The summer season has slowly given way to fall, and Indian summer still tempts us to take trips into nature. But for us, the season never ends! So, before you head out into the fresh air again, here’s a brief summary of what we’ve accomplished over the past few months. We’ve significantly improved the web route planner, fixed the integration between Locus and e-bikes with Bosch motors, and added a simplified route planner to the iPhone version. And now, in more detail:

• Locus Map Web
• Locus Map for Android
• Locus Map Lite for iOS

Locus Map Web Just Got a Little Better

The web planner has once again taken giant strides toward matching the capabilities offered by its more advanced Android version.

Plan using shaping and via points along the route

You create a route in the route planner using what are called shaping points and via points. The difference between them is that while shaping points are used only to determine the direction the route planner takes, waypoints are places you really don’t want to miss on your trip. These are usually LoPoints  (natural and architectural landmarks, restaurants, etc.) or your user points (such as geocaches). You can now create a viapoint from a shaping point—and vice versa—on the website. Or you can insert a viapoint anywhere along the route.

You can assign a custom icon or description to a viapoint. The icon will appear in the itinerary and on the elevation profile.

In addition, viapoints are displayed in the route panel and in the detailed list, which you can open in a separate window. This list shows the distance between each viapoint, and you can center each one on the map or copy its coordinates. 

Now you know what kind of surface you'll be riding on

Each route includes a graph showing elevation gain and slope gradient. For the planned routes, we’ve added two bars with color-coded surface types and trail types. When you hover your mouse over a route or the graph, all the data for that specific location will be displayed—distance from the start, elevation, gradient, surface type, and trail type. So now you know exactly which parts of the route will be on a third-class paved road and which on a gravel dirt road, and what it will be like to ride on that muddy trail with a 20% grade. And based on that, you can then adjust your route accordingly.

Watch out for obstacles along the route!

Rough terrain, a barrier, a railroad crossing, heavy traffic on the road… The route planner can now warn you about these and many other hazards right from the comfort of your living room. It displays them directly on the map, in the route panel, and also in a detailed list that you can open in a separate window. The app also displays these warnings during navigation (if you choose).

Style your route line however you like

You now have the same options as in the mobile app:

Choose any color, opacity, pattern, and outline. The selection also includes dynamic coloring styles based on speed, route incline, heart rate, or cadence. Of course, styles can be inherited from route folders. 

As for the incline, the dynamic color scale varies from the app for now, but we'll fine-tune that over time as well.

What's New on Android

Locus Map version 4.36 once again brings a large set of changes and fixes, the most significant of which are as follows:

The connection to Bosch e-bikes is finally working

If you ride an e-bike with Bosch Smart System technology, we have good news for you—it’s been fixed. The Locus Map app already communicated with these bikes, but only through an impractical workaround—you had to pair the bike in the Android Bluetooth settings and launch the Bosch Flow app first, and even then, data on the assistance mode or motor power wasn’t available; only basic data such as speed, cadence, and rider power.

We had to completely overhaul the connection method, and once we succeeded, we were finally able to add what had been missing: the assistance mode and motor power, in addition to the data you already had available. In addition, version 4.36.0 adds the remaining range for the currently selected assistance level, along with a few other minor tweaks. Hopefully, it won’t give you any more trouble!

Augmented reality just got a little smarter

Augmented reality (AR) in Locus Map displays map points in the real-world landscape on your phone's screen via the camera. It was previously available as an add-on; since the last version, it has been built into the main app.

The biggest new feature is the ability to load nearby locations from our LoPoints service, so you can see peaks, landmarks, and other points of interest even in areas where you don’t have your own map data. In AR, you can also view any point directly from its tool menu and display it similarly to a navigation destination.

We've also added a warning about compass distortion: if something in your surroundings is affecting your phone's magnetic readings or if the compass needs to be calibrated, the AR view will now alert you. And if your destination is outside the screen, a small arrow at the edge of the view now shows the direction you should turn.

Count Your Steps

Among the many minor updates, let’s at least mention the built-in pedometer. Count your steps using just your phone (no additional sensor is needed); the step count is now included in exported GPX and TCX files as well as in the FIT format, and can be retrieved when importing GPX files.

Plan your trips on your iPhone, too

The much younger sibling of the Android version received a major new feature over the summer—a route planner. Although it’s much simpler and works only online, it’s a big step toward other features that rely on route generation, such as navigation. 

We're still fine-tuning the planner, and we'll publish a detailed article about it when the time is right.

Indian summer is slowly giving way to fall, and the colors of the season are just around the corner! So don’t miss out by sitting at home on the couch—head out into nature, with Locus Map, of course. Thank you for using our app, and we appreciate all your feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a shaping point and a viapoint, and how do I change one to the other?

A shaping point simply tells the route planner where to go. A viapoint is a place you actually want to visit on your trip—typically a LoPoint or a point you’ve created yourself. Now on the website, you can convert a shapingpoint into a viapoint (and vice versa), and you can place a viapoint anywhere along the route. You can also assign a custom icon and description to each viapoint, which will appear in the itinerary and on the elevation profile.

Where do you get the surface data from, and will I be able to see it for my recorded routes as well?

Like our other map data, we source this from OpenStreetMap. We’ve added colored bands indicating surface and road type to the planned routes only—when you hover your mouse over a route or the graph, you’ll see the distance from the starting point, elevation, gradient, surface type, and road type for that location.

Will route warnings (roadblocks, railroad crossings, difficult terrain) also appear in the mobile app?

Yes. The planner shows them directly on the map, in the route panel, and in the detailed list, and the app can also display them during navigation—if you enable that feature.

What do I need to connect to a Bosch e-bike?

A bike equipped with Bosch Smart System technology and Locus Map version 4.36 or later. We’ve completely redesigned the connection process, so you no longer need to go through the Bosch Flow app. You can now also see the assist mode, motor power, and remaining range for the currently selected assist level.

Do I need an external sensor to count my steps?

No, the pedometer is built-in and only requires the phone itself. The step count is included in exported GPX, TCX, and FIT files, and is loaded back in when a GPX file is imported.

Článek A Fall Roundup of News from the World of Locus Map se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

On March 1, a message appeared on Twitter that Viewranger, our very strong competing app, had been shut down by its new owner, Outdooractive. VR users are now forced to use the Outdooractive application. However, not everyone is satisfied with the upgrade, so they are looking for an alternative. Many turn to us and want to know what Locus Map can do. This article is intended primarily for those.

Locus Map is what you are looking for

The Viewranger was great and inspired us in many ways. That's why you can find in Locus Map more or less everything you used in Viewranger. Whether it's basics like activity recording, route planning, navigation, use of various maps… or specialties like Live Tracking (similar to  VR’s “Buddy Beacon”), augmented reality (similar to popular “Skyline”), or wearables support (Wear OS, Tizen, and Garmin).

Let's look at each item in more detail:

Activity recording

All your outdoor activities can be recorded in Locus. Just select the type of activity and press the start button. This is available not only directly in the app on the main screen, but also in the widget or an add-on in the smartwatch.

When recording, the application generates a number of statistics. In addition to the parameters obtained from GPS (length, speed, time, elevation…), it also records data from connected sensors - heart rate, cadence, power, etc. This data can be displayed directly above the map on the so-called dashboard:

Each activity has its own record profile, which can be customized in great detail. You can have an unlimited number of profiles for different types of activities.

The records are stored in a database in an application that synchronizes with the cloud and the web library.

Route planning

You can plan routes directly in the application via the planner, with or without an internet connection. If you prefer a large PC monitor, you can plan routes in the web planner. The route from it is automatically synchronized with all devices in which you have Locus Map installed.

Route planning is also performed using profiles in which you select the type of activity - according to it, the router selects the appropriate types of routes, surfaces, and elevation of the route. Of course, there is a manual mode for planning routes outside the mapped routes or the option to have a complete round trip designed - just enter the direction and distance.

Navigation

You can navigate in Locus in several ways. The first option is along an already prepared route - planned in the planner, imported from elsewhere, or previously recorded. Furthermore, the navigation destination can be specified directly on the map and Locus plans a route to it according to the entered criteria.

Another option that you will appreciate, especially in open terrain without roads, is beeline guidance to the target. The method is especially popular among geocachers.

Choose a map according to your needs

Locus Map offers as a default a hiking/biking map of the whole world - LoMap. It is based on OSM data and can be used online and offline. In addition to map data, it also contains dynamic LoPoints, offline addresses, and elevation data.

Like the Viewranger, also Locus Map offers maps from a number of other providers - Kompass, Outdooractive (DE), Freytag-Berndt (A), IGN (FR, BE), USGS, Neotreks / Accuterra (USA), Ordnance Survey (UK), and also lots of freely accessible online maps based on OSM.

Ordnance Survey maps

Most of the Viewranger users we spoke to use OS maps. We also have them in our Locus Store, in 140 offline packages, covering the whole of the UK. Maps are not subscribed as in Viewranger but are purchased individually for one-time payments. Each package contains two map layers - Landranger and Explorer - in several zooms.

We can offer you also Ordnance Survey OpenData maps combined with OSM data, Rowmaps, and Core Path maps in JohnThornMaps covering the whole UK.

Live Tracking is the new Buddy Beacon

You can share real-time location with family and friends using Live Tracking. It works both mutually - between individual Locus users - and one-way - the location from Locus in the mobile is displayed on the website.

You can share your location publicly or in a private group. You can create groups and invite other participants, you can also chat in them and send points of interest to each other.

Use a smart watch

You can also use Locus Map in conjunction with a smartwatch. We support Wear OS, Tizen (older Samsung watches), and Garmin platforms.

In all cases, Locus Map is the main application on the mobile phone and the watch adds an auxiliary add-on that displays your location on the map, navigation commands and you can also use it to control the track recording.

Where is Skyline?

You can also try out the popular augmented reality feature with Locus, using the Augmented Reality for Locus Map add-on. In principle, it works similarly to Skyline, but before turning it on, you must first turn on the LoPoint view and highlight the mountain peaks in Locus.

Can I customize Locus Map?

Yes, in many ways.

Starting at the main screen, which can be adapted for right-handers and left-handers, you can adjust the visibility of all the main buttons, as well as the function buttons in the sidebars.

You can set the style of routes at all the levels - for the whole application, route folders, navigation, route recording, and in the planner.

Customize the number and layout of items in the main menu, set units, coordinate systems, auxiliary graphics, coordinate grid, even the appearance and size of map and navigation cursors.

What do I need to pay extra for in Locus?

The application is in the basic version after downloading from the Google Play Store for FREE. It basically contains everything you need for everyday outdoor use - track recording, route planner, navigation, cycling/hiking map of the world online, and much more.

You can extend the functionality and remove restrictions on some features of the application by purchasing Premium Silver and Gold packages.

Premium Silver offers a larger map screen without ads and includes a suite of features for sports use as an audio coach or sensor connection manager. There is also a package of map tools for calibration, overlays, and map offsets.

Premium Gold offers maximum - all functions including data synchronization with the cloud, built-in offline router, all offline LoMaps of the world, satellite map, live tracking with private groups, etc.

Detailed comparison of premium plans can be found HERE >>

Maps of our commercial partners are not included in Premium packages. So everyone can buy just the map they really need.

Welcome to Locus Map!

Článek Viewrangers, welcome! se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.