Last night Organic Maps was removed from the Play Store
Last night Organic Maps was removed from the Play Store without any warnings or additional details due to "not meeting the requirements for the Family Program". Compared to Google Maps and other maps apps rated for 3+ age, there are no ads or in-app purchases in Organic Maps. We have asked for an appeal.
As a temporary workaround for the Google Play issue, you can install the new upcoming Google Play update from this link: https://cdn.organicmaps.app/apk/OrganicMaps-24081605-GooglePlay.apk
The Announcement on various Networks:
Fosstodon Post
Twitter Post
Telegram Post
If you don't know what Organic Maps is, it is an alternative to OsmAnd and google maps, more info on the official site (link) and GitHub.
Maybe an error? Honestly this is a weird one. I hope we will learn more in the coming hours.
You can still get it on the other channels, like F-Droid or Obtainium. Still, we all know that not being on the Play Store is an heavy sentence for any Android app.
::: spoiler EDITs
- Added F-Droid link.
- Fixed Typo in the obtainium link. :::
More people should know about F-droid.
Organic maps don't show up tho
You have to enable "Unwanted Features" in F-Droid settings before it shows up.
Link to the app: https://f-droid.org/packages/app.organicmaps/
It states the OpenStreetMap data is from May. Is it fully offline and needs to wait for the next app update?
The data updates are handled separately in app
no they aren't, new versions of the map will only be available when the app is updated.
My Organic maps has a download screen for the maps which regularly update outside of the app itself.
I'm yet to see the app offer an update to the maps data without the app update beforehand. I use it on two devices, and if I don't update the app on one of them, it won't display new map data available to download.
Streisand effect
Never heard of this app until now
It's built on open street maps and is great for trail stuff: hiking, dirt biking, horse riding, etc.
Same
Does anyone know why the only public transport option is "subway"? I don't get why they would only index subways.
It's kind of weird to give that instead of just a general PT option that routes multi-modally with a menu to disable each type manually.
because you need to pull the schedules for each country in order to do that. they're working on public transport navigation, but it's still not ready for use.
If it's not ready for use, it either shouldn't show up by default, or it should have a visible disclaimer. Otherwise it could be dangerous...
yes, that's exactly why public transport other than the subway doesn't show up by default and you have to go an extra mile in order to enable it.
the subway showing up without the rest is beta software compared to other choices. It might route you three tomes as far all because it doesn't know buses exist.
Google should really think about being nicer to competitors right now. Yet another reason it needs to be broken up by Lina Khan and the FTC.
I'm such a major fan of the FTC and Chair Khan right now. This is spot on.
Chair Khan? Am I the only one that things it's a bad look to have that evil tiger from The Jungle Book leading the FTC?
Wow. At least it's easy to sideload apps in Android.
F-Droid, no "side loading" needed
Don't you need to side load F-Droid? That is what I did.
The only way to get it outside of sideloading is flashing a custom ROM like LineageOS that includes it. It's not exactly available in the play store.
What in the world are you all calling "side loading" you just download the APK and install it. No cables, no ADB, no side loading
Edit, I guess kids these days are calling downloading APKs side loading lol
ITT: Witnessing somebody learning what sideloading is and isn't as technical as they think it is.
To be fair on most Android devices sideloading isn't a very meaningful term, but on locked down devices like iOS it is.
It isn't? I've been using the term since I picked up my first Android phone in 2010 and there were side-loaded apps everywhere. Hell, you used to have to side-load the Amazon Store app. And that was all just "download this apk and install it" Workflows.
2010 was already tainted by the iPhone walled garden.
No, you just download it
Isn't that what side loading is?
My definition of side loading is installing anything outside of an app management system. For example going to a website and downloading the APK and installing it.