learning curve I'd be keen to explore and get others from the area involved.

Derick Rethans Sep 27, 2023

@Janealogy @Wuzzy Personally, I think it would be a great addition.

You can always reach out to other local mappers first, and most of them would be happy to help too: https://resultmaps.neis-one.org/oooc?zoom=11&lat=59.02816&lon=-3.05407&layers=B0FTFFFFT&contributors=FFTTTT (Orkney, for examples) — each user profile will have a "Send Message" link.

Murphestophelese MurphMeister Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy
I only do in one important way. They keep marking a road as bicycle friendly, and it's a deathtrap. That I'll make an exception for.

Murphestophelese MurphMeister Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy That being said, I try to make meaningful additions to #OSM

NYC Glue Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy I recently used #organicMaps (which is based on #OpenStreetMap ) and it really saved my ass as it's able to route without a cellular signal. #googlemaps can't do that.

Jes Moved to @[email protected]Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy it's also really possible that google maps would lie to you. most popular map softwares are known to put in fake streets so google would know that you're pirating their street data.

@Jessica @Wuzzy Sounds similar to how most fact books will include a couple intentionally wrong "facts" so they can know if another book copied them ... This kinda stuff is harmful imo ...

Supportive Tree-based lifeform Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy I wish there was an option to just feed applications garbage GPS outputs.

Doug Grinbergs Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy PSA: you can also contribute street-level driving, riding, walking images (mappers use the term "ground truth") to #OpenStreetMap #OSM, which map editors can use to fine-tune map objects, using crowdsourced Mapillary (owned by Meta), KartaView, Mapilio. (OSM edit mode layers can be toggled on/off.)
I mostly use Every Door app to add/update street furniture in realtime.

Rook Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy The single greatest thing I've done on OSM was adding all the field numbers at the local soccer pitch to the map.

I only did it so my wife and I wouldn't get lost when the kids had games, but I was able to get a few parents to sign up and help map our city because it was so helpful.

And if I can offer one piece of advice to people considering contributing it's this: if you only want to add one kind of feature, that's totally okay. Someone else can and will fill in the rest.

Anderson L Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy which app can I use on iOS to use and contribute to OSM ?

Rihards Olups Sep 26, 2023

@andirsun @Wuzzy Several, depending on your needs - for example, Organic Maps, OsmAnd, EveryDoor, MapComplete (in browser), GoMap!! - and then all the apps that use OSM data like cycle.travel, Strava, komoot and many more.

mathew Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy @andirsun I used Organic Maps today to add a couple of local businesses. It was pretty good. https://organicmaps.app

(I kinda gave up on OSM some years ago, but coincidentally I tried it out yesterday and decided to get back into contributing. The apps are a lot better now.)

Organic Maps: Offline Hike, Bike, Trails and Navigation

Free, open-source, fast, privacy-focused, detailed offline maps for travelers, tourists, drivers, hikers and cyclists created by MapsWithMe/Maps.Me app founders

@Wuzzy +9001%

I think it's bad that #Google is even allowed to request #unpaodLabour by others for #proprietary #SingleVendor & #SingleProvider solutions.

In fact I've seen their shit getting worse and sometimes deliberately routing friends the wrong way into one-way roads, almost causing an accident if they did follow it.

Never had that shit - or #MapVandalism - on #OpenSteetMap!

My Actual Brain Sep 26, 2023

@Wuzzy I did this a while ago in my old neighborhood. It was pretty fun.

@Wuzzy For those who want to add POI information to #OpenStreetMap without to much hassle, try https://mapcomplete.org

MapComplete - editable, thematic maps with OpenStreetMap

MapComplete is a platform to visualize OpenStreetMap on a specific topic and to easily contribute data back to it.

Amgine Sep 27, 2023

…and it ends up in Google maps even more quickly than using Google's own system.

Derick Rethans Sep 27, 2023

@amgine @Wuzzy If you have evidence of Google Maps incorporating OSM data, please contact the Data Working Group: https://osmfoundation.org/wiki/Data_Working_Group#I.27ve_seen_a_problem.3B_what_should_I_do.3F (their emails in a paragraph there). They are absolutely not allowed to do that.

Data Working Group - OpenStreetMap Foundation

Amgine Sep 27, 2023

@derickr @Wuzzy

My exemplars are dated; some years ago I was adding cemeteries to OSM in order to show them in my genealogy project. Within a half hour they would appear in Google Maps, and I could compare/contrast the satellite imagery and possibly edit further.

Likely I could test with the same process.

@derickr @amgine @Wuzzy Apple is allowed though. And that other mapping initiative with Facebook and a bunch of other corpos in it definitely uses OSM data.

tbeseda Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy +1
I really enjoy Organic Maps on iOS https://organicmaps.app

Organic Maps: Offline Hike, Bike, Trails and Navigation

Free, open-source, fast, privacy-focused, detailed offline maps for travelers, tourists, drivers, hikers and cyclists created by MapsWithMe/Maps.Me app founders

ch0ccyra1n is leaving fedi soon Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy
Oh yeah forgot to add the missing bus stations to OSM

dacmot has moved Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy Traffic, road closures and transit (other apps based on Google) are what's keeping me on gmaps... Unfortunately.

Weasel Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy
How do I get it to overlay the satellite image layer?

The Turtle Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy NONONONONO!!!! PISS IN GOOGLE'S WELL!! CONTRIBUTE ROADS THAT DON'T EXIST! SEND MORONS DRIVING OFF CLIFFS AND INTO THE MIDDLE OF SWAMPS! GOOGLE WILL HAVE LIABILITY!!!!!

Rusty Corgi ➡️ Furcationland Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy It helps that Google makes it impossible to contribute anything meaningful to Google Maps. There's a river near me whose name was officially changed years ago because it was named after an indigenous slur, yet it still shows up with the slur on Google Maps. Meanwhile OpenStreetMap had it changed almost immediately.

@Wuzzy Me, with already 200k Views. 🥹

neocat_flag_lesbian

@Wuzzy stock miui + family link + a concerned father who tracks your location all the time= pain

Softwarewolf Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy I wish OSM weren't so baren in the US. It's great in major cities, in parks, and on trails - but otherwise, the rest of my country is a data desert.

"Contribute!" is easy to say and hard to do - it took me weeks just to map out the suburbs around me. I didn't even take pictures. Many of the businesses have changed since then as well. And I'm the only person in my area that has contributed in the last several years.

If GMaps dropped off the face of the earth tomorrow and everyone had to contribute to OSM instead, I think the world would be a much better place.

Wuzzy Sep 27, 2023

@faoluin Every small contribution helps making #OSM better. *ESPECIALLY* in poorly-mapped out area. Thanks for your service! 👍

Huh Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy yo someone decode the earth

Patrick Pfeifer Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy Yes!
And btw. a free nice looking app I foundv to use OSM on android is "Organic Maps": https://organicmaps.app/

Organic Maps: Offline Hike, Bike, Trails and Navigation

Free, open-source, fast, privacy-focused, detailed offline maps for travelers, tourists, drivers, hikers and cyclists created by MapsWithMe/Maps.Me app founders

ChrisAshtear Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy speaking of scams, roblox is fucking bullshit too. Except they want minors to work for free or for pennies.

bigblen Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy are you referring to something specific that is happening right now?
BTW there is already no chance whatever that I'll contribute to oogle maps

bibasse Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy
We can also troll googlemaps by adding false informations.

#TrollTips #googlemaps

ein kleines z Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy The moment I deactivated Google Maps App and installed Osmand was when I was 100% sure I had killed Google Maps App to not keep it running while I was going places, also I had deactivated "features" for tracking where I was going, and then, when I arrived in a restaurant, a Google Maps notification popped up asking me to rate this place. That's when I realized they really spy on you at all times and there is no way to opt out of that except not allowing that app on your phone.

Antonio Sep 27, 2023

@Wuzzy É así, pero coido que a proposta debera ser 'contribúe a OSM porque é de todos, neutro, e para todos. Sen nin citar a Google