Skip to main content

Business > News

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 CloudMade pushing open-source alternative to Google Maps

Open source mapping may provide better map info for customers and iPhone app developers

Mark Hattersley

  • Email to a friend
  • Print this article
  • Bookmark this page
  • RSS feed

CloudMade is gearing up to release a set of tools that will enable people to quickly and easily contribute to the OpenStreetMap project.

At the same time the company is looking to create a developer model that will enable developers to use OpenStreetMap data and databases in their web sites and iPhone applications.

Question of the day!

Mark Hattersley
Editor in Chief

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

Question of the day!

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

% of Macworld readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

How does a Wacom tablet improve the Photoshop experience?

124 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @TabletChat

paintings & illustrations, mostly, which i upload to flickr.RT @fragmentedm

I draw manga/anime characters. I also do graphic design and photography.RT @spialelo

Yes. I usually put them up on my #deviantart account for feedback on how to improve.RT @spialelo

We caught up with Nick Black, Founder of CloudMade to talk about the new service. He said "there are really two sides to this, there's a community facing side called Mapzen and a developer platform."

Mapzen is an online tool that aims to simplify the process of editing data in OpenStreetMap. Much of the data in the map is based upon satellite imagery. Individual users can then use Mapzen to draw over the satellite image and create a map of streets and other routes. Nick Black told us: "Google Maps is really focussed on roads, but OpenStreetMap has much more information on paths and cycle routes – it's much better for pedestrians". As well as roads and paths, users can also add local landmarks to the map, attaching features such as post boxes, shops, restaurants and cafes.

The Mapzen application enables users to easily add data to OpenStreetMap

CloudMade also has an iPhone application called Mapzen POI Collector awaiting approval from Apple. This enables users to search the OpenStreetMap and to add points of interest. There are already a few apps on the iPhone that access OpenStreetMap data, including MotionX GPS which enables users to track outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and trekking. (Click here to read an interview with the makers of MotionX). One slightly disappointing aspect of the CloudMade iPhone app is that in its first incarnation it will not enable users to use the GPS of the iPhone to track routes. This is a technique whereby individuals track paths using the GPS of a device and use the paths to create accurate maps. It seems that the initial aim is to use a combination of satellite imagery and user-added landmarks to create maps – with the more in-depth tracking applications to follow.

Mapzen POI for iPhone enables users to add points of interest to the OpenStreetMap project

Not that there's any shortage of data already on OpenStreetMap. We were surprised to find it contained far more information than Google Maps on our local areas in London. Nick Black explained: "There are over 185,000 users adding to OpenStreetMap so it has a much greater level of detail than other maps on the market. Sometimes the level of detail is actually too much, but we provide tools that enable users to customise the view of maps so see a lower level of detail."

Of course, much of the detail depends upon what area of the world you are looking at. Although we were surprised to find that the level of detail provided by OpenStreetMaps exceeded Google Maps when we searched for the remote island of Koh Samui (recently visited by Macworld's editor-in-chief Mark Hattersley). The search results also seemed more accurate – Google seemed more intent on providing businesses in London referencing Koh Samui than the actual island itself. Nick Black told us that Google's real focus is on expanding its search results.

NEXT: Why OpenStreetMap can change the world

Continued...
1 | 2 | NEXT >

Email A Friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:



PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

<<prev article | back to news index | next article>>

Latest News


More news...