I use OSM and Organic Maps, but I have difficulty searching by address or business. I end up using my computer, finding the location, matching it to the map in the app, and favoriting it. Am I doing this the dumb way? Is there an alternative FOSS navigation app which has this functionality?
First there is a fork of Organic Maps, which is called CoMaps. If I understood it correctly, the development on Organic Maps nearly halted for some reason regarding the company that owns it. CoMaps now wants to pick it up again.
Also for navigation I use Magic Earth. It uses OSM data but is not FOSS itself, which is unfortunate. But it offers traffic data which is crucial for good arrival time estimation or avoiding traffic jams.
Same two here. CoMaps for general use, Magic Earth for navigation. Hopefully a true FOSS alternative comes along at some point.
Yeah I’d recommend Magic Earth as well, I use it practically every day. I tried many other apps and it’s annoying that this one isn’t FOSS but I needed something that actually works
doesn’t seem to work with Android Auto, which is the primary way I use it.
@peterg@piefed.social
Magic Earth generally works with Android Auto. I have already tried it. If so, then you have incorrectly configured or installed Android Auto or MEI realized this after posting my comment. it’s not listed in the app description so I assumed incorrectly. been using it for a couple of weeks now and it’s good!! the only gripe I have with it is that there’s no way to turn off spoken directions. a lot of time I use gps just to estimate my arrival time and don’t actually need it to guide me to the destination.
Look I know it’s not Foss and I hate it with a passion. But I had to have good gps the other day. Google maps told me the police was up ahead and like 20 or so people said the police was still there 1 minutes ago. I was like damn. Now Google tells you where the police is 😂
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I didn’t know that. I was looking at a wyze robo vacuum. My father has one. It does a great job actually. Drives over door lips, rugs, extension cords. You name it. Only down side is you have to manually empty the container. But for 150 its worth it for light daily cleaning while everyone is out of the house.
I use HereWeGo. it has traffic and decent search and POI databases. plus it has offline mode.
CoMaps, i transform Gmaps locations to OSM with GeoShare. Both in Fdroid/Droidify.
I live in Chicago, which uses a grid system. Apps are unnecessary for in-town trips.
I’m currently still using Waze. I have CoMaps installed, but it doesn’t seem to be available through Android Auto.
Transit (Bike/Bus/Rail) and Waze, sometimes Google maps just for more…global maps. (Eg, stuff like finding a campground on a map, or a certain bakery)
Same except I supplement with Gmaps. Transit is fantastic if you know your destination but Gmaps is way better at looking around for restaurants for example
For motorcycle riding i use calimoto. It has an option to find the most curvy route to your destination. It also works offline, which is great when riding in remote areas with poor cell coverage or foreign countries with expensive roaming conditions.
Also it can track your journey and show elevation, acceleration, speed and lean angle.
Unfortunately it’s subscription based now, but i was licky enough to buy it before that, so i basically got lifetime premium account.
One more downside is the shitty search function. even with the exact address copy pasted it almost never finds the location.
There’s an app I’ve never used but heard of: https://adresilo.com/
I think the way it works is that it queries Google’s API for locations, proxies through them, but it can’t show them on a map due to Terms of Service, but it can provide links that will then open in any map app of your choice.
The app is open source, but the DB is obviously Google. So it’s trying to blur that line of providing Open Source functionality, and using Open Source maps, with the practicality of “Google has all the stuff” UX problem.
At least I think…
I’m Using the Dutch app Here we Go, works pretty good!
Usually just Apple Maps but be careful when going to places outside of cities as it will choose weird paths through dirt roads that might not even be accessible by car, when there is a perfectly fine road parallel to it.
Anything based on OpenStreetMap is going to be limited compared to Google Maps, at least in my experience where I live. Information on public transit, traffic, police, etc is not existent on Organic Maps. If I were only walking or biking it might be a good option, but for me in practice I just have it as an offline backup to Google Maps.
I’m hoping more people contribute to OSM and CoMaps. Building an alternative isn’t easy but very doable if enough people contribute! StreetComplete looks like an easy way for everyone to help out.
