Map layer source proposal

[V-ctor]

It's not an issue but a proposal. Is it possible to change/switch map layer source? Let's say Open Street Map or Yandex.Maps?

[KieronQuinn]

This should be possible, but due to the new version that's in development using clustering (#50) for the map it would need to use Google Maps' Tile Provider, rather than an SDK of the provider itself. For OpenStreetMap this doesn't seem to be an issue (unless the app suddenly blew up in popularity), but for Yandex there seems to be a hard limit of 250k requests per year - that's 250k tiles, which may get eaten up quickly.

For Yandex, it may be possible to allow people to provide their own API key - do you think this might be a good solution?

[V-ctor]

Maybe I expressed myself incorrectly. I didn't mean changing the map source as the only source, but switching/changing while using the app. Some regions are better covered by Google Maps, some by Yandex.Maps, some by OpenStreetMap. It would be great to be able to switch the source on the fly. Is it possible? Or is it hard to implement and will have to use only one source?

As for Yandex.Maps, I didn't know there was a limit on the number of requests. So I don't have experience with my own API key. If it's easy to get for free and then provide to the app, then yes, I think it's a good solution.

[KieronQuinn]

Maybe I expressed myself incorrectly. I didn't mean changing the map source as the only source, but switching/changing while using the app. Some regions are better covered by Google Maps, some by Yandex.Maps, some by OpenStreetMap. It would be great to be able to switch the source on the fly. Is it possible? Or is it hard to implement and will have to use only one source?

Changing the source while running the app is what I'm talking about. It would be an option in the settings. The reason I can't just switch to the "proper" implementation (OSM's MapView and Yandex's Map SDK) is that the app is now reliant on the Google Maps Utils library which handles clustering - so they'd need to be added as replacement "Tiles" on the map (this is something Google Maps supports).

For OSM this is no problem, but for Yandex it means that API key requirement. If you think it's fine since it's free, then I think this is viable.

[V-ctor]

Yes. I think it's fine. If you are not sure that all users know how to get API key and you don't have time to describe this and want to avoid many questions in issues like: "How to get work Yandex.Maps?", you just can hide Yandex.Maps usage in Develop mode as well as enhanced info for location history.

At least you can add OSM as first step on next build and later Yandex.Maps.

[CyberPuffer]

The Google map shows incorrect road network in China for a long time.
WikiPedia - GPS Shift Problem in China
For now, only OpenStreetMap can show correct map in China for a WGS-84 marker.
If this feature can be implemented, it will be a huge improvement for users in China.