Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by widerporst 1515 days ago
I really don't get it why Google doesn't show forests at >13 zoom. I've read people claim that this makes the map easier to read. But I can't be the only one who orients himself on a map based on boundaries between forests, residential areas, and fields.
2 comments

Is there a way to make Goog's turn-by-turn to not be street name based but instead give directions like old timers did using landmark navigation?

At the old farm house, turn left. After going aways down the road, turn right at by the building with the white archways. Take the next left when you get to the statue of the first mayor.

For full flavor, you'd have to include references to landmarks which no longer exist: "if you pass the vacant lot where the old drugstore used to be, turn around, because you've gone too far."
And weird, highly local code names like "Take the chicken leg and then turn left".
A bit like https://xkcd.com/461/, you mean?
In OsmAnd it displays forest as green areas in low zoom, then only tree pattern in high zoom.