Anon thinks about Google - programming.dev

I hate Google and try not use it anymore but there’s still one thing I can’t do without : Google Maps.
Have you tried open street maps? I suggest organic street maps for your phone
Organic Maps are great, however if you’re looking for shops and restaurants (or rather their reviews) Google Maps are second to none.

OSM can technically replace Gmaps for shops and restaurants if enough people were using and updating it.

However, Gmaps in unbeatable for public transportation :( no alternative at all

Oh, I’m well aware of that, got almost 100k changes myself over the years, but there are so few cities that have been mapped to the degree to compete with gmaps, that I doubt we ever will reach that level.

Also reviews. I’m not sure if there even is a way to fix that without creating a separate program with a separate ecosystem in the process…

Unfortunately the reviews at GMaps are becoming less and less reliable though, as many businesses begin to have bad reviews removed through lawyers.

I’ve had it happen to a couple of mine, where Google forwarded the request of a law firm to prove I had actually been at a restaurant more than 5 years ago (where I reviewed it with 3*).

Even if you can prove it, most people won’t and in that case the restaurant went from 3.8 stars to 4.6, which is a shame really. It confirms a hunch that just as with Amazon the reviews get a lot less reliable.