Technology @lemmy.ml MazonnaCara89 @lemmy.ml 1 yr. ago

Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and TomTom have launched their open map dataset

www.theverge.com Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have launched their open-source mapping project

Watch out, Apple and Google.

45 comments

While this is not bad, didn't these companies considered just contributing to OpenStreetMap? Why is starting a new thing better?
- It seems they consider themselves complimentary with OpenStreetMap, as stated on their FAQ https://overturemaps.org/resources/faq/#
  
  Overture is a data-centric map project, not a community of individual map editors. Therefore, Overture is intended to be complementary to OSM. We combine OSM with other sources to produce new open map data sets. Overture data will be available for use by the OpenStreetMap community under compatible open data licenses. Overture members are encouraged to contribute to OSM directly.
  
  I don't know a lot about any of both projects, but it seems fair.
  
  Almost sounds too fair, like there's a catch. You can never know with these guys.
  
  It makes sense; OSM is a great source of mapping data, but it misses POIs like businesses and whatnot. If I understand it correctly they all want to chip in to make a huge combined dataset that has the potential to rival Google Maps, especially if they all use it and allow people to contribute as easily as you can do on Google Maps.
- Can’t collect data on users without starting their own thing.
  
  Sounds like you don't actually know much about it. This is a map dataset, they have no way of tracking people once it is independently implemented. They also could have just released a map app using OSM and collected data from that, there was nothing stopping them.
  
  They explained in their FAQ why this is a separate project:
  
  Overture is a data-centric map project, not a community of individual map editors. Therefore, Overture is intended to be complementary to OSM. We combine OSM with other sources to produce new open map data sets. Overture data will be available for use by the OpenStreetMap community under compatible open data licenses. Overture members are encouraged to contribute to OSM directly.
  
  How would data collection work in this case though?
  
  That must be it, all these companies are known to give not a single fuck about privacy.
- This does use OpenStreetMap. It adds other public data from other sources.
  
  Out of the four layers Overture Maps provides, th ey use OpenStreetMap for the Transportation and Building layers.
  
  Using it is not contributing to it. Or am I a contributor to the Linux kernel, and even to Windows itself?
- Good question. Contributing to OSM seems like the better route. Pun intended.
- That wouldn't be evil. And they probably can't just take over OSM or one would have already.
How this can be used to improve OSM/Organic Maps?
- If the license is compatible with the one used by OSM contributors can use the data to make their life easier, contributors of the dataset are encouraged to contribute directly to osm if possible.
  
  Licence is compatible, but data they have is of...questionable quality...to say at least. For example, I think building dataset is Odbl and I think it contains ML-detected buildings. These got released years ago (becase they had to release it as OdbL to mix them in their maps). Rarely who imported these buildings in OSM as there are lot pf false positives and what not. So, just because they released something under odbl/cdla doesn't mean it is good for OSM and that it could be imported (for example speed profiles, if we ever get real gold data). Overture is more of a playground for big tech to play without OSM telling them what is good and what is not
Anything we can do to have competition in the market is a good thing.
- Yes please! Google Maps (the app, not so much the data) gets worse with every update.
- Yeah. I love Google Maps and don't have any plans to stop using it, but it's always good for consumers to have competition. Monopolies lead to stagnation.
Can anyone recommend some good Android map apps that use this? I would love to switch!
- There is not one yet, the dataset got released yesterday. But you can use an OpenStreetMap based map Organic Maps f-droid PlayStore
  
  And if data is not available on that then maybe it's time to contribute on osm as well, thanks to StreetComplete!
- OSMAnd+ is the complete solution, and Organic Maps is a young experimental project. I use OSMAnd+ in India and it suffices my needs more than Google Maps did. If you are comfortable with closed source Magic Earth, it could be useful.
  
  Organic Maps is really good but beware that it doesn't have lane assistance on highways which can prove to be dangerous imo.
  
  Anything for iOS yet?
  
  Hmm, looking at it, it even supports Android Auto! Neat!
If I recall correctly, that joint effort was coordinated with the help of the linux foundation... Correct me if I am wrong
- You are correct. it's in the title of the website. https://overturemaps.org/
I'm not familiar with overture maps or OSM. What does it all mean? Will they really compete with gmaps? Are either more privacy focused?
- OSM is basically Wikipedia in map form. It uses public domain or donated map data and anyone can contribute.
  
  It is very much a competitor to Google Maps.
  
  But OSM is not a simple map but a database of data, what you see on their site is only an implementation of what you can do with the data.
It's time to apply the law and ask them to remove the datas about my home.

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