Magic Earth is an alternative to Waze and Google Maps with crowdsourced traffic and road hazard information

As part of a #BigTechDiet, I’ve been hoping to find an alternative to #Waze and #Google Maps - a navigation app that can tell me about slowdowns, hazards, and speed traps based on reports from other users. Today, I learned about Magic Earth.

It’s proprietary, but not from FAANG or a company subject to the government of China, Russia, or Five Eyes countries. It collects minimal user data and has a good privacy policy. There are versions for both Android and iOS, and the Android version works without Google services.

https://www.magicearth.com/

#navigation #maps #Android #IOS #AndroidApp #IOSApp @technology

  • gelberhut@lemdro.idEnglish
    12·
    1 year ago

    I tried it for one 15 min drive, and for me it did not work well. I mean if you strickly do not want to use gmaos, Waze, or Here, magic earth could be an option. But if you are quality first - magic map is unlikely a good choice.

    But, everything depends on personal needs, of course.

    • Zak@social.goodanser.comOP
      13·
      1 year ago

      @gelberhut I have yet to give it a rigorous test. Every navigation tool I’ve used heavily has had a few bad drives so I wouldn’t dismiss it based on such a small sample.

      • gelberhut@lemdro.idEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        For me this was enough: from graphic to speed with which it followed my drive (delayed) it was not a good tool for me. Most probably, usable, but way less usable than Google maps and Waze.

  • theplanlessman@feddit.ukEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    An intriguing idea, but they seem a little vague about where they’re actually getting their traffic data from, just a “third party”. For crowd-sourced traffic data to be at all useful it needs to be coming from software that a lot of drivers happen to have on their phones, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Google or Apple aren’t to be found somewhere in the pipeline.

  • vittoria666@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    I’m from the US and I looked on the iOS App Store. It says that it is not available in my region.

    • Zak@social.goodanser.comOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      @vittoria666 That’s surprising since it does report feature availability in the USA and Canada. It doesn’t seem to have a regional restriction on Google Play so maybe there’s a delay on Apple’s side.

      I hope American iOS users won’t have to wait until the EU forces Apple to allow sideloading.

  • Zerfallen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    Gonna give it a shot, but I’m sure i already tried some time ago. So desperate to get away from Google Maps.

  • TheProtector0034@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    I would say just buy TomTom Go, only 20 euros a year and no Google BS. Or if you really don’t want to pay use Amigo, it’s also from TomTom with the same life traffic etc.

    • Zak@social.goodanser.comOP
      6·
      1 year ago

      @nodsocket I’ve used it. Organic Maps as well.They’re great apps and I really appreciate their ability to work entirely offline.

      They don’t have real-time traffic information, road hazards, and speed traps. It’s nice having an option that does without being from FAANG.