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Watch Google Map Edits Live

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Re: Watch Google Map Edits Live

#21

Post by aw3c2 »

NathanKP wrote: post #17
mtogo wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And how sad it is that those edits are going to google maps instead of OSM.

That is over-dramatic in my opinion. Google Maps is a good tool: it works well, and is already more complete than OSM is. Therefore I would rather see one extremely complete map than two half complete maps. In my opinion there is nothing sad about a good map getting better.

Think about it. OpenStreetMap is free data. You can make your own maps, your own selection of data, data analysis, your own routing, you can contribute and the changes are live within minutes, you can provide free maps to people, you can use open source software to edit.

From Google you only get whatever they decide they want to give.

Could you give examples what you mean by complete? POIs? In that case Google has a lot of leverage. Street/way-wise OpenStreetMap is vastly superior in many if not most cases at least here in Europe (not to mention countries where there is no monetary interest for Google).

Re: Watch Google Map Edits Live

#22

Post by NathanKP »

aw3c2 wrote: post #21
NathanKP wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is over-dramatic in my opinion. Google Maps is a good tool: it works well, and is already more complete than OSM is. Therefore I would rather see one extremely complete map than two half complete maps. In my opinion there is nothing sad about a good map getting better.

Think about it. OpenStreetMap is free data. You can make your own maps, your own selection of data, data analysis, your own routing, you can contribute and the changes are live within minutes, you can provide free maps to people, you can use open source software to edit. From Google you only get whatever they decide they want to give. Could you give examples what you mean by complete? POIs? In that case Google has a…

When I say complete I mean the entire system, from satellite imagery, to street view, to navigation directions. Additionally I am referring to the design polish that ties all these pieces together.

From what I have seen OSM is a lot like Android, open source, but fragmented because of it. Google Maps, while closed source, is much more polished and feature rich compared with anything I've seen based on OSM.

To be clear I certainly want OSM to grow to greatness, and it would wonderful if it was just as powerful and feature rich as Google Maps. I agree with you that OSM is a great project, and I like the open source aspect of it. That's not my argument though. My basic argument in the parent comment was that I think it is an over reaction to say it is "sad" to see the edits going to Google.

Whether Google's map is getting better or OSM's map is getting better people who use the systems are benefiting, so there is nothing sad about edits made to either system. And Google Maps has a much larger user base than OSM, hence it is more practical for business owners to tag their businesses in Google Maps, and people to add their streets to Google Maps.

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