Altitude manager

- altitudes in mobile devices is disaster. It’s hard fight where always win in accured measuring and used methods, anyway there is still something you may do. Locus since this version introduce complete Altitude manager that serve single purpose – improve measured altitude.

- you may define offset between measured and real altitude manually or automatically. You may use pressure sensor (if you device has it) to obtain much better values. Locus offers a few ways (also an automatic) how to calibrate the pressure sensor. You may also use offline SRTM elevation data to improve measured data and more. All this may remove huge noises and bring measure altitude closer to real values

Improved system for zoom and speed of vector maps

- when you now zoom in/out with Online or Vector maps, Locus now reuses already loaded map tiles and prepare rescaled background for next level. The result of this is much more use friendly experience during zoom like you already know from web map browsers.

- we improved existing vector maps to next level. Now, mainly on multi-core devices, maps are around 20% faster, mainly at high level. Low level are still little bit slow, but we see it from more optimistic side – there is still something to improve.

Retromap and Ukrainian translation

- We’re glad to announce a new amazing maps from Russia Retromap. These maps offer huge range of scanned old historic maps, mainly from an area around Moscow. Currently Locus offers just five of these maps, but if there will be interest, owners are able to offer up to 200 various maps. We suggest to check them, just to see how amazing are old “paper” handmade maps.

- We also have to thanks to user Yaroslav Nalyvajko, who was capable to translate huge Locus (almost 9000 words) in less then three weeks. Thank you Yaroslav for excellent work

Other features

- but there is much more, like ability to define own icons for geocaching (manual), so we hope, you’ll create and  share some nice icon pack

- track charts are now less noisy and you may also display gradient of your track

- you may also add vertical speed, slope or current or last GPS time into your dashboards

- we also improved coordinate transformations and added support for Israel, Czech and New Zealand projections

- and these was just news. There is a lot of small changes, many many fixes and more.

Enjoy new version

The post News in version 2.11.0 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

I would like to introduce a new pack of interesting features. Because there’s quite a lot of them, this will be just a short list of the most important

Sorting of maps

You know well long list of online maps or your own personal. Now you can allow Locus to sort online, personal or vector maps. Mainly for online maps is available possibility to sort them by country of coverage or by type of usage, which should be really useful

Improved editing screens

Screen for editing points and tracks was a long-term problem in Locus. They were really long and contain a lot of variables that were rarely needed. We now introduce a new version of these pages, that hide less important parameters to additional tabs, so usually, you can see only the important one.

Improved main menu

To have much faster access to used functions, we extended main menu for one additional row with two buttons. After start of Locus, these buttons are set by choose module, so you have very fast access to the most used functions. And one tip: long-click on any button allows to change it. Enjoy this “small bonus”

Styles for tracks

Locus now offer simple and advanced mode for settings track style on a map. Simple mean just settings a width and color. But in advanced mode, you may do quite a miracles. And a bonus is ability to define global style on track folders. This causes, that all tracks in this folder will have the same style on a map. You can simply create different folders for different activities where all tracks will have inherited styles.

Improved suggestions of maps in “Quick map switch”

and not only there, but now also in filtered lists in the map manager. You probably noticed reinitialization of maps after start. Locus rescan all available maps to check area of cover. Now offers for the nearest maps will be much precise then before.

Improved Weather screen

because we like a modern stylish Android style, we decided to update our favorite Weather service. It’s cleaner, faster and quite fresh now

More …

After almost month of work, there is a quite a lot of smaller changes. Enjoy all of them and also coming spring …

The post News in version 2.10.0 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

One post about new Main menu was already wrote a few days ago, so we really suggest to check it . What is not visible, is deeper integration with list of the functions. If left panel will be popular, we’ll gladly improve integration to also some of the functions.

Sport activities

To add better support for active (sport) people, we finally introduced support for Zephyr and Polar heart rate monitors.

Zephyr sensor is monitor powered by accumulator, that allows to report heart rate, strides, cadence and battery status. All values are recorded and you may see them on dashboard or are stored into recorded track points.

Polar sensors are similar. Polar creators offer wide range of possible devices where most of HRM should work correctly in Locus (we’ll be glad for any feedback here).

Support for these sensors is only in Locus Pro version, anyway we decided to add limited possibility to check how this works also into Locus Free. Sensors will automatically stops after 10 minutes of using. Same system is now introduced also for ANT+ sensor.

Discussion

Support for HRM sensors is discussed on our GetSatisfaction topic

Reported problems

We received many reports about some problems during downloading Vector maps, in communication with some external add-ons, crashes during track record and many more. All core problems are now fixed. Thanks all for reports!

The post News in version 2.9.0 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

Design patterns that were fresh and clean are now old and really user-unfriendly. And trends, like dashboard, are not anymore suggested and recommended.

That’s why we decided to implement new and nice solution for Locus main menu.

We expect, that it will brings fast and more comfortable orientation in Locus application. Main advantage is (except fact that it looks really cool) allowed to display a more information at once compared to previous dashboard solution.

Side-effect (positive, don’t worry) of the solution is also reduced number of screens, you have to go through after install or update of Locus. From a four (five for Free version) screens, we reduced it to just once screen!

Big thanks for this, belong also to Jeremy Feinstein for his easy to use/nice looking solution of sliding menu. Thank you!

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Fresh vector maps

After more then month, we bring you a new bunch of vector maps. Except fresh data from OpenStreeMap, maps contains additional points (previously missed) and together with improved styles in this version, it again move usage of Vector maps into higher level

Automatic Vector maps loading

Are you living on borders or travel a lot? Then for sure you for  noticed missing automatic loading of vector maps when you move close to borders. Since the version, Locus will automatically handle available vector maps and display all maps at once as one single map. No more manual switching, no more white spaces.

Improved charts

Because Locus now fully support various ANT+ sensors, is should be shame, not to allow display various values directly in chart. Since the version, Locus support Heart rate, Speed (from sensor) and Cadence as values in charts.

Next bunch of configuration

Are you familiar with Locus configuration file? If not, we suggest to check it on our knowledge base. Locus now brings additional possibilities for customization of various colours and sizes of map items.

The post News in version 2.8.6 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

ANT+

Last version offers great news for all sportsmen. Do you enjoy running or cycling together with Locus track record function? You can get more now! Locus works with ANT+ devices, so you can monitor your heart rate or for example bike cadence. ANT+ and Locus allow to record multiple sensors at the same time.

New themes for hikers and skiers

Internal themes for vector maps look more realistic now. New ski theme offers information about slopes their difficulty or about lifts and cable cars. Paths for Nordic skiing are divided into three types based on their difficulty.

As quick as possible

• Offline vector maps are three times faster in streets zoom levels.
• Locus starts much faster because improvements in managing of points.

The post News in version 2.8.4 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

Locus in version 2.8.0 comes with new vector maps and with new styles for vector maps. Primary aim of vector maps is offer low size offline maps for cycling, hiking, car driving or city tourism

How get new maps?

1. Go to the Locus store, section Maps > Vector maps > purchase credit
2. Download map via Map manager

For detailed information how to download new vector maps see http://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php/shop:items:vector_maps_data

How much is it?

Downloading of the Vector maps, is charged for transmitted data and not by maps itself. That’s why you simply buy credit and not maps. For example:

• Price for the Germany – 0.5 euro
• Price for the Netherland – 0.3 euro

What is style of vector maps?

When you download new Locus vector map you can easily switch between different appearances of your offline map. At this moment there are four styles prepared for particular activities: Cycling, Hiking, City tourism and Car driving.

Geocaching – GCVote

Do you like geocaching but don’t know which geocache is better than another one? Locus has new possibility to show quality of geocache based on GCVote http://gcvote.com

How to show GCVote?

Select geocache in Data manager and choose Load GCVote. Than show detailed information about geocache where you can see GCVote quality.

The post News in Locus 2.8.0 appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

• Since 1.3.2012 we finished possibility of the purchase, so every user could use the add-on min. 4 months.
• After the expiry date, it means the date 1.7.2012, we removed the add-on Vector maps from the Google Play forever.
• Since 1.3.2012 we distribute the Vector maps actually via Locus Shop by the purchasing system In-App billing.

I am a user of the add-on Vector maps. What can I do now?

• Remove Add-on Vector maps from settings of your device (add-ons are in the same list as regular applications).
• The Vector maps already downloaded by the add-on, you can use in your device without changes.
• For new maps or updates old maps, visit our Locus Shop directly in the app Locus, where you can purchased “credit” for Vector maps.

What is it “Credit” for Vector maps? What do I get?

• You can purchase data for downloading Vector maps as “data subscription”. After purchase (for example 2GB), you own data for downloading of the Vector maps, not specific vector maps of individual countries.
• More informations about downloading Vector maps after purchasing of the Vector maps you find here.
• We hope, you will be satisfied with this system of distribute of the vector maps and functionality of the Locus Shop, which offer many more maps and items for using in the Locus.

The post End of validity of the Add-on Vector maps appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

Dear users,

we are still thinking, what can we improve, because still si what to improve and now it is our manual for the Locus. We needed something, what is user friendly, clear and easy to editing, so we discovered DokuWiki http://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php/ and it seems ideal for both, for us and for you as users.

Advantages of the DokuWiki manual for Locus

• clear, orientation according to the outline
• data-low for viewing from the mobile devices
• quickly and easily editable
• users activity

We prepared three basic sections

• Screens
• Functions
• Settings
• Users activity

A few words to last point. Users activity means work of our users which want to share their methods with us all. Is needed registred and we give you access to editing “Users activity” section in your language. This section is in original language only.

So, since now, we moved all of the “Manual” section from homepage locusmap.eu to Doku.Wiki http://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php/

We will be happy to your comments and ideas to our new manual system.

The post Wiki manual for Locus appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.

Forum is nice I think, full of interesting information, but:

• there is a too much of information without some clear order
• I don’t have perfect feedback on topic. No clear way to see how much people is interested in selected topic, etc.
• cannot set topic simply as “Completed, planned, non-sence, etc…”
• no possibility to notify users about change

so, after long search was decided to enable account on GetSatisfaction web page and create main support forum there!

current system

Homepage

- passive system (read-only)

• main source of top interesting news
• manuals, how-to, FAQ
• screenshots, version compare and more

GetSatisfaction forum

- active system

• bug reports
• wishes
• questions (also possible on email support of course)

current Forum

- active system

• preferred for specialized topics, questions, for sharing data, experience
• simply say – for people deeply interested in Locus (locus – geeeks)
• preferred way for wishes and bug reports is GetSatisfaction!

Facebook

- active/passive system (mainly news feed)

• quick source for news and current hot topics

The post New support forum appeared first on Locus Map, Android GPS offline maps for hiking, geocaching.