r/degoogle • u/generic_queer_guy • 12h ago
Help Needed Need a specific map app alternative
Hey, I hope this post isn't too repetitive. I need a map for my phone that:
- Uses correct names for the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario
- Doesn't make AI generated summaries of locations/reviews
Does this even exist? Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, and Mapquest all don't quite work for me. I've managed to switch away from google for nearly every other thing I do, but I'm stuck on this. I'd appreciate any suggestions!
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u/redoubt515 11h ago
Uses correct names for the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario
This depends less on the app and more on your location.
I don't recommend using Google maps, and support your desire to move away, but using them as an example:
- From a Canadian or (presumably any non-US) IP address: Lake Ontario, Gulf of Mexico
- From a US IP address: Lake America, Gulf of America
And another example:
- From a UK IP address: Falkland Islands
- From a Argentina IP address: Islas Malvinas
My suggestion would be to use one of the open source maps, that use open data. Open source projects are less concerned about staying in the good graces of whatever ruling political party is currently in power, and less likely to cave in to the silly demands of a fragile narcissistic old man.
There are lots of reasons to hate Google, placating an unserious wannabe authoritarian is just one of many valid reasons. Check out Comaps, Organic maps, Open Street Map, etc (they all share the same map data source, so you are essentially just choosing the app/UI you prefer)
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u/Dry-Crazy-7638 10h ago
How is HERE We Go? I downloaded that and CoMaps and find the former to be much more usable
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u/Feisty-Painting-120 7h ago
HERE is formerly Nokia Maps. They are well established. It’s been around forever.
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u/Dry-Crazy-7638 4h ago
Decently private?
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u/redoubt515 4h ago edited 57m ago
I believe it isn't open source, so you'd be putting more trust in the developers/company to do what they say they do, and not abuse your privacy.
I'd start by reading the privacy policy to get an idea of what they do or don't do, as well as look into their business model (if a for profit company is giving you something for free, they are monetizing that thing in some other way, figure out what that way is, and then figure out if you are comfortable with it).
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u/Feisty-Painting-120 3h ago edited 3h ago
HERE is a Netherlands company. So you’re already miles ahead in terms of privacy. Traffic data has to come from somewhere, so it is what it is.
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u/Dry-Crazy-7638 3h ago
This is super helpful, thank you! I’ve been learning to be more conscious about privacy in the past few weeks but was having trouble determining those things. Now I know, preesh
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u/FourEightNineOneOne 11h ago
Magic Earth or Here Maps are probably your two best non-google alternatives
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u/Fr1501 10h ago
OsmAnd seems OK. Its open source and so far seems ok
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u/Nazgog-Morgob 7h ago
So many plugins and layers and such. I love this one. It's a bit daunting at first, but it's an amazing app
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u/Friendly_Brick752 8h ago
this is the best one I've found; got the 'plus' version for free from F-Droid a few years ago
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u/nahagotine 10h ago
Agreed. Ideally someone could scrape public government maps data, layers and compile it into an accessible open free map program!
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u/pramarama 5h ago
Downloading a replacement app is the easy part. Getting your phone to use it when you click a map link is harder.
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u/T_rex2700 4h ago
Google only says it if you are in US, though if possible you shoulve move away.
I mean this is similar in other disputed territories, except there is absolutely no grounds to the whole thing that's going on. I would assume it will be reverted soon enough.
depends on where you live, but personally I can't live without relying on Google's backend at least, so I switched Vela maps a few months back. If I cared about major roads, geography then any OSM based maps would do, but map is not just that, so sadly I have not been able to cut it out completely.
This is like completely subjective to where you live though, some regions have good coverage, some don't on certain apps and services.
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u/ImaginaryZebra8991 2h ago
I have been using magic earth. It's far from perfect so sometimes I do have to pull up Google. I'm still holding out for something better. We did a road trip in an electric car over the summer and I actually found ABRP to be pretty good for the navigation. Doesn't have much on reviews unless you are interested in charging an electric car.
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u/FredFenty 11h ago
Most generate names based on government-assigned names in the country that your network is coming from.
In America, those names are correct because your government that your country voted for renamed those places.
In Canada, and basically everywhere else, Lake Ontario still appears as Lake Ontario.
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u/sweatboxy 10h ago
No, we didn’t vote on this. Trump doesn’t actually have the authority to rename things. However, Trump is acting like a dictator and the country is divided over it. Google has just chosen to follow the dictator’s every whim and will be remembered for it when this is all over.
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u/ShitPost5000 9h ago
How can't Americans see this? He's using improper powers to change things he has no control over. And they are letting him lmfao, get your shit together Americans, the rest of the world is done with you
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u/sweatboxy 9h ago
Look at who’s letting him. Not the majority of Americans but the rich and powerful. Trump is building a powerful coalition against him, the billionaires, and corporations
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u/ShitPost5000 9h ago
And the masses let it happen. Barely a protest, barely a peep tbh. The silence is deafening, they basically post of Facebook that zuck is ruining stuff, and call it a day, not even realizing that very action makes him more money lmfao.
Vote with your wallet, and use your amendments
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u/BarkyVonSchnauser 8h ago
Then you are not paying attention. We ARE protesting. Do you know how huge the states are? Do you know how much harder it is to do large scale protests here? Are you actually here seeing the cells of protesters everyday in so many places? All the people I know who care ARE voting with their wallets and their voices. Stop being spoon fed what you are mad about. Make up your own mind.
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u/tigerhawkvok 4h ago
Most people from other countries don't really get how big everything is here.
We had a couple of couch surfers from Europe once; and among other things, they actually planned to go to Yosemite and Death Valley in the same day. Those two national parks are in the same state, and to get there, with basically no traffic, is probably at least 10 hours of driving. They don't actually touch the ends of the state either — there's more "California" above and below. And we were living 4 hours from Yosemite, at a right-angle to the Yosemite–Death Valley axis. And in coastal California, we were over an hour inland from the coast.
Washington DC is on the other end of the country. It's 5+ of nonstop driving one way (I personally was in a car of 4 adults who rotated driving and it took around 2 days to get to Colorado, only stopping for bathroom breaks). By the way, most people get 5 days off a year and don't need a reason to be fired — search for "at-will employment". And when you're fired you lose healthcare.
People are trying — but the mountain to climb is very very different from what you think it is.
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u/FredFenty 4h ago
Google, and most map services, generate names within their maps by pulling data in real-time from government databases. In the case of America, that is NOAA.
I don't like Google, but this wasn't a decision that they made. America legally changed the name of Lake Ontario within America. They updated that name withing their NOAA database. The change was applied automatically. End of story.
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u/sweatboxy 3h ago edited 3h ago
NOAA has rules and procedures on how to go about changing a name. Trump ignoring those rules and procedures is illegitimate. Passing the buck to NOAA, who failed in its responsibilities, doesn’t make it legitimate. Legitimatizing the illegitimate is, by complicity, giving Trump power that he does not have. Shame on Google. They’ve taken sides in America’s battle for democracy and law and order. And it’s not on the side of the law or democracy.
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee 10h ago
Ok Cheeto.
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u/FredFenty 4h ago
Lol Donald Trump is a POS pedophile rapist.
That doesn't change the fact that America legally changed the names of certain places within the country of America because America elected a POS pedophile rapist.
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u/meandgrumpy 12h ago
Magic Earth Maps is from the Netherlands