[OSM-talk] Maps and names

[Lars Aronsson]

Jens.Kammann at dlr.de wrote:

> However, I would suggest to rather not adapt single applications 
> for using OSM data. I think I would be better to have a generic 
> Interface for displaying map tiles, points and ways - simular to 
> the APIs available from Google Maps, Yahoo Maps or Visual Earth.

This sounds like a nice theory.  But one important difference is 
that Google Maps, Yahoo Maps and MSN Virtual Earth already have 
place names on their maps, something that OpenStreetMap lacks.  
Recently Steve wanted to throw out the Geonet Names Server 
database of geographic names because of potential copyright 
problems.  I just don't see the abundance of (copyright-)free name 
databases to chose from.  And OpenStreetMap would benefit from 
having one.


-- 
  Lars Aronsson (lars at aronsson.se)
  Aronsson Datateknik - http://aronsson.se