Mastodawn

The street that my mum lives in is a one-way street, but wasn't marked as such on #Google Maps. This caused many drivers to drive the wrong way. I have tried to edit it on Google Maps (there is such functionality), but to no avail. No matter how often I submitted a change (with photos of street signs!), Google said "Sorry, we could not verify it".

Solution: Edit the street on #OpenStreetMap! A few months after I did this, Google seems to have stolen the data, as it regularly does, and now the street is correct in both datasets!

Eloy. 🔜 WHY2025 Jun 22

@kytta that is hilarious lmao

Григорий Клюшников Jun 22

Could they please also steal the shapes of buildings that don't fall into the river? It's been like that for at least 4 years. In general, Google Maps are broken like that at least in St Petersburg and Dubai. They were fine in Paris, Brussels and Cologne when I visited Europe last year but I still had trust issues.

crazyeddie Jun 22

@grishka @kytta I used OSM on a pine phone a few years ago and it just plain didn't work. I think it was mainly the GPS, not the maps.

This is the first time I'm trying it out here on desktop and it's INCREDIBLY better than google maps. Just vastly superior. You just won't see any reviews or linkbacks and adverts and crap. Also no street view, which I do find useful when going somewhere I don't know, and no satellite view I can see.

I'm going to just go ahead and make the switch.

Tóth Gábor Baltazár Jun 22

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta
on android try comaps

it is in fdroid, no idea about the play store

Elrick_Winter Jun 23

@tthbaltazar @crazyeddie @grishka @kytta CoMaps is on Google play store as well. It currently has problems with public transport (at least in several areas in Germany). They are actively working on that.

Deborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦Jun 22

@crazyeddie I am not sure what app I'd use from the android Play store for OSM. Recommendation?

JBrickelt963 ✊(φ)🚩Jun 22

@deborahh pour une utilisation simple il y a @organicmaps ou @CoMaps le fork pour la transparence.

Sinon en beaucoup plus fourni il y a #OsmAnd mais ça demande une prise en main car beaucoup de personnalisation proposé.

Deborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦Jun 22

@JBrickelt963 @organicmaps @CoMaps merci!

crazyeddie Jun 22

@deborahh Not I, but check the other replies.

The Grue Jun 23

@deborahh @crazyeddie
I use #OsmAnd and like it a lot. Just the search feature sucks a little bit, but one can cope with it.

@crazyeddie
OSM is just the underlying maps (data). It's used by several applications, so it could just be that the one you had wasn't great. I'm using organic maps and it's usually ok.

@grishka @kytta

Marcos Dione Jun 22

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta beware OSM is not an app, but the the data behind. The site is more of a demo than a final product. Try the specific implementations for whatever you want to do. If unsure, just ask with #OpenStreetMap and we'll help you. Just don't expect traffic data because the amount of users is not significant enough, so nobody is doing that yet (OK, yes, a couple of more closed source products might do).

@crazyeddie
There is https://panoramax.fr/ which aims to be a fedetated alternative to streetview. It needs to be integrated in more apps.

Panoramax

Panoramax fédère les initiatives (des collectivités, des contributeurs OSM, de l’IGN...) pour favoriser l'émergence d'un géocommun de bases de vues immersives.

crazyeddie Jun 23

@Lindien Some solitary individual has been mapping out the west side of the US. If you look down at the car it's the same one every time. They've gotten around quite a bit.

@crazyeddie
Yes. This is a young project born in France. So you can expect good coverage in France. But there is a need to build other communities to take care of other part of the world.

crazyeddie Jun 23

@Lindien Yeah, gonna try to chip in. Can't let it just be one person. No promises. I almost never act on my goals.

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta
"no satellite view" is true in the viewer.
But if you 'need' to see a satellite view, you can log in and switch to Edit mode.
You should get one, and maybe a choice of several sources of imagery.
Yes, I know it is not really easy.

Simon Poole Jun 23

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta a more end user targeted web app is https://osmapp.org/ (supports category search etc.).

OsmAPP

An open-source map of the world based on the OpenStreetMap database. Features a search, clickable points of interest, in-app map edits, and more!

OsmAPP

Jakob (Jack/Jackie)Jun 23

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta The Pinephone uses the builtin GNSS of the LTE modem afaik. And the builtin GNSS of the EG25-G is utter garbage (we use it at work).
I don't think OSM deserves any blame there :P

crazyeddie Jun 23

@jakob @grishka @kytta Yeah, it was shit :p

Christian Quest 🌍Jun 23

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta no enshitification on #OpenStreetMap !

aradrin ⏚Jun 23

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta
If you're missing the street view feature, keep an eye on Panoramax, it is a pretty recent project aimed at street level photography. Probably not too good outside of France, but it's taking off here and there.

demiromantic_flag

@crazyeddie @grishka @kytta, there is a satellite view layer on OSM, but, as far as I can remember, we only can see it when editing the map.

On the OSMAnd app this view is an option, and it even has a slider on the screen to change gradually from one to another map layer, including the satellite. For example, I use CyclOSM as top layer and Microsoft(...) Earth as the bottom layer, then I control the top layer transparency with the slider.

barefootstache Jun 24

If looking for street view, #mapillary and #PANORAMAX are options.

Some OpenStreetMap apps like #OsmAnd have street view directly integrated, in this case it's via Mapillary.

@grishka @kytta

Quinn9282 🖥️🌙✌️Jun 22

@grishka @kytta I've noticed that issue as well with buildings on Google Maps. There's also weird problems with parts of existing buildings being missing/displayed wrong, or really old buildings that were demolished years ago still showing up on the map. I don't know where Google actually sources the data for buildings on the map, but it's obviously not a super great source if anything.

Григорий Клюшников Jun 22

Quinn9282, I feel like the map quality took a dip when they started generating building outlines with AI or some other crap from satellite images. Google used to have good maps of all cities.

Now, in Russia this isn't much of a problem. Everyone is using Yandex maps anyway. Those are so precise they show correct road markings on streets. But in UAE, with similarly misplaced and misshapen everything, many people, including taxi drivers, actually use Google Maps for navigation. That's legitimately scary.

@grishka @kytta I'm fine with failing French businesses falling into the river.

You are lucky. I made a complete list of French roads, one way streets, supermarkets etc... false in #googlemaps, good in #openstreetmap, and impossible to edit. https://rivals.space/@Reuillois/113986640628874366

Alexis (@Reuillois@rivals.space)

Je ne vous partagerai pas ici l'image du Golfe du Mexique renommé dans Google Maps. Mais il s'en est suivi un débat légitime sur le boycott de ce service. Je crois qu'en l'état je pourrai difficilement m'en passer sur mon téléphone, mais va pour l'ordi. Et je voudrai rajouter que s'il faut essayer de se passer de Google Maps, ce n'est pas seulement pour leur soumission au fascisme américain, c'est aussi que c'est un très mauvais service. Un petit fil avec des comparatifs avec OpenStreetMap. #GoogleMaps #Openstreetmap #golfedumexique #gulfofmexico

RIVALS.SPACE

Personne Jun 22

*gasps*
A private corporation taking advantage of free, collective labour and assets, for their private profit?!

I'm shocked, shocked, I say!

João Pinheiro Jun 22

@per_sonne That’s something I had never heard of before! I’m impressed!

Personne Jun 22

Dare I say, I'm flabbergasted. Even discombobulated.

João Pinheiro Jun 22

@per_sonne Solution: stop using Google maps!

Rob LEACH Jun 22

@kytta Openstreetmap has a lot more off road detail than Google too.

@kytta I can confirm, I had the same experience when drawing the residential building I live in

Falling forward 🌵Jun 22

@kytta
Now do Gulf of America

Kill cars for climate!Jun 22

@kytta you can't steal open data.

joosteto Jun 22

@andrej @kytta
You can steal open data, if you put it on your own website and then claim it's your data, and no-one can copy it, as google does.

As described on the OSM copyright page:

"If you alter or build upon our data, you may distribute the result only under the same license."

https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright

Copyright and License

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

OpenStreetMap

Matej Završnik Jun 22

@joosteto @andrej @kytta You could sue Google. Sure they probably have better lawyers than you can buy and they can drag on the process practically forever. But in theory, stealing is wrong.

Lord Caramac the Clueless, KSC Jun 22

@joosteto @andrej @kytta That's the very idea of copyleft licenses: To create an intellectual commons instead of intellectual property. Whoever takes copylefted content and uses it to create derivative content must publish it under the very same license, or they are in violation of the law.

Eloy. 🔜 WHY2025 Jun 22

@LordCaramac @joosteto @andrej @kytta I'm not sure if OSM can be considered a creative work, it might fall under the scope of database rights which do not exist in US law

@eloy @LordCaramac @joosteto @andrej @kytta mapping tends to be well protected. Primarily because it was largely a military intelligence asset.

MacCruiskeen Jun 22

@joosteto @andrej @kytta but an individual fact of data, like whether or not a particular street was one way, would have no copyright protection by itself. There’s no ownership, so no theft.

@maccruiskeen @joosteto @andrej @kytta The “theft” is of the work and time that it took to put together and proof the data, not the fact that certain streets are one way or not. Is Google’s behaviour actually legal? No idea. Is it ethical? Fuck no.

It’s always strange watching people rush to defend huge corporations that don’t give a shit about any one else.

MacCruiskeen Jun 22

@alextm So, you voluntarily gave public information to an open database, and complain that someone else used it? Because you don't like them? Did you put that condition on OSM?

@maccruiskeen Did the people contributing think they were helping an open source project, or working for free for an incredibly profitable corporation with numerous ethical issues?

Personally I’d think twice about the latter scenario.

Edit: it’s also very likely the type of people who know about and contribute to an open source mapping project already have concerns about Google. Otherwise they likely wouldn’t even know there’s an alternative to Google/Apple maps.

MacCruiskeen Jun 22

@alextm None of that really matters, because the data being contributed is *public domain* information. Which means you can't really put constraints on its use. You can *claim* to, but those claims will be *very* weak and limited.

@maccruiskeen As previously stated, I’m not arguing the legality of this.

Rihards Olups Jun 22

@maccruiskeen @alextm Yes, OSM data has a licence and attribution requirements.

@maccruiskeen @alextm
It's just scummy

foundseed Jun 22

@maccruiskeen @joosteto @andrej @kytta thats so weird how you say that info is not copyrighted, when the source they clearly pulled that info from, displayed it... Under copyright.
If Google listened to the edit through their "proper channels" that info would NOT have been stolen, since it would be from its own built in data source, not a copyrighted source.
Lol
Lmao

MacCruiskeen Jun 22

@foundseed @joosteto @andrej @kytta The compilation copyright of databases doesn't cover the information in that database, because public facts aren't subject to copyright. Neither OSM or Google actually own the bits of street data that they complie.

foundseed Jun 22

@maccruiskeen @joosteto @andrej @kytta no one owns anything, dude, copyright is a colonial construct used as a tool of class war. So in that way, we agree!

MacCruiskeen Jun 22

@foundseed @joosteto @andrej @kytta Well, the first copyright laws were passed more for domestic interests than colonial ones, but, whatever.

@joosteto @andrej @kytta
15 years ago, a novel by Michel Houellebecq was published under a libre license because it had entire pages of Wikipedia content.
https://www.numerama.com/politique/17508-houellebecq-sous-licence-libre-n-est-plus-en-libre-acces.html

Houellebecq "sous licence libre" n'est plus en libre accès

Mise en ligne sous une licence libre, la copie du dernier roman de Michel Houellebecq a finalement été retirée du blog personnel de Florent Gallaire. Menacé par une action en justice de la part de Flammarion, celui-ci reste convaincu de la pertinence de son raisonnement basé sur le principe de viralité des licences

Numerama

Takiro 🎨Jun 22

@andrej @kytta
So it's just stolen labor then.

Pēteris Krišjānis Jul 1

@andrej @kytta if they say they include OpenStreetMap data and provide attribution that is fine.
I am not sure Google Maps do that.

@kytta many a thankless volunteer end up reaping plenty for companies, and they never even bother to care for their crops. turns out, they're just vermin

good tact to think of alternative sitches though, glad it's all sorted out now

Vincent 🌻🇪🇺Jun 22

@kytta Use the greedy thieving bastards to your advantage, I guess

Göttergattinnengatte Jun 22

@kytta that's a great hint, thank you! I have a similar Situation here, Google decided last summer, that the street where I live in, is not longer accessible by car, which makes route planning impossible. Great problem with parcel delivery services...
I will have a look at OSM and will see, what I can do.

Club de TéléMatique

it shouldn't, but this is fucking brilliant !!! 🙂

weel done !!