[OSM-talk] Why do you use Google Maps instead of OSM? Because of buildings...

[Andy Allan]

On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 5:08 PM, Ed Avis <eda at waniasset.com> wrote:

> I realize that 'OSM is about data, not slippy maps', and that OSM 'downstream'
> organizations such as Cloudmade provide custom-rendered maps for websites.
> But even Cloudmade's styles all show buildings;

I take your general point, but when it comes to CloudMade maps it's
pretty easy to take any of the styles, and use the Style Editor to
turn off buildings.

And back to your main point: yes, some things look daft when
incomplete. The cycle map has never shown residential landuse due to
inconsistencies in it. Nor does it show highway=road, since that's
supposed to be just for mappers and not for the general public. But if
we made a mapnik map with only "complete" things on it, it would have
the European motorway network and not much else :-)

> I wonder if OSM might see more adoption if a less pointy-headed slippy map
> or static maps were available?

I'd rather OSM/OSMF concentrated on encouraging more organisations to
roll their own maps (and map styles), working with ISVs, freelancers,
consulting companies and suchlike, and stayed well clear of anything
that seems to be where OSMF acts as a service provider.

Cheers,
Andy