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Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and TomTom have launched their open map dataset
(www.theverge.com)
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this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2023
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While this is not bad, didn't these companies considered just contributing to OpenStreetMap? Why is starting a new thing better?
It seems they consider themselves complimentary with OpenStreetMap, as stated on their FAQ https://overturemaps.org/resources/faq/#
I don't know a lot about any of both projects, but it seems fair.
Almost sounds too fair, like there's a catch. You can never know with these guys.
All companies are forced to play nice when they aren't at the top. Google has a monopoly on mapping, their only real competitor is TomTom, and really only in the US. All of these companies need mapping data and don't want to pay google for it, so it makes sense to work together to release this.
It makes sense; OSM is a great source of mapping data, but it misses POIs like businesses and whatnot. If I understand it correctly they all want to chip in to make a huge combined dataset that has the potential to rival Google Maps, especially if they all use it and allow people to contribute as easily as you can do on Google Maps.
Can’t collect data on users without starting their own thing.
Sounds like you don't actually know much about it. This is a map dataset, they have no way of tracking people once it is independently implemented. They also could have just released a map app using OSM and collected data from that, there was nothing stopping them.
They explained in their FAQ why this is a separate project:
I never claimed to know everything about it, but fair enough, I definitely may have misunderstand that aspect. Thanks for the clarification!
Sorry I used a bit of a rude tone. Just wanted to make sure misconceptions weren't spread.
Totally understandable. I don’t want to come off like I was well read on this, I was definitely jumping to a conclusion based on the companies involved.
How would data collection work in this case though?
It wouldn't. It's an open set of data that anybody can use. These companies can, and likely will, create their own map tools that will track users, but they just as easily could have done so using OSM.
With their own map apps for phones and such, possibly
Either by launching their own apps or by having access to Overture’s usage stats and meta data.
That must be it, all these companies are known to give not a single fuck about privacy.
This does use OpenStreetMap. It adds other public data from other sources.
Out of the four layers Overture Maps provides, th ey use OpenStreetMap for the Transportation and Building layers.
Using it is not contributing to it. Or am I a contributor to the Linux kernel, and even to Windows itself?
For Windows, considering how much data is sent back to Microsoft, using Windows contributes in it's own way.
Overture says they are providing data. What ever is contributed to OSM is up to the OSMF, not Overture.
No, you misunderstand.
Overture maps does not contribute in any way to OSM by using it. It just takes its data, and provides it at an alternate place. Just as I do not contribute to the development of Windows and Linux by using them.
Good question. Contributing to OSM seems like the better route. Pun intended.
That wouldn't be evil. And they probably can't just take over OSM or one would have already.