World Atlas

With the proliferation of map apps on mobile devices, you will be forgiven for thinking that desktop map applications like Marble [1] have outlived their usefulness. However, even if an Android smartphone with Google Maps or OsmAnd [2] is your tool of choice for navigation and mapping, don't write off Marble just yet. This desktop map application might not replace Google Maps, but it provides a viable alternative that has its advantages.

Unlike Google Maps, which is based on proprietary map data, Marble uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) as its primary map source. OSM is built by a global community of contributors (you can think of OSM as Wikipedia for maps), and all of the project's map data is open and free to use. The quality of OSM maps is excellent, and the project often beats Google Maps at its own game, providing the most up-to-date and complete maps. For obvious reasons, OSM doesn't provide a street view option or high-resolution satellite imagery, but Marble taps on other data sources to provide useful information, such as points of interest, photos, weather info, satellites, and more.

The application also features navigation functionality, so it can be used for planning trips and finding directions. As a native desktop application, Marble is lightning fast, and it features a user-friendly interface that puts all essential features at your fingertips. In short, Marble might not replace Google Maps or a smartphone with a map app, but it definitely deserves a closer look.

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