Well, I must admit that the title may appear a bit misleading, however, the fact is we are releasing two apps or, to be more precise, an app and a brand new add-on. Anyway, let's not hurry, the add-on will come as the icing on the cake. For now, the question is, what news does Locus Map 3.11.0 bring?

Better communication of Locus Map and SD card since Android 5.0

As is commonly known the Android 4.4.2. screwed us a little bit when it radically limited the applications permission to write on SD card. We wrote about it in our blog, we dedicated an individual chapter of our User Guide to it.

Android 5.0 brought a couple of changes that allowed us to get back the SD card writing permission to Locus Map at least partially. From now you can move the folders with vector maps (MapsVector), SRTM data (elevation data useful for e.g. map shading - data/srtm) and backups (backup) to SD card. Unfortunately, that's all, more is not possible so far. All the same, Menion spent whole week by looking for workarounds outwitting this peculiar idea of Google. Therefore, we still recommend to keep Locus root directory in internal memory as well as the main map directory Maps where Locus writes downloaded maps from online (the downloaded maps can be moved manually to SD card afterwards and then added as "external" maps back to Locus).

[caption id="attachment_8699" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Menu > Settings > Miscellaneous > Default directories[/caption]

Simple field notes directly in Locus Map

And now some treat for geocachers! Insiders know that field notes enable to log caches offline "in the field" and after coming across a wifi spot they can be logged in a bundle to Geocaching.com. For this purpose our friend Jarda Kvapil developed an awesome, complex and still improving Locus Addon FieldNotes.

However, the necessity to download and install the add-on discouraged many geocachers and they rather abandoned the idea of using field notes. And for these we returned a few simple field note features into Locus Map - creating field notes, their export to a file and their logging. The advanced field notes actions like filtration, sorting or statistics remain a part of the elaborate FieldNote Add-on.

Simple field notes can be managed in a new Field notes manager that can be found in Menu > Geocaching tools.

Detailed aerial map of Austria for FREE

Finally you can admire the Alp giants from the birds perspective on a quality aerial map for FREE! Basemap.at, a project that is based upon data provided by the nine Austrian provinces and their partners, has been added to our Locus Store offer in two versions - standard base map and aerial map. The maps can be displayed online, can be cached without limits, can be downloaded to offline for free, the only limitation is 25 000 map tiles a day. Together with hiking Outdooractive map the trip planning in Austria can be quite fun, what do you say?

[caption id="attachment_8696" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Hallstatt[/caption]

Our website news directly in Locus Map

We've connected our Locusmap.eu website with the app by a simple built-in RSS reader so that you are kept informed of the latest news directly in-app. The news can be found in the main menu right below the Store link.

Set your GPS marker position as you like

Upon your frequent requests we've enabled custom definition of the GPS marker position on the map. For example you are traveling northwestward - therefore it's useful to place the GPS marker in the opposite position in the lower right corner of your screen so that you see bigger stretch of the map in front of you. It's simple - long tap the centering button, select "Set custom GPS marker position" and confirm. To return the marker to its default position, double-tap the centering button.

Quick www bookmark

And now something for advanced users. We've added a feature enabling to create parameter URL of your favorite map websites that can transfer you to Locus Map defined location by a single button tap e.g. for downloading tip for trips. The function can be found in the Menu > More at the bottom. You can define coordinates, zoom level or time in the URL.

Locus Map in a wristwatch?

Now we are getting to the promised icing on the cake that, however, probably will not be for everybody - it concerns owners of Sony's SmartWatch2 wearable device only. It had been lingering on Menion's table for a while so he resolved to develop an add-on for it that communicates with Locus Map in the phone via Bluetooth. The watch can display your position on a map, it can guide you to a target on the map or with compass, you can start, pause and stop track recording with it, switch among recording profiles or add a waypoint. All "work", i.e. GPS position fix or track recording lies upon the full Locus Map in your phone or tablet that you have in your pocket or rucksack. The watch works as an external display.

Please take this as a sort of predecessor of the more universal Android Wear, on which we can test the feedback of our users and also possibilities of further development of Locus Map for wearables.
And that's it for today! We wish you a beautiful rest of the summer vacation!

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Článek One release is not enough? What about two? se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Weekends in Rychlebske Mountains have become my "highlights" since I with my coleague were invited by Cerna Voda major Pavel Hornik to map local famous bike trails. A lot of things have changed since then - Rychlebske trails boomed into a MTB resort offering more than 60 km of trails of various difficulty, beginning with easily flowing paths ridable by kids ending up in the hills with rocky trails for hardcore riders. And Pavel is not major any longer, being fully concentrated on his dream project. And the result is apparent - the trails keep winning various visitor polls, the region revived with a wave of bikers not only from Czech rep but also from nearby Poland and Slovakia.

It's not about the trails only. Rychlebske Mountains overpower you with their simple and pure beauty, where you can spent your time many ways, no to just on a bike. Therefore I welcomed when we made a free weekend, threw stuff and kids in the car, the bikes on the roof rack and were looking forward to the arrival for the next 150 kms.

Day 1 - Locus Map on trail

Saturday we devoted to the main allure - ride along the Rychlebske trails. The family and bikes were ready right after the breakfest, the youngest one buckled up in the child seat and we merrily set off. That reminds me - the phone mounted on the steering bar and Locus transformed into a cyclecomputer (dashboard, guiding along the route rather because of my-geek-self as the trails are perfectly marked, and of course the track recording on). When you come with kids the Northern side of the resort is the primary choice - we start with the trail along the romantic valley of Cerny potok (Black brook). The trail is empty, just from time to time we let someone quicker pass by. Most bikers concentrate in the more demanding parts on the foot of Sokoli vrch.

We are having a break on the bridge across the Cerny potok. Boys are building a dam and throwing pebbles in the water, the rest of us is having a snack in the grass. The youngest kid peacefully sleeps buckled up in the seat. Overviewing Locus I found out we had ridden about a quarter of our trip so we slowly got up and moved. Waves and banks of the playful circular trail near Vidnava comes next. The recently built trail is really enjoyable both for us and the kids. One hill left and the long awaited refreshment in a Vidnava pub follows. We got pretty hungry!

On the way back we are enjoying the bucolic countryside along forest tracks and the trail of the Czech forestry.

It was beautiful and very intense, mainly for the kids - we rolled some 29 km in the wavy terrain. Being connected on wifi at our cabin I export the trip to my friends on Runkeeper. Now it's time to rest. Sitting at a camp fire with a view of sunlit Sokoli vrch we bid farewell to the first day.

Day 2 - geocaching with Locus

It's a long way home so we can't afford another whole day trip. I planned a decent circular walk across the hills nearby Zulova, accompanied by hunt for a couple of geocaches. I downloaded local treasures to my mobile via the Geocaching4Locus. Three will do for today - the hills where we are going to fetch them are pretty steep - Bozi hora and Borovy vrch are awaiting us. Both hills are of igneous origin and the material they are made of (granite) named the nearby town - Zulova. The baby in the backpack seat seems to weigh twice as much when we are struggling upwards the first hill. The geocache named "wedding" is hidden out of the path somewhere under the summit. Locus Map leads us without compromises. Its geocache alarm starts beeping in my pocket 100 meters from the cache and quickens meter by meter. "Daddy, you're like a ticking bomb", my sons announce. They're damn right when I completely exhausted and dripping sweat explode in a hilarious enthusiasm finding the cache. The same at another treasure that was hidden in a rock right next to the church of Our Lady of Sorrows. There are quite remarkable views of the town from there. My alarm starts beeping for the last time on the foot of the neighboring Borovy. Not this time was it hard to find the cache although there were loads of hiding places among the barren boulders. The GPS is relentless and is beeping "zero" perhaps a meter from the cache. I'm logging offline via the Fieldnotes addon while the kids are playing hide and seek among the rocks. Anyway I would seek the GSM signal in vain in this place. It's noon, our bellies are rumbling again so we head on downhill towards the civilization. Anyway, it's a granite stone's throw from Borovy and so our hunger can be saturated soon. Well, I'm looking forward to getting back here again, sometime in the middle of summer - we'll explore local flooded quarries offering cool swimming refreshment. And as I can see in the Locus Maps, there are many of them!

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Článek A Locus Family Weekend in Rychlebske Mountains se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Článek se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Due to the constant uncertainty about validity of the Add-on Vector maps for Locus, we would like to clarify the current situation. The add-on Vector maps was valid for limited time (since 2.9.2011 - 30.6.2012).

• 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.

Článek End of validity of the Add-on Vector maps se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Článek New Locus addon – GeoGet database se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.