Hmm - @快乐的老鼠宝宝 - the plot thickens!

I first noticed Map Builder when I saw weird usernames popping up in OSM via this tool: http://resultmaps.neis-one.org/newestosm#2/36.0/-10.5 which lists the latest ‘new contributors’ on OSM.

I posted about it on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/openstreetmap/comments/10j1m5l/weird_usernames/ and as the screenshot there shows, there were quite a lot of them - fairly easy to recognise because of their ‘all cap and numeral’ usernames.

Just checking that listing again now, and there are no such usernames in the listing. This could be due to a heap of things: - a bug in their pipeline - they really are hijacking the edits - users have lost interest in map builder

I don’t know what it is, but you’re right - it looks like the edits have stopped appearing.

Correct, @Adamant1, but I have seen hundreds of edits on the map that have been added via Map Maker, so I think the comment by @快乐的老鼠宝宝 may be mistaken. I can’t say anything about the timeline, but edits definitely get through.

@benoitdd no, you’re quite right, Microsoft don’t ‘need’ a community to divert some mapping activity to their platform.

When I used Map Builder, however, I was not even really aware there was a community - the privacy they claim to be supporting, just translates to anonymity - ok if you don’t want anyone to know your little secret mapping addiction, but not conducive to a feeling of participating in a greater goal.

On the other hand, when I use OSM, I’m keenly aware that there are other users around me, contributing to the map. There’s no doubt, you’re part of a community, and no doubt you’re part of a huge team effort.

Or is that just me?

Good, valid points. Some exaggeration, but not ridiculous. My main counter argument would be in characterising Bing/Microsoft as a threat.

Yes, it’s a big company, with lots of resources, but no clarity of purpose. Bing maps are a good enough product, but I feel like they’ll soon get bored with this, and OSM will withstand the threat. Bing’s failure to engage users in a community will see most users try it once or twice, and lose interest quickly.

The general points about what makes OSM great, however, are well made, and IMHO are where efforts should focus. Build and strengthen, rather than be distracted by a sideshow.