I'm not a software developer, so this is a real question:
Can it really be so hard for maps apps like @CoMaps, @organicmaps, and #OSMand and #MapsMe etc to agree on a common link format when sharing locations?
@ilumium @CoMaps @organicmaps the problem is, if Osmand or Comaps gave you a open standard geo: link when sharing a location, the vast majority of people that got that link wouldn't be able to do anything with it. GMaps and Apple maps chose to not support it.
@janjko @ilumium @CoMaps @organicmaps exactly! The geo: URI should be that standard, and it is already a documented standard. Android partially implements it, just enough to say it is there. But a functioning geo: standard would break Google Maps' lock-in, so of course they don't fully support it. For example, some URL schemes like https:// mailto: tel: are made clickable by AndroidOS itself for all apps. Somehow, geo: got left out...
@eighthave @janjko Yeah I see the challenge. So generally it makes sense to include both the geo: link and an alternative I guess. But on my end I cannot open that in @CoMaps of someone sends me their location from @organicmaps e.g. via Signal. Maybe it's indeed an Android limitation, not a maps app problem? 🤔
@ilumium @eighthave @janjko @CoMaps @organicmaps
I've recently shared a location from CoMaps on iPhone to a friend with an iPhone and I heard no complaints. She does not, I am fairly certain, have CoMaps nor Organic Maps installed - Apple Maps certainly.
@chiefbongo @eighthave @janjko
Thank you all for your replies. I did some more digging and perhaps the geo: link issue is indeed not a maps app problem but an Android issue. No matter where I receive such links (SMS, email, Signal), they are never clickable. Either they are interpreted as plain text, or as two phone numbers separated by a comma.
Unfortunately, Android's app default screen for CoMaps does not offer to add geo: links. 😔
@ilumium @chiefbongo @janjko @CoMaps @organicmaps I've been looking for someone to take this on for years, its been on my TODO list too. The code changes are small and easy. The vast majority of the work required to get it done will be user research, project management, lobbying to get it merged (e.g. AOSP), activism to raise awareness, and testing to make sure the integration works nicely everywhere. I've wanted to get this done for years. Happy help someone take this on, please reach out.
