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.
EDITs
- Added F-Droid link.
- Fixed Typo in the obtainium link.
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.
Was using Osmand before and it's a lot nicer to use for day to day navigation on the bike than the sluggy mess Osmand sometimes is
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.
Subways are great when hiking or boating
I'd first heard of it yesterday when I saw it recommended here somewhere.
However, I wouldn't assume maliciousness over incompetence. It is Google after all... Anybody who has ever published anything on there has probably had it removed at some point. There's so many malicious apps and spurious reports, it could honestly be anything. The smaller your app, the longer it takes for an actual human to get involved and sort it out.
it has been recommended for many years in most privacy guides as a non-google alternative