On 11/07/2013 11:35, o...@k3v.eu wrote:
On Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:12:06 +1000, Ian Sergeant
> <inas66+...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> In my opinion, it was an unfortunate decision taken when >> openstreetmap.orgmoved from being the wiki site, to the being our >> own map rendering. >> >> Sure, we need to have a rendered map as part of OSM, but I have a >> feeling that if we'd stayed with the wiki front end, we could be >> linking to off to the main map, bicycle and car routing maps, free >> garmin maps, public transport maps, apps, and showcasing a greater >> diversity of all the different OSM uses. >> >> The problem being when people from outside the project hit the main >> map first, is it isn't as capable as other sites, and that can be >> discouraging, they bounce off back to google to get their routing >> engine. >> >> To users inside the project, it seems to be equally discouraging >> when their feature isn't rendered or supported by *the* main map. >> ... > > Couldn't agree more. If there is no appetite for a gmaps style site > then it would be way better to have something similar to > openstreetmap.de which I think gives a much better idea of what the > project is about.
I agree with both of you, especially since Openstreetmap's strength is its users - which http://openstreetmap.de puts forward in a very nice way. I would love to see the showcase map moved to http://map.openstreetmap.org so that the main site's landing page would rather give the user's sites the exposure they deserve. I also fear that functionality such as routing on the showcase site will overexpose the anointed service to the detriment of diversity.
But all that has already been said... Is there a way to ever conclude this discussion that has already taken place many times ?
Maybe having showcase services at Openstreemap.org but having the home page push alternatives instead might be a way to let insecure new users feel good with an 'official' service while pushing others to explore using the whole gamut of diverse services that use Openstreetmap data.
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