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OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

blog.osmfoundation.org

61–70 of 160 posts

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#61
post #56

In addition to the attribution, I'd like to know how they are going to comply with the "share-alike" part of the license. Where can I download "Apple maps"? According to the OSM FAQ, it should contain not only the OSM data but all other data they have merged in. It also seems like they should be required to release all the styling parameters and/or code needed to render the maps exactly as they appear in iPhoto - doe…

No-one really know how far CC goes, and that's one reason OSM is changing licence to a new Open Database Licence (ODbL)

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#62
post #53

Could someone clarify using a service like OSM or Google Maps vs. using their data for map tiles? After the announcement I read tweets that basically said Apple was still using the Google Maps service, but the tiles were rendered by Apple? Based on what I'm reading it sounds like I misunderstood or am misremembering what I read.

Some of Apple's software is still using Google Maps. Some is use tiles that Apple render and host, but based on OpenStreetMap data. Basically 2 years ago someone download the OSM data base (you can get it here http://planet.openstreetmap.org/ ), and then they made up their own style.

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#63
post #20

Then congratulations Apple, for making a not so great map even worse. I can't really judge map quality in the US, but in Germany it sucks. Cities show up twice or are missing completely, labels are often small, unreadable and ugly. There is no consistency in the placement of lables. OSM has its fair share of inconsistencies but it's not that bad. The map is ok for what it is: Just for presentation inside of iPhoto, n…

In my city it is way more detailed than gmaps. Even the smallest trails in the local park are in there, also cross-country ski runs in the mountains. I trust OSM will pretty much all my hiking plans.

The only thing that was missing in my city were a few house-numbers in some streets close to my apartment. So I went out and fixed it.

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#64
post #2

"It’s also missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap’s contributors; we look forward to working with Apple to get that on there."

While I think it's quite messed up that a company as rich as Apple can't abide putting credits for people who have put some really good work in (I've even made small updates to OSM in my time) I do think that this is a very classy move by the OSM people, no ranting blog post or 'Apple stole our stuff', welcoming people presents a much better image of the project.

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#67
post #64
post #2

"It’s also missing the necessary credit to OpenStreetMap’s contributors; we look forward to working with Apple to get that on there."

While I think it's quite messed up that a company as rich as Apple can't abide putting credits for people who have put some really good work in (I've even made small updates to OSM in my time) I do think that this is a very classy move by the OSM people, no ranting blog post or 'Apple stole our stuff', welcoming people presents a much better image of the project.

Given the behaviour of Steve Jobs over the years, that attitude is probably embedded in the culture.

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#68
post #51

Has it been confirmed that they're using OSM data or could the data be a product of their acquisition of Placebase (back in 2009)? Apple have actually been using this tile set for a while (it's used in the slide show mode of the current version of iPhoto for OS X).

[deleted]

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#69

It feels a bit silly to fawn over map tiles... and I'll probably be accused of being an "Apple Fanboy"... But I'll be damned if those aren't some gorgeous tiles. Hopefully, this signals apple will move away from google for the built in maps app and provide something superior themselves with something comparable to the kick ass turn by turn in the current Android devices.

One of these is far nicer and clearer than the other: http://alastaira.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image3.png http://alastaira.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image4.png Apple's version comes up really lacking in comparison to the default OSM one, which I would call gorgeous, personally.

OSM is trying to give you directions, Apple is trying to show you the general area of where a photo was taken. I like that Apple is throwing away some of the information to make it look a little nicer. In a map app though, this would be stupid.

Re: OpenStreetMap: Welcome Apple

#70
post #60
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity, I made a comparison between the two towns where most of my photos are taken as seen in GMaps vs. OSM. http://cl.ly/133M1H3W2W362S2F0l13 http://cl.ly/2P2d3y042N1T0o2p390H 600k and 60k inhabitants respectively.

Interesting. From your screenshots, Apple's maps are so bad it's not even funny. It's just very, very bad. Steve would've never allowed such a thing to ship. Is this a first sign that without an asshole with taste at the top, the erosion of Apple is inevitable?

You may be correct, but I'm not positive. These maps are used to give you an idea of where a photo was taken, not to provide navigation to it, so detail isn't quite as important. The other consideration is this is one data point. Perhaps Apple did a thousand of these and felt OSM was better.

Or, maybe Apple is going to quickly flame out.

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