[OSM-talk] Countering Google's propaganda

[Aun Johnsen]

Many here fail to see one of the weaknesses of GMM, maybe because they don't
live in the areas not covered. GMM is not editable over the entire world,
there are countries where all contributions will be verified (how?) before
accepted on the live map, and countries that are completely closed for
edits. A couple of months ago I tried to register on GMM to see how the
tools was and completely failed, why? The register page said that my area
was locked for edits (showing a completely blank map of the area), so I
started to browse the help pages, which confirmed it, GMM is not editable
worldwide, AND your ability to contribute are depending on your registered
home country.

OSM on the other hand are open to everybody to contribute everywhere from
anywhere. I heard some say that you are limited to only a few types of roads
and POIs in GMM, OSM have no limit in theory, though people are encouraged
to settle on standard tags (which we can alter the definitions of or add
more if we like), and have more types of data rendered on the live map if
desired.

I think that the limitations of GMM and the diversity of OSM will work as
benefits and limits for both, some will be drawn to GMM while other to OSM,
of various reasons.

Instead of bashing on about Google do this and Google do that, why not try
to see how we can improve OSM standing, so that more people will be drawn to
OSM? Get more apps to use OSM, improve global coverage, get more usage of
the wikipedia extension, whatever that make people aware of our qualities.
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