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Google Maps tests new pop-up ads that give you an unnecessary detour
(www.androidauthority.com)
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this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2024
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No.
The only OpenStreetMap based navigation app with live traffic data is Magic Earth. It's not foss, but gratis.
They get the traffic data from some third party, not by following their users like gmaps. That is the reason live traffic is only available in just some countries: https://www.magicearth.com/feature-availablity/#hd_traffic
https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/
They have a good privacy policy though. I haven't really had many issues with their app.
Thanks for this, I'm going to try this out on my way home. My main use for Gmaps is to determine the quickest way to and from work during peak hour, so keen to see how Magic Earth's traffic data compares.
This assumes everyone has the same destination, which is rarely the case
not really, not everybody has the same destination, but a lot of people need to go in the same direction at a given moment (thats why you are stuck in traffic in this situation).
But at that point what are you even gaining? If you're looking for privacy you're just trading Google tracking you for "third party service provider" tracking you
No. It means they get the data from somewhere else, maybe from some carsharing app, or from some government db from car counting thingies mounted on traffic lights, etc. There are other sources to get traffic data ftom, but usually following users is more convenient and reliable
They wont tell us where they get it from, they only say it's not generated via this app. They are followimg someone, but not me.