Wikipedia Ditches Google Maps

Following the lead of Foursquare and Apple, Wikipedia has bid adieu to Google Maps in favor of the crowd-sourced mapping platform OpenStreetMap.

Wikipedia this week released an all-new version of its iOS app and an update for its two month-old Android app, replacing Google Maps with data from OpenStreetMap, the so-called "Wikipedia for maps."

"This closely aligns with our goal of making knowledge available in a free and open manner to everyone," Wikipedia's parent organization, the Wikimedia Foundation, wrote in a blog post Thursday. "This also means we no longer have to use proprietary Google APIs in our code, which helps it run on the millions of cheap Android handsets that are purely open source and do not have the proprietary Google applications."

And Wikipedia isn't alone. Apple last month nixed Google Maps in its new iPhoto for iOS app in favor of its own maps that were generated with data from OpenStreetMap. Earlier, Foursquare ditched Google Maps in its Web version and instead rolled out new maps that were created by MapBox with data from OpenStreetMap.

Foursquare, when announcing the change, said it initially started looking for a new mapping solution due to the price of Google Maps. Google this year began charging for high-volume use of its formerly free Maps API.

Now, some are speculating that Apple may be looking to even further distance itself from Google Maps in the future. A purported leaked image said to be from Apple's yet-to-be-released iOS 6.0 appears to to indicate that Cupertino is planning to also use OpenStreetMap in the next version of its mobile operating system, Macworld UK reported. Cupertino has made a number of mapping investments in recent years, most recently acquiring the a 3D mapping company C3 Technologies.

Meanwhile, Google this week released a new app for Android users called Flood Plan Marker in an effort to improve the accuracy of its indoor maps. The app will allow business owners who have uploaded their facility's floor plans to help Google collect data such as Wi-Fi hotspots and nearby cell towers.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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