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submitted 4 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

MapQuest stood up to President Donald Trump, and now its app is reaping the rewards.

The “OG of online mapping,” as the company calls itself, announced on Thursday that it would not change the name of Lake Ontario on its maps to Lake America, despite Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. As a result, MapQuest’s mobile app downloads soared, sending the iOS app to the No. 4 position on the U.S. App Store’s Top Charts for apps (not including games) as of Monday morning on the U.S. east coast.

MapQuest also reached the No. 8 position overall in the U.S. App Store across both apps and games, and it became the No. 1 Navigation app in the United States.

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[-] Ravenheart@lemmy.zip 41 points 3 days ago

Resistance at even the smallest level matters.

[-] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 13 points 3 days ago

Yep, this orange motherfucker shouldn't be able to do anything without going through court to force it to happen, and even then ignore it until someone shows up to MAKE you do it. Use his own bullshit against him.

[-] EliteCloneMike@lemmy.zip 185 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Great! Hope people more move away from Google Maps. OSM would be even better, but MapQuest is a good step away from the Monopoly of Google.

Edit: Just realized that in Google Maps the acronym for the Great Lakes is no longer “HOMES” but could now be known as “SHAME”.

[-] WesternInfidels@feddit.online 35 points 4 days ago

If you've got a favorite replacement for the Google Maps mobile app, this would be a great place to tell people about it. I believe the world of Open Street Map (OSM) is likely to be a little intimidating, a little daunting, for the masses, so an easy starting point might be especially helpful.

[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 52 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Copy-pasting my own comment:

For using OSM on Android (edit: and iOS):

  • I use OsmAnd, which is free on F-Droid. It's very feature-rich, and I can customize it pretty much exactly how I like. There's a good tutorial for beginners here.
  • However, some people prefer the simplicity of the app CoMaps, which is available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux (Flathub). It's a fork of Organic Maps that arose over disagreements with Organic's governance (see: open letter).
  • There are also specialty apps like Alpi Maps for more specialized uses of OSM (in Alpi Maps' case, hiking).

For contributing to OSM on Android:

  • I use Vespucci for more complex edits on Android, so things like adding features. (The rough iOS equivalent is Go Map!!.)
  • I use StreetComplete for a more trimmed-down, gamified experience. It isn't a power user experience like Vespucci, but it's often really useful if you're just on the go and want to make small but meaningful contributions.

The easiest way I've found to contribute local information is the iD editor on desktop; it's the one that pops up if you click 'Edit' on OpenStreetMap.org. It strikes a good balance between user-friendliness and power user stuff. For full-on power users, JOSM is a good option. And the easiest way to contribute in a limited way is StreetComplete, which will ask you questions about existing features (like "does this traffic signal have a walk button for pedestrians?")


The OpenStreetMap Wiki is a great general resource for using and contributing.

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[-] cobysev@lemmy.world 20 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Use CoMaps. It's a privacy-first app that pulls their map data from OpenStreetMaps. If something is inaccurate on the map, you can edit it on OSM and it'll populate to most map services. I've made changes and seen it pop up on Google Maps too.

I downloaded CoMaps from F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/), just to avoid the Google Play Store. Slowly de-Googling my life...

I don't know if there is an iOS version. Apple is the OG evil company, long before Google got rid of their "Don't Be Evil" motto, so I avoid their products. Now I'm trying to get off Android stuff too, but there aren't many alternatives right now.

EDIT: Someone else linked a website for CoMaps and it does have an iOS app. Also an Apple and Linux desktop program. No Windows though.

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[-] AmyAye@nord.pub 19 points 4 days ago

Mapquest lets you have a Rainbow Unicorn icon. Sorry OSM, MapQuest wins.

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[-] MehBlah@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago

Organic maps still has the gulf of Mexico not the gulf of trumps taint.

[-] Jaycifer@piefed.social 96 points 4 days ago

So while the popular media is distracted by this, what is the Trump admin doing that I should actually care about?

[-] 4am@lemmy.zip 133 points 4 days ago
  • restarted war with Iran
  • food safety is plummeting in the US
  • citizens and immigrants are being locked up and deported, mostly for being the wrong skin color
  • AI bubble is getting closer to popping and wiping out literally all of your savings
  • everything from soda to aircraft set to go up in price after Trump fucks with aluminum supply from Canada
  • Jared Kushner is strategizing with Democratic leadership
  • the FCC will start going after news reporters who run stories that make Trump look bad even when they’re objectively true
  • still no Epstein files (or arrests)
  • flock cameras still gaining momentum
[-] qarbone@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

For that final one, there was a post earlier about how Flock lost contracts only for city councils to replace them with a different surveillance provider.

It'd be better to divorce Flock from the real issue: i.e. "Neighborhood surveillance is pushing forward".

We can't let rat-bastards who would sell out their towns and cities pretend the grievance is just against Flock and not against all of the surveillance.

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[-] MajorasTerribleFate@lemmy.zip 23 points 4 days ago

Joke's on them, my savings was wiped out years ago.

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[-] rockettaco37@feddit.nu 33 points 4 days ago

The whole renaming thing is a distraction tactic at best.

I personally am a huge fan of CoMaps. It uses OSM data

[-] Bahnd@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Seconding CoMaps.

Completely replaced google maps for me a while back. It works as in-car navigation (with GPS audio queues for when noone else is doing nav), downloading maps is a highlighted feature instead of being burried in menus and it does not live sync to traffic or ask for route changes. It simply does its job and does not ask for your attention after it gets going.

[-] CAVOK@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

I kind of like the live traffic. I want an open source 'Waze'. Sadly there isn't one. Magic earth came close but then they enshittified.

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[-] Buffalox@lemmy.world 86 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

OpenStreetMap also has it as Lake Ontario:

They also have navigation called OSMAnd.

[-] 4am@lemmy.zip 28 points 4 days ago

Here in the You Knighted States of Murica, we ain’t gon use no OSAMA maps app

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[-] plenipotentprotogod@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago

It's actually more interesting than this. Open Street Map has a long history of supporting multiple names for the same place. There seems to have been a bit of an edit war since the executive order was issued, but as of now we have <tag k="name" v="Lake Ontario"/> and <tag k="official_name:en-US" v="Lake America"/>. There are also 36 other name tags, mostly listing the name of the lake in different languages. I initially assumed that all those others were added in the last couple of days as a way to sort of protest by taking the whole thing to an absurd level. But the change log actually shows that 27 of them were already in the tags long before the executive order was issued. And honestly, I like it this way better. Instead of making Trumps announcement big to the point of absurdity, OSM has made it small to the point of inconsequence. Trump said he wanted to change the name of the lake, and OSM said "sure, whatever, your name for it can be number 28 on the list of names that people have for it. And actually, while we're on the topic, it looks like we missed a few. Lets throw on 8 more to make sure everyone is represented."

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[-] tunetardis@piefed.ca 47 points 4 days ago

TIL MapQuest is still around.

Years ago, I had one of those standalone GPS mappers that used it for its database. It always gave you the option to choose between shortest time and shortest distance. Generally, I went with the former, but this one time we were heading home and not in any special hurry, so I said let's try shortest distance just for kicks.

Next thing you know, we're on a hunting trail in the Adirondacks in a Geo Metro that was definitely NOT rated for it and my wife was absolutely freaking out while the kids were getting tossed around in the back. Good times.

[-] bitchkat@lemmy.world 13 points 4 days ago

Google maps does that as well. I was at Grand Teton and heading to my next camp site. 56 miles, 2.5 hours. That seems a bit low on speed. Checked closer, and yep it wanted me to take my van on a pretty rough logging road. I rerouted through Jackson WY.

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[-] Witchfire@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I desperately need to get off Google Maps, especially now that it shows Lake America for me up in Canada.

Unfortunately MapQuest has virtually no support for biking/transit/walking, driving is the only option. It also lacks support for collaborative lists, which my partner and I use extensively. I'm still trying to find a viable alternative, happy to take recommendations if they have these features.

[-] TRex91@feddit.org 6 points 3 days ago

How is the Quality of Openstreetmap Based Maps and Apps for you? For Example Mapy, Comaps or Osmand.

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[-] RephlectioNZ 5 points 3 days ago

I use Organic Maps as my standard maps app which is an Open Street Map based app. I find it's pretty good but can be a bit lost around heavy traffic. Cycling is definitely an option. I've not seen "collaborative lists" in the software but I'll take a look. I sometimes use the google maps web service because for some reason Open Street Maps doesn't display suburb when searching for a location and it can be really confusing to figure our which one you are looking for.

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[-] itisileclerk@lemmy.world 21 points 4 days ago

USA is not a Democracy when one man (President) can decide how something will be named. It seems that President have unlimited power, he can do whatever he want, manipulate markets in a most corruptive way, incarcerate who ever he want, bomb and kill at his will.

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[-] DamoclesDurden@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago
[-] zeb420@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

I noticed that as well, but the Gulf of Mexico is labeled as the Gulf of America.

[-] Prior_Industry@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

One mean bleat away from folding

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[-] NullPointerException@lemmy.ca 41 points 4 days ago

Canada should rename Lake Superior to Lake Obama, “because Obama is Superior”.

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[-] nednobbins@lemmy.zip 28 points 4 days ago

I was sadly surprised to find out that Kagi maps follwed Trumps lead on misnaming both the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.

I'm likely to ditch them over this. It's not just a matter of principal. If I can't trust them to stand up to Trumps temper tantrums on this, how can I trust that any of their other results haven't been tampered with?

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[-] hendu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 4 days ago

MapQuest needs to add Android Auto support. Loving the icons, though!

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[-] theherk@lemmy.world 39 points 4 days ago

Mapquest still exists? Encarta it!

[-] CuriousRefugee@discuss.tchncs.de 31 points 4 days ago

I asked Jeeves, and he told me it still exists. To celebrate, I played some Neopets and then logged into a fun MUSH game.

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[-] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Going to guess this is Number 1 in the past week, or 24 hours, or Number 1 downloaded recently, or some other limited metric because there is no fucking way the average user cares enough for MapQuest to unseat google or apple maps.

Which hey, that's still great. But considering people don't go to the app store to download Google/apple maps since it typically becomes pre-installed, I can't help but feel this headline is misleading.

[-] ironpangolin29@lemmy.ca 23 points 4 days ago

Since america now calls it Lake america we can nickname it Lac inférieure.

[-] Lor@leminal.space 2 points 2 days ago

Everyone go on the Apple Map and Google Maps app and let them know they misspelled Lake Ontario and then rate them with one star, then delete the apps.

I recommend Here WeGo over Mapquest (more private)....

[-] YippieKyeAy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

And the Gulf of Mexico

[-] recapitated@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago

I've been happy with Organic Maps

[-] anthony43@sh.itjust.works 18 points 4 days ago

Isn't it over now? Did you mean CoMaps?

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[-] Jiral@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I know this is just a diversion from Epstein and the Iran war but I am curious, what is the proper procedure in the US for geophical name changes, I doubt it is executive orders, according to the law those executive orders by themselves don't do anything in this regard, do they?

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 3 days ago

They changed Mt. McKinley (back) to Denali while Obama was president.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali%E2%80%93Mount_McKinley_naming_dispute?wprov=sfla1

Seems like it actually originated in the Alaska state legislature. According to wiki, they requested the name change in 1975 and I guess it was just ignored by the federal government until 2015 when Obama's Interior Secretary changed the name.

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this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
1428 points (99.9% liked)

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