So here it is, friends. One great era in Locus's life is coming to an end and the other is beginning. We have released Locus Map 3.50, the last in a series of 3.x. The next released version will be the first representative of the fourth generation. Before that happens, let us take a little excursion into history.

Let's look back to the past first ...

Locus Map (originally only Locus) at the beginning of its existence began as a simple app for geocachers. It enabled the display of downloaded caches above the map and simple track recording. Navigation and the possibility of simple route planning were added and the app soon became very popular. Nevertheless, its development and support took more and more time from its author, until it became a full time job. Let's briefly discuss the following developments in key milestones:

• March 2011 - a paid version - Locus Map Pro - was created
• July 2011 - Locus began using its own vector maps generated from OSM maps - the forerunner of today's LoMaps:
  

  

• May 2012 - the first User Manual
• July 2012 - the first version of the Locus Store launched (called Locus Shop then)
• January 2013 - the ability to connect the app to external sensors using ANT + and Bluetooth added
• June 2014 - the first app of the 3.x series . A new Locus Store is created with its own virtual "currency" - LoCoins :
  

  

• December 2014 - Android PIT app store is ending. Locus Map Pro is only available on the Android market (now Google Play). The first offline points of interest (today's LoPoints) and track recording widget are launched:
  

  

• January 2015 - new UI respecting Material design by Google
• March 2015 - we started cooperating with major map publishers, the first being the French IGN , followed by SwissTopo and the German Outdooractive
• August 2015 - the first addon for wearables - SmartWatch 2
• September 2015 - link to a large database of user routes - GPSies.com
• March 2016 - Locus Live tracking - real-time continuous location sharing
• January 2017 - progressive coordinate system What3words implemented
• October 2017 - a brand new route planner taking full advantage of external routers and routing profiles, the first option to back up data to the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive)
• January 2018 - add-on for Android Wear and Wear OS smart watches
• January 2019 - add-on for smart watches running Tizen - Samsung Gear and Galaxy Watch
• May 2019 - an add-on for the Garmin watches is launched in partnership with Wearsoft:
  

  

• February 2020 - a new interactive WMS map library
• May 2020 - database of 7000 routes by Rother added to Locus Store

What now?

Locus Map Pro is now one of the most enhanced applications in its segment and is used not only by outdoor enthusiasts but also by a number of professionals from S&R organizations - Mountain Service, search units, and rescuers. Locus Map Pro in version 3.50 completes this ten-year era. The next version will be called Locus Classic and we will maintain and update it according to the needs of the new versions of Android. However, the main direction of development will lead elsewhere - in the fourth generation of the Locus Map application and the subscribed package of Premium functions.

Version 3.50 of Locus Map Free and Locus Map Pro will be permanently available HERE both in Google Play and Amazon Appstore clones.

... and now boldly into the future!

Two years ago , we indicated the direction which we intend to pursue - there is no more significant improvement in the mobile application, it's time to spread your wings into the endless space of the Internet. It's high time to start synchronizing user data over our own cloud, to offer the convenience of route planning on a large PC screen. After disconnecting the GPSies service due to its acquisition by Alltrails, we also need to build our own route database. At the time, we had no idea that it would take us a full two years to implement our plans. But now we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Locus Map 4 is coming!

Článek Locus Map 3.50 is the last in the 3.x series. The fourth generation will start a new era. se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.