I'm glad their app is getting traction. I wish all map apps that use OpenStreetMap data loaded this fast (cough cough OSMand)
this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2024
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Everything #OpenStreetMap related is welcome: software releases, showing of your work, questions about how to tag something, as long as it has to do with OpenStreetMap or OpenStreetMap-related software.
OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.
Join OpenStreetMap and start mapping: https://www.openstreetmap.org.
There are many communication channels about OSM, many organized around a certain country or region. Discover them on https://openstreetmap.community
https://mapcomplete.org is an easy-to-use website to view, edit and add points (such as shops, restaurants and others)
https://learnosm.org/en/ has a lot of information for beginners too.
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And I wish that they had contributed all that energy to improving Osmand (a project which AFAICT has exactly the same goals) instead of reinventing the wheel. Then we might already have one amazing app instead of one very good app (Osmand) and a mediocre one which is marginally more responsive.
I don't know what OsmAnd looked like at the time of Organic Maps being started, but IMO based on how they look, OM is much more welcoming to the average user and OsmAnd is for power users. I still keep both on my phone, but I reach for OM first nearly everytime
They are very different tools even if the underlying data is the same. Osmand is powerful and highly customisable but with a much steeper learning curve. Organic maps is easy to use with emphasis on UX/UI. I think they appeal to very different need and users.
OsmAnd isn't exactly eager to accept community help.
Also it isn't being maintained by the community. It is a project done by a company.
Admittedly I had not looked into this very deeply. Seems to be an Ubuntu-type business model.
OsmAnd isn’t exactly eager to accept community help.
Maybe it explains this. Projects tend to be less relaxed about breaking things when they have staff to pay. But it has its advantages as well. For example I have always got replies on the OsmAnd issue tracker. Pure community projects tend to be more chaotic and disorganized.
In any case they don't explain their income very well, I agree that's not a good look.
Damn, I was really looking forward to trying this out but my primary use for Google Maps is navigating public tansport (mainly finding bus and train times as well as routes for longer journies) but it says the data isn't available in my region yet :(
In my area the transport aithority has a website for that, so i just use that via Firefox mobile, works fine.
I want to use this, but does it have car integration? Since I got a car, I had to enable a lot of google services for map through Android auto.
Yes it works on Android Auto.
Also on CarPlay
This suggests yes: https://organicmaps.app/faq/app/how-to-use-android-auto/
Thank you. It didn't automatically show map in screen like with Google maps, so I assumed Google probably doesn't allow other apps to do that. I'll take bit more time to test it out next time.
It's possible that it doesn't work if you installed it from elsewhere than the Play Store (e.g. F-Droid). I do not know for sure though.
I did install it from fdroid.
If you installed from fdroid you have to ensble unknown sources in androud auto settings. These are the instructions from another app, but the procedure is the same
It is possible to use URL Radio on Android Auto if you have enabled unknown sources in Android Auto developer settings.
To enable:
Go to Android Auto settings and tap Version about 10 times to enable developer settings.
Tap on the hamburger menu on the top right and tap on Developer Settings.
Enable unknown sources.
That didn't work. I found this:
https://github.com/organicmaps/organicmaps/issues/8750#issuecomment-2268550760
I didn't test it. I just installed from play store to test, it shows it on dashboard but the navigation was frozen in place whole driving.
Thanks. Hopefully it's not a security problem. If any apps (bank/insurance) might be able to connect because of this.
I don't think you should expect any issue. You are allowing unkown apps to show something only in andoird android auto, with this setting, and you can always turn it back off
I am a little concerned about the apps ties to Russia. I could not find much information on Alexey Naumenko which means he could live in Russia.
I know this is definitely geopolitical but I think keeping important projects away from Russia would be good for the time being.
If you look up the actual Estonian LLC (OÜ) they use, it's owned by two guys with Russian sounding names, one living in Argentina (claims to be Byelorussian) and one living in UK (not much info on him online).
It's public info if you just look up the company name, so I'm not really doxing them.
Whether or not that's suspicious is up to you. Estonia does make it hella easy for anyone to register a company, you don't have to be a citizen, or even a real resident, you only have to be an e-resident I believe.
When it comes to open source software, in my opinion its a good thing when all individous people from all of the world can use and participate. Sometimes free software is the only chance for people to sustain against repressive governments.
As the app is free and open source the community can easily review the software functionality and detect malicious behaviour. Also the app is free, so no money need to go from you to anybody.
Nevertheless I think its good that you are doubtful and share your doubts in public. Thanks for your opinion.