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Comment by ctvo | Hacker News Reader

As a long time Kagi user, the thing I miss the most is Google Maps integration for search results. It's nice to search for a restaurant or an address, see results for it, and with one click open up Google Maps to see how to get there and nearby attractions. Google Maps is such a large moat for Google, especially in locations that Apple Maps (the only real alternative) has poor coverage.

Outside of that use case, I enjoy using Kagi and recommend it to most people.

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Absolutely agree.

Although Google's kneecapped their own Google maps integration in the EU.

If it's of any help, on the top right there's a more shortcut to Google maps when searching an address in Kagi.

Although that's two clicks, would be to Kagi's advantage if they make this process one click or better, especially in the EU.

This. I didn’t know it was EU only thing, but sometimes you have a map displayed in Google search results and there’s no way to actually go to Google Maps beside clicking “directions” button (and I think even this button isn’t always there).

Just recently I’ve created a bang in Kagi which redirects me to Google Maps roughly around my home with a query that I typed.

Yes, kagi has a Google maps link built in but it doesn't integrate very smoothly. It ends up linking to strange results in Google maps. I would almost prefer that kagi just integrated Google maps until the kagi maps product is mature. It's my only stumbling block using kagi

Would an OpenStreetMap integration be sufficient to replace this functionality?

In my opinion, no it's too shit compared to Google Maps, Apple Maps is also not great. Kagi have their own maps, which it seems is based on Apple Maps. Apple has no information outside the US (heard its better in the US but I just know it's not great in Europe or Africa). Things like operating hours.

FWIW I found Google Maps to be terrible on that front in Japan. Posted operating hours seemed to have no particular relation to whether a restaurant would actually be open or not.

Not OP, but I heavily rely on Google Maps reviews. Haven’t found another platform that replaces them.

I assume it’s region specific. There used to be alternatives in my area, but they’ve all died, and even with all the fake Google reviews, it’s the only way to get an idea about restaurants.

Just to add a different voice: I prefer OSM and for me it would be great.

No, Google Maps is miles ahead of all competitors.

In what ways when compared to OSM?

User content. Businesses update their info on Google Maps, users upload reviews and photos.

Here is your comment should you wish to copy it and try again: I never run into a business that doesn't exist on Google Maps and I rarely run into incorrect hours. I constantly can't find businesses that I'm looking for on OSM and they never have correct hours.

I use OSM for many directions, after looking it up in Google Maps and copying the plus code because it doesn't come up in OSM reliably.

Yeah that’s the only type of search that I always append the !g to

You can shorten that to !gm if you want to go straight to Google Maps.

Or just set up a browser search keyword/engine to go straight to Google Maps if that is what you want. I have Kagi as my default but have a small handful of keyword bookmarks set up for when I am making something that isn't a general web search. "m <location>" for Google Maps, "i <title>" for IMDB, "p <query>" for Kagi image search, "d <query>" for D&D Rules Search, you get the idea.

This way Kagi doesn't even see my query, I don't need to wait for the redirect, I get to set up the shortcuts myself and I can switch any of my search providers (even the default) without affecting my "bangs".

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