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TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

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221–230 of 477 posts

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#221
post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

I agree that GMaps still reigns supreme, but Apple Maps is now definitely better in some regards, including the actual maps and transit directions for my city. Probably due to all the OSM data they include, in fairness.

Is Apple Maps cross platform or only exclusive to Apple devices?

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#222
post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

> I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality How will that happen realistically? The truth is it's impossible to compete with ad-funded tech giants in the current state of affairs. For that to change two things are needed: 1 . government intervention to break up Google ads from their maps and other businesses, leveling the playing field for their competitors who aren't making money via ads (not…

What warrants this adversarial tone? This is one person’s justification of the “everything was better when everything wasn’t google” sentiment. Are you trying to talk somebody out of how they feel because you feel that an alternative is not realistic, for the very reason that they find it scary in the first place? We all know why Google is unstoppable until the ad money runs dry.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#223
post #205
post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

> Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of.

At least for walking and cycling, OSM has data leagues better than Gmaps. Also for driving actually, but navigation is indeed not as good. Lack of traffic info...

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#224
post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

My last TomTom device was from a few years ago and it wasn't that great. Slow, low resolution display and updates took hours to apply.

I now use the TomTom Android app and it's better than any other app or device I have used. Good maps, with clear instructions and great traffic information.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#225
post #205
post #142

I don't understand the 'everything was better when it wasn't google' mentality that is so often found in these threads. My dad used to work at TomTom right here in the Netherlands. They used to be a fun and innovative company to work for. When it became apparent they entered a multibillion dollar business it was all about the money. As someone who used TomTom before other options became available I can honestly say t…

Google maps is fantastic. It beats literally everything else I can think of. But that’s scary. I want a competitor that offers at least roughly similar quality, but Google is so far ahead that it’s no contest.

The quality of Google Map is better than others because it has more users, and thus better input data. And that's the real problem - competitors cannot improve improve their product without better data, and so users find it inferior and avoid their product / service and turn back to Google Maps (which allows Google to improve their product further and take a lead). Note though that Google has another edge over its competitors - (1) Android OS has been collecting geo-location data even if you don't use Google Maps and (2) Google also gets their competitors data if a user uses a competing map app on Android OS.

Google search is also in a similar position - the vast amount of users means its competitors just cannot improve their product because users become disappointed with the quality and stop using it, thus denying them a chance to improve their product.

The old solution to prevent anti-competitive behaviour and foster healthy capitalism was to break them up. But for more modern problems like this, I think a different approach is also needed - we need to force such monopolies to also share their data with the competitors, till the competitors become large enough to compete with them on their own.

(For those seeking a decent alternatives to Google Maps, I recommend Here - https://wego.here.com/ - it was owned by Nokia before they sold it to a consortium of European automobile manufacturers and is quite good).

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that GMaps still reigns supreme, but Apple Maps is now definitely better in some regards, including the actual maps and transit directions for my city. Probably due to all the OSM data they include, in fairness.

Is Apple Maps cross platform or only exclusive to Apple devices?

Only Apple devices

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that GMaps still reigns supreme, but Apple Maps is now definitely better in some regards, including the actual maps and transit directions for my city. Probably due to all the OSM data they include, in fairness.

Is Apple Maps cross platform or only exclusive to Apple devices?

It has a well hidden web version. The easiest way to access the web version is via duckduckgo - just do a search for anything and click the map tab. the actual map tiles and data all come from apples servers.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#228
post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a TomTom PND and I swear by it. It's much better than the navigation systems built into cars (unless they're TomTom, several brands have them built-in). Also, I refuse to use Google Maps as I am loath to let Google know my travel history. I am, however, somewhat concerned that TomTom uploads my travel history to their servers, since my device has LTE/3G capability. This was used to fetch congestion information…

If I google "why is it bad for google to track you", I can find a hundred articles breathlessly telling you all the ways google is tracking you, and a hundred more on how to stop it - but none answering the question. Can someone explain to me why it's a problem? (I make the assumption that even if google doesn't do it, your carrier does, so it doesn't add anything additional to "government's ability to repress/harass…

If Google's tracking data became available to the right people, you can imagine why that would be bad for you if the married FAA official in charge of approving the 737 MAX was tracked to his mistress' apartment.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#229
post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's exactly what I'm trying to understand. What is the problem people have with it? Maybe if you tell me, I'll feel the same way!

It is not only you. The more people are OK with this, the higher the danger for other people, who are not OK with this, because data adds up and usually becomes more information than the sum of its parts. Tracking and spying are a danger to people, whose work requires them to not be tracked and found. People like journalists in oppressive regimes. While people run around merily sacrificing their privacy for the reaso…

Fantastic way to put things, well done.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#230
post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also important how they're doing this. GMaps in my car constantly fails to show anything useful (or even start navigation) because there's no signal in my underground garage. Such a simple thing and yet TomTom can do it and Google can't.

You can download maps offline in Google Maps

You can only download them in explicitly specified chunks (not e.g. one whole state, much less whole country), and they expire if you don't update them regularly.
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