English vs Local Language Maps

(Im Newsletter für Deutsch bitte runterscrollen)

Over the last 2 months I invested a load of time to optimize the language / codepage handling of the OpenMTBMaps and VeloMaps.

I had originally implemented a very complicated system trying to make any map also usable for non native speakers of the local language - or people not able to read e.g. arabic or kyrillic. In the end this was a rather big mess even though it kinda worked for many countries.

Now I've changed this - there are local language maps - which are in local language and local script - as well as maps in english for any country that does not primarily use latin script.

Also all continent maps (except Antarctica and North America which are anyhow english speaking) are now available in English or local Language. South-America/Central America english maps will be available for download starting tomorrow.

The theory of how it should work is laid out below - if you find things not working drop a comment. Especially if you find OSM keys which are not implemented yet and would help in improving the map translations.

Map Updates:

Maps that are not available in English - will be updated weekly as before. All maps which are also available in English language - will be updated biweekly alternating between update in English in week 1, and update in local language in week 2 and so forth.

Who needs Unicode maps - a reminder:

Garmin blocked reading in free unicode maps about 2 years ago in their newest devices. However you can look around in the grey areas of the internet and you will find firmwares for basically all those devices unblocking the devices not reading in free unicode maps. This is a small part of the firmware taken out. If you use those changed firmwares only to display free unicode maps - it should be legal at least in European Union. It would not be legal to use those firmwares in order to display "pirated" Garmin original maps. In general of course for countries where latin is not primarily used unicode maps will be superior!

Please note: I will not help you in finding such firmwared. You can use google to find out more about this.

Both Unicode and Non Unicode are available in local and English:

Unicode local language maps: These maps use local language and local script - additionally for POI search for cities usually it's possible to use English as well. So the city Moscow in Russia will display as Москва however you can find it in the POI search also by searching for Moscow (and actually also by German Moskau). The address search will only work in local language - so you need to type: Москва as city in address search. In POI search Москва, Moscow or Moskau is all possible.

Unicode english language maps: These maps use English as label whenever possible (meaning in OSM database). If no English translation is available the maps tries to use English transcription from OSM database. If also no transcription exists - the map will show local language names.

POI search is possible in English, local Language and German language. Adress search is possible in English whenever English exists in OSM - else in local language.

Moscow will be used as a city for address search. POI search Moscow, Moskau or Москва is findable.

Non Unicode local language maps: These maps use local codepage (excpet for Chinese and Japanese where Garmin does not offer a non unicode codepage that can display the characters) and local naming. POI search is possible in English, German and local language.

Moscow in address search will be found under Moscow only. In POI search it can be found under Moscow, Moskau or Москва (as kyrillic codepage supports enough character to spell moscow also in latin)

Non Unicode english maps: These maps are in latin only. Maps uses English wherever available in OSM, if not then Transcription from OSM, if also not available a machine transcription is used - which is a bit faulty however!

Address Search is only possible in latin script - and often not working as you cannot guess the automatic transcription used for a streetname. As city names in OSM tend to exist also in English or proper transcription address search for a city or POI search usually works still okay. POI search in local script is not possible.

Moscow can be found under Moscow or Moskau - but not Москва

June 8th, 2017 | Leave a comment

All Windows Downloads are now code signed

Since Yesterday all Winodws (.exe) downloads are now code signed. Lately Windows has increased their security measures for Internet Explorer and Edge quite a lot (Smartscreen) and it became difficult to open/run any of the maps if downloaded by Edge or IE. Similar to Nortons Reputation system (which is even worse rubbish) Windows only trusts downloads which are downloaded  very very often. (like 10.000 times in a month)  - this resulted in basically only the mtbgermany and velogermany map to be saved without security warnings. Now such a mechanism is not smart at all. The only way to overcome this is to buy a code signing certificate (not that easy actually with the background checks) and sign all downloads. This makes primarily sense if downloads can be done from several servers - and that way you can check the downloads content has not been changed (if you would open up e.g. Firefox download and check if the certificate is from Mozilla - because smartscreen could still be easily fooled by just changing the download and putting a different security certificate). Additional advantage is that if the download is incomplete/corrupt you would also get a warning (could be simply done by checking the MD5 hash too).

While in principal it would be good that Windows request signed downloads - the problem is that they only allow very few certificate vendors (Symantec, Comodo, Digicert/Globalsign and partly StartSSL) - and well not unsurprisingly all of these companies but Comodo and StartSSL are partly owned by Microsoft and the certificates far too expensive for the effort it costs to grant/publish them. There are no certivicates like Cacert or letsencrypt from open initiatives which are accepted. That's the main reason why I did not code sign the downloads already earlier. But well - pressure got too big so now all .exe downloads are code signed with a comodo cert. Oh - BTW the Mac OSx downloads are not code signed - because it's impossible to code sign .7z files.

Also I removed gmt.exe from the installer - in order to pass better with virus scannners. It will now be downloaded automatically if needed for the batch (.bat) files.

 

Besides some other improvements I found a bug in my styles that caused some islands to be flooded. This is now also solved. There will be more noticeable changes in the next few months. I'm working hard on a new hiking layout (maybe this is gonna be a completely new map besides the OpenMTBMap and Velomap - maybe only a layout. I'm still testing a lot). Also I'm thinking about changing the domain from openmtbmap.org to mtbmap.com. mtbmap.com would for sure be easier to remember for people not so much knowing about openstreetmap.org - but I'm wary of changing the domain and name so long established. The hiking maps - if separately available would move to outdoormaps.com (which I originally thought of as new name - before luckily getting mtbmap.com for very cheap). Of course if the hiking map will be separately available - it will be a free download for all premium members on velomap and mtbmap.com/openmtbmap.org.

 

Wishing you all lots of fun with the maps - Felix

August 5th, 2016 | Leave a comment
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