this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
936 points (96.8% liked)

DeGoogle Yourself

9380 readers
1570 users here now

A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

Here you may post anything related to DeGoogling, why we should do it or good software alternatives!

Rules

  1. Be respectful even in disagreement

  2. No advertising unless it is very relevent and justified. Do not do this excessively.

  3. No low value posts / memes. We or you need to learn, or discuss something.

Related communities

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 2 points 54 minutes ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 35 minutes ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 minutes ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 48 minutes ago (1 children)

Gulf of America.

Don't catch me slipping tho.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 43 minutes ago

Gulf of America.

Guns in my area.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

The irony is that it doesn't specify which America.

[–] Tuxman 0 points 1 hour ago

Good point that naming it "Gulf of Americas" would solve all issues 😅

Funny how a single "S" prevented a hit and gave us shit

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 hours ago

ecosia all the way

[–] [email protected] 27 points 4 hours ago (6 children)

No better time than the present to switch to OpenStreetMap

For Android, I use OsmAnd~ which uses OpenStreetMap data and allows you to download maps to calculate routes offline, something Google Maps couldn't do for routes by foot and by bike last time I tried.

It also has better coverage for some small paths in natural areas like forests. Give it a try!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 18 minutes ago

In OSM ″Gulf of America″ is added under official_name:en-US tag so if any app uses this tag to display names, it will show up.

Here is the link to OSM object for Gulf of Mexico. And here is a thread that discusses naming.

Any country/language can call any object as they want. This change of course was dumb and petty and doubt it will be adopted by other regions, but this is nothing new or special. Google Maps currently show ″Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)″ for me. When checking in another language it shows same naming standard.

[–] oxf 4 points 4 hours ago

The OsmAnd~ app, from fdroid, is the premium (and paid) version og OsmAnd, also known as OsmAnd+.

If you use the fdroid version, and enjoy the app, consider donating to the developers through other means.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago (3 children)

Is using alternative maps even worth it if you have google's Android and location has to go through google play services anyways?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 14 minutes ago* (last edited 10 minutes ago)

Google Maps are pretty barebones, but at the same time reliable for general / basic use. Depends on region, but OSM usually will be more detailed. It is also possible your region has some local provider that is even better.

Google Maps in my region excel only for navigation quality for cars and search for commercial stuff (businesses and shops)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 hours ago

It won’t prevent Google from tracking your location, but it might help support these alternative maps by increasing their popularity on the PlayStore and whatnot.

[–] merde 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

you can use gps without play services.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Disable "(improve) location accuracy" in settings and location history in Google settings (I think)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 minutes ago

google play services would still periodically query your location, even when on gps only. it's a privileged app so you can't even block it from doing so. MicroG (on lineageOS or calyxOS), or GrapheneOS' sandboxed play services can help with that

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 hours ago

I've been using it and evangelizing it for some time now. I don't have a data plan and it works. My data, location, preferences or anything is not sold to anyone.

It can be a little overwhelming at first. It can be difficult to use at times (the search isn't great), but in using it, I feel like I'm a part of something good and I can rest better knowing that.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 hours ago (4 children)

This is pathetic and reeks of insecurity big time. Hope that this debacle improves your QoL, Americans.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 49 minutes ago

American here. It's freaking embarrassing. Not as much as all the other shit, and certainly not as sad and tragic. Our neighbors elected a cartoon villain and his best buddy, another cartoon villain.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 hour ago

Eh I'm on the opposite side, despite being a massive lefty. Why would an american company not follow an American dictate just for America? (It's still called the Gulf of Mexico on Google in every other country) It sets a wild precedent where private businesses refuse to follow the fairly inconsequential requests of their government.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 hours ago

What's funny is the rest of the world gets "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)" which ups the insecurity I expect.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago

Seems like all the high-visibility, internet-focused corporations are rushing forward to bend the knee.

I guess it would be pretty interesting to see one of them do the opposite. As in, how easily and quickly would the exec and other branches be able to attack them, maybe even to destroy them?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 hours ago

I just did literally the only thing I CAN do, which is rate it 1 star and call out their spinelessness. I'm sure this token, irrelevant act will be ignored at best or manually removed at worst. But until they drag me off to the gulag I'm absolutely not going to shut up and play along.

Fuck Trump, Musk, their MAGA cult, and anyone who enables or colludes with them or fails to fight back.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 hours ago

Poop. I was hoping I could leave a review but can't

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

Mexico should rename "America"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 hours ago

Divided States of America

because that's what it really is

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

You mean Estados Unidos ? In Spanish, 'America' already refers to the north and south continents, not to the USA

load more comments
view more: next ›