this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2025
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[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 134 points 4 days ago (41 children)

The next headline will read, OpenStreetMaps gains users as Apple adds ads to maps.

[–] jabjoe@feddit.uk 73 points 4 days ago (3 children)

After that, Apple would ban OSM apps from their store.

[–] Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 52 points 4 days ago

I could totally see this happen.

Not in a direct manner, but something about "OSM not living up to Apple's high standards of privacy" or similar strategy.

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[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I wish it were good enough to be a viable alternative but it really isn’t.

[–] AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 21 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

If it's missing data (such as locations) that is the issue, then you can update the map yourself and help others migrate at the same time. Every little bit helps, even if you don't plan on fully moving over. I've done over a thousand changes to my local area and it's actually more accurate than Google Maps in a lot of the commercial areas. You don't have to do a thousand things though, like I said, every little bit helps.

Of course, it doesn't help for outside of your area if you only do changes locally, but if enough people were willing to update the map, things could change.

[–] nekusoul@lemmy.nekusoul.de 15 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Adding onto that, the app StreetComplete makes contributing stupidly easy. You basically get a bunch of quests generatef around you with missing or potentially outdated data that you can fill in by answering simple questions. Basically Pokemon Go, but infinitely more useful.

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[–] DireTech@sh.itjust.works 105 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It already has ads. Those businesses it highlights for no reason at all when you’re scrolling around.

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 14 points 4 days ago (3 children)

yeah google doing this made me stop using it as much. still need to find a permanent alternative

[–] DireTech@sh.itjust.works 10 points 4 days ago

Google does it so much I’ve had trouble finding favorite places because they’d rather show an ad that overlaps it.

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[–] 1984@lemmy.today 70 points 4 days ago (8 children)

I thought if people pay for things, like extreamly expensive Apple hardware, no ads can exist there? Must be confused or hearing things.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 19 points 4 days ago (5 children)

The business majors are about to learn an important lesson about open source.

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[–] clot27@lemmy.zip 68 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Use OpenStreetMaps

Yeah I know it could be incomplete at times but its our job as a community to improve it if we want "free" software

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remember when apple didn't have ads because they were premium?

[–] Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world 47 points 4 days ago (1 children)

CoMaps is a nice offline alternitive. Not perfect,but it respects privacy

[–] acosmichippo@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago (2 children)

to be clear this isn't a privacy issue. they are allowing companies to pay to be featured more prominently in the app.

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[–] slaacaa@lemmy.world 40 points 4 days ago
[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 40 points 4 days ago (1 children)

So you overpay them for crappy iPhone and have to pay them again by watching ads?

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 35 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Don’t forget web users. Duck duck go uses Apple Maps.

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[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 33 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I love how everyone is calling Apple users dumb here when Google has been doing the same thing for longer and both platforms let you install other map apps.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 24 points 4 days ago (6 children)

Yes, but apple has been charging double the price for their products on the basis of 'privacy' and 'premiumness'

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 22 points 4 days ago (27 children)

So I'm actually a moderately tech-savvy individual. Software engineer, been using Linux since Karmic Koala (of course I've used many other distros since then, including Gentoo for a few years and now I'm using TumbleWeed on one computer and NixOS on another). I can even figure out how a printer works, believe it or not.

I just hate this whole "only stupid people who don't know about tech buy iPhones" rhetoric.

Samsung and Google have caught up in prices. I guess only Google is a tiny bit cheaper, Samsung is definitely right up there with Apple.

OnePlus was a good option if you wanted a cheaper flagship, but they both 1) ruined their OS and 2) went more expensive.

I actually bought an iPhone for 4 primary reasons:

  1. Lightning port is easier to clean out than USB-C and I get a LOT of pocket lint for some reason.

  2. Carplay used the entire screen in my S205 whereas Android Auto had the Android Auto logo on like 1/3 of the screen.

  3. Back when I did it, Apple was the only one giving 5-6 years of major OS upgrades to their old phones and OnePlus only gave me 3, lagging far behind AOSP and the whole OxygenOS to ColorOS switch RUINED the phone for me. I did use a custom ROM for a while before that, but my bank app stopped working with that regardless of whatever I did, so I switched to stock ROM and then upgraded to ColorOS and the phone became nearly unusable. It was 3 years old (the model, anyway; the phone in question was 2 years old). Every single one of my iPhone using friends said that never has a major OS upgrade inconvenienced them in any way.

  4. I just felt like I don't have time to play with custom ROMs and stuff anymore and since I don't, I might as well go with the option that works great out of the box, rather than the one that I can infinitely customize to my liking.

Now, this whole issue: It's not actually using user data AFAIK, so there are no privacy implications in this specific instance IMO. They just allow companies to pay to show up near the top in Maps. Not a move I'm a fan of, but I'm assuming Google has been doing this for a decade or 2 at least.

Does that mean I trust Apple? Fuck no. They're still a for-profit corporation. They still want to make as much profit as possible.

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[–] Credibly_Human@lemmy.world 30 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Apple has really lost its identity.

Apple Silicon is really all that seperate them.

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[–] VampirePenguin@lemmy.world 29 points 3 days ago (2 children)

All of these Big Tech companies are slimy fucks actively working to enslave humanity. There are no good guys. I puked in my mouth watching Tim Cook fawn over Trump. None of these people have a shred of decency. Fuck Apple. Fuck Google. Buy a paper map.

[–] MoogleMaestro@lemmy.zip 29 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Better yet, help support open data initiatives like OpenStreetMaps or alternatives. No reason why maps can't be digital without ads.

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[–] melfie@lemy.lol 25 points 4 days ago
[–] carotte@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

i just wish OSM was more complete… it’s fine for big cities, but when you live in small rural areas it’s practically useless. my village only has its roads mapped, nothing else.

(and yes i know you can edit the map. and that it’s the entire point of OSM. i know that. but it takes a ton of effort, and it’s an ongoing effort because cities change!)

OSM contributors, you are amazing and cherished and your work does not go unappreciated. i just wish there was more of us…

[–] Jason2357@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 days ago

I know of a few rural places that have far more information on OSM than Google. Especially if those areas have a lot of hiking trails. Looking at the logs, it's typically a small handful of people adding things over significant time. It's worth keeping both on your device, and making edits on occasion. Rural areas change pretty slowly typically.

[–] umbraroze@slrpnk.net 8 points 4 days ago

Funny thing, over here, OSM actually got weird rural stuff for a couple of rural towns I visited frequently about a year before Google Maps (and other proprietary services) was usable there. I think it had to do with some open-data drop from the government.

And seeing the services grow side by side also kind of gave away what their priorities were. Google: putting the local businesses and services on the map. OSM: document every single cool and convenient foot and bike trail.

[–] simplejack@lemmy.world 23 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Once you create a monetization team that puts ads in shit, they’re going to want to keep putting more ads in stuff. They’re all judged on how much better they do year over year.

Apple should’ve never created a team that sold ads on their platforms.

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[–] ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works 21 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Is CoMaps the only alternative besides google maps?

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[–] BanMe@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Mac user for over 30 years, no problem - they make it easier and easier to say goodbye, which it's now time for, thanks to Apple adding on to Trump's mansion with a huge donation after the gold award earlier this year.

Steve Jobs wasn't sure Tim was right for the creative side of the Mac, but he knew the business side would keep humming. And now here we are, Apple the IBM of 90 years ago, so happy to help out the fascists.

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[–] echodot@feddit.uk 15 points 4 days ago

That will inconvenience the Apple map user. I'm sure they're devastated by this news.

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago

I’m done.

[–] EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago

Can’t say I’m surprised but it’s such a shame. I’m guessing this ties inter their newly launched timeline feature. Maps was at least up to this point a better alternative to Google Maps.

[–] biofaust@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago (2 children)

We need a jingle for Enshittification.

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[–] Mattr@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I don't use Apple, but honestly Apple is ruining everything, while Organic Maps and others are winning.

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[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Something organic will replace it.

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