this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2025
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Restore the Gulf of Mexico on Google Maps https://fixthegulf.com/

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[–] Marleyinoc@lemmy.world 55 points 1 month ago (5 children)

I switched to Organic Maps on Android. I'm still figuring out how to make it convenient (some apps seem to prefer trying to open with Google Maps which is now disabled) but it works on Android Auto and gets me to destination just fine.

[–] Itsamelemmy@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I tried this on a trip a couple days ago and had to go back to Google. It wasn't giving me street names or exits in the navigation. It'd say take the next right instead of take exit 17 for example. Completely missed a fork and didn't tell me which way to go. Google has issues too but first impressions for organic was not positive.

[–] dan80@lemmy.ca 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)

For car navigation use Magic Earth. It’based on Openstreetmap too, Han has the best routing algorithm I found so far (yes, better than Google).

[–] Itsamelemmy@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago

I'll give it a try for the ride home in a couple days.

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Han? Have you links tk these?

[–] underfreyja@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I've been using Tom Tom for a week and I'm gonna say, it's doing the job. It could be better though. I'm hoping that some better app comes along otherwise I'll just go back to Waze and use a dummy account on it or something.

[–] NutWrench@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago

I also recommend downloading StreetComplete, which lets you contribute to the OpenStreetMaps database.

[–] Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

Here WeGo is a good alternative that can work fully offline too.

[–] hydration9806@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

If you open the android settings for Organic Maps (where you adjust permissions), there should be one called "Open by Default" or something like that. Just add all the links that are presented there.

[–] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Organic map is crazy fast. I just wish it has trafic data but after a few weeks using it, that's not a big difference in the end.

[–] njordomir@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Traffic isn't too bad where I'm at, but I find myself missing satelite images and streetview, both for exploring and locating garage entrances or anything else. Having said that, and thanks to my buddies here on Lemmy, I successfully eliminated over half of my proprietary phone apps and shoved all the remaining proprietary stuff in a single folder so I would only access it after trying the FOSS alternatives. Anything that has a web portal instead of an app is going next, and that includes Google Maps.

Organic maps is great, OSMand is great if more detail is needed.

[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 33 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Openstreetmaps is an awesome setup just saying ;)

[–] underfreyja@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's cool but I need traffic routing :(

[–] inbeesee@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

There's some routing in place! It's not perfect everywhere I'll admit, but it's an option. An option owned by the public, improving every day, and more detailed if you want to help 🤗

[–] 7U5K3N@lemmy.dbzer0.com 30 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Just spent 20 minutes finding an updated motor carriers Atlas.

It is spiral bound and laminated pages.

Google maps is handy... But like with all online services . We are at the mercy of license agreement....

Time to start thinking about going back to analog sources of information.

Edit: https://a.co/d/dIsSgha - is the one in getting.

Yes it's an Amazon link... But buy used from an independent seller.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 1 month ago

Unfortunately they also go out of date pretty quickly.

OSM is a great option, and you can host it yourself.

[–] stardust@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 month ago

That was a fun educational watch seeing the thought process that goes into trying to figure how to interpret the data to make an extension.

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Who cares? How often does someone actually see the name of the Gulf when using maps?

[–] underfreyja@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Because if Google agrees to that kind of petty shit, you better know they're gonna give your data and position to the government without a blink. De-googling yourself is just common sense at this point.

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

And every other mapping source out there that currently still labels it Gulf of Mexico will eventually change it to Gulf of America because that's what it is recognized by the federal government. Name changes never prevent people from using the well-established name, a majority of users on X still refer to it as Twitter. It will always be Twitter.

Do you actually believe that Google has not been providing data to the government since the beginning?

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Um no.

A state can decide what it names itself or names a part of itself (e.g. Black Lives Matter Plaza). The story of Ukraine illustrates this.

But geographers and cartographers don't decide what to name a place or get orders from states by fiat (unless the mapper is a state agent working for a department) They name things based on what they're called.

The gulf is known to most of the world and the International Hydrographic Organization as Golfo de México or in English, Gulf of Mexico, and calling it the Gulf of America (say by Google Maps) is political allegiance signaling, that they are MAGA or MAGA collaborators.

If you want to be spicy you can call it Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl or the House of Chalchiuhtlicue based on the South American deity of the sea. It has a nice ominous Siege of R'lyeh feel that reflects the tempestuous weather of the ocean expanse.

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

geographers and cartographers don't decide what to name a place or get orders from states by fiat

Should we also refer to Texas as Mexico since that's what it was called at one time?

[–] underfreyja@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And every other mapping source out there that currently still labels it Gulf of Mexico will eventually change it to Gulf of America because that's what it is recognized by the federal government.

The US government doesn't control map charts for the world. The Gulf of Mexico is International water, the US only controls a part of it. Even then, that executive order didn't have that kind of power in itself, google is gladly enabling this shit because it's in their best interest to stay as close to the other oligarchs.

And its not just this, if you think people are De-googling just because they made that change, you're not looking at the big picture.

Do you actually believe that Google has not been providing data to the government since the beginning?

I knew it was happening to some extent but the impact it had on my life was minimal... Now the US government is at war with people like me, it is simply normal that I yeet anything that's linked to those efforts and that I stop using services from mega corporations that will work with Trump to make all of his insane agenda come true.

You act like people are overreacting but the truth is we should have done this years ago.

Plus I'm not from the US so at this point and with Google being so close to Trump I trust them as much as I trust Tencent with my data, which is to say not at all.

[–] K1nsey6@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

The government has been at war with everyone in working class for decades. Their sole job is to protect the interests of the oligarchs, blue and red

[–] Captainautism@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Do you actually believe that Google has not been providing data to the government since the beginning?

I’m sure they have with hindsight being 20/20, however they are simply giving us all a middle finger now. Have some principles.

[–] Cyberjin@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

They have policy that updates names from official government sources. you people are making petty things are bigger deal.

[–] Nalivai@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

And how does adding an extension to Google Chrome that visually changes one word on Google Maps suppose to help with that?

[–] Cyberjin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think that it being a Trump decision, people needs to get mad ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[–] Fish@midwest.social 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

With all the shit that Trump does, it makes more sense to get mad about things that actually matter.

[–] Cyberjin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Yet here we are

[–] Dezzorian@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

For the fastest routing, try GraphHopper maps (F-droid), unbeatable in that region. For searching, gmaps is really difficult to beat. Organic maps is OK.