Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data and a powerful search engine to offer you the optimal routes for driving, biking, hiking, and public transportation. They don’t track you, nor do they profile you. They don’t trade in your personal data, and they don’t collect it (as stated in the Apple app privacy statement).
Interestingly it also has an AI function built in if you activate the camera to use it as a dashcam, with Driver Assistance warnings such as avoiding collisions, lane departure warnings, stop and go assist, etc.
It also has support for Apple CarPlay as well as Apple Watch. If there are any incorrect map issues you can fix those yourself using OpenStreetMap.
See https://www.magicearth.com/
#technology #magicearth #navigation #android #iOS
It looks like a nice app, but if it’s so great, why is it non-free?
This isn’t a rhetorical question, I’m genuinely curious (about this and other “good guy proprietary apps”). Usually when software denies its users the four freedoms it’s because its business model doesn’t allow it, but I don’t understand what this app’s business model is. It’s gratis and has no ads and does not sell users’ data. Is it proprietary “just because”?
As the FSF said in 2019, it’s not just about privacy.
Not sure why you are asking as there is lots of software given out for free which are not open source - called freeware. The one does not automatically follow the other in terms of being free of cost and then also all being open source. Many propriatary vendors choose to reatin their full rights to the software. Sometimes it serves as a demonstration of their ability with regards to other products which they sell.
Few thoughts.
Security through obscurity, perhaps?
Publishing the source takes energy too and they just don’t bother?
Or they want to show how unique the app is and if it’s OSS, anyone can rebrand it and destroy the uniqueness.