myOSM For Mac

myOSM is a Mac OS X desktop client for various online maps, including OpenStreetMap, OpenCycleMap and NASA BlueMarble. It comes with various handy features for better map navigation as well as a wide display of each map.

Users can access several OpenStreetMap types: Mapink, Big, MapQuest and Cloudmade. Maps can be quickly switched from a simple drop-down menu with two clicks. The loading time for each map is fast, but the zoom in / out speed is not as quick.

myOSM provides several ways to zoom in / out of maps: using a slider on top of the main window, the scroll wheel or by double clicking on a point on the map. The scroll response time is quite slow compared to the rest. Moreover, myOSM can also place a pin in the center of the map for navigational reference.

Another powerful feature is the ability to search for cities, seas, rivers, buildings, etc. As soon as you type your search query and hit Enter, a result window will pop up. It shows all possible names that contain your search query, as well as the country, feature (e.g “undersea” or “populated place”), latitude and longitude. Accessing a location is possible via a simple double click.

The PDF exporting feature is another highlight of myOSM. You can save the visible map portion into a PDF document with a simple click. What’s more, when viewing an area, the application shows the coordinates of the central point on the lower bar. Though this is useful, it would have been handier to show the coordinates of the point under the mouse cursor.

One more feature deserves to be mentioned here, namely the bookmarks. myOSM provides an option to save the current map location that you are viewing. Bookmarked locations can be managed via a separate window where you can change the zoom level, longitude, latitude and even organize bookmarks into folders.

To conclude, myOSM is a great desktop client for many map services. The interface might be get little clunky and the navigation speed could use a little more work. Nevertheless, the app helps you navigate maps with precise accuracy and even manage locations.