We haven't been in touch since the release of the previous version of Locus Map for Android - we've been busy working. But now it's time to show off the fruits of our tireless labor. November brings several major new features across all platforms, where you can use Locus Map - on the web, iOS, and, of course, Android. And finally, a little Christmas surprise :).

What's new on the website?

Our web application with a route planner and library has once again moved closer to its Android counterpart in terms of functionality. The planner now includes options for custom routing profile settings, undo/redo buttons, and the ability to include these settings when sharing a planned route. 

“Custom” parameters for route calculation

You are already familiar with the options for customizing various parameters for route calculation from the Android version of the app. Now they are all available on the web as well:

• For walking routes, you can set your walking speed to refine the estimated time for the route. You can also add the option "wet conditions."
• There is much more to cycling routes, as each type of bike has its own specific requirements. For mountain bikes, in addition to the flat-surface speed, you can also set the difficulty of the terrain, while for road cyclists, you can set the power in watts or disable the preference for cycle paths. Everyone will welcome the option to enable shortcuts via stairs, tunnels, or ferries.

You can apply your own settings to individual segments of the route or to the entire route at once. Just check the appropriate option:

Undo/redo buttons for full control over planning

We have all been eagerly awaiting these buttons, and we have finally managed to resolve this technical issue. By clicking on “undo”, you can return to the individual steps of your planning, including changes, route point shifts, etc. With the “redo” button, you can repeat the steps you have returned from. 

The "back" button in your browser's toolbar now works similarly, but it can also reverse all other actions you have performed on the page, including map panning and zooming.

Sharing your planned route

The option to share your planned route using a URL link has been available for some time. However, sharing now also reflects the custom route settings and offers two ways to copy the link:

• using the "Share" button with a shortened link
• directly from the browser address bar - this means, among other things, that you will not lose your work in progress, e.g., when restarting the browser

What do you think of the new user interface of the planning panel? We are aware that we have tried to cram a lot of functionality into a small space. We are constantly trying to balance the fine line between simplicity and the range of features. Please let us know in the comments if you find it intuitive and pleasant to use.

Bulk actions in My Library

We have also expanded the library management options for your tracks, routes, and points. You can now view, copy, move, export, and delete multiple items at once. 

First, turn on multiple selection mode. Then check the routes and points you want to perform further actions on:

Select from the menu of actions. Before copying or moving items, select the destination folder:

New version for iOS

Locus Map’s younger sibling, Locus Map Lite, which we are developing for iPhones and iPads, has also gained some key new features:

Guidance to the target

The guidance displays a straight line from your location to the specified destination. It is therefore ideal for guidance in open terrain, such as to a cache. Of course, you can also navigate to points of interest on the map (known as LoPoints) or to your own points.

To start guidance, tap the button in the bottom bar of the point details:

The top of the display shows a panel with the name of the waypoint, a compass needle, and the distance as the crow flies:

It also includes a notification system that alerts you when you are within a certain distance of your destination - you can choose between a beep or a system notification. You can, of course, customize this distance. Cachers will also appreciate the beeping alert with increasing frequency – the beeping speeds up as you approach the target (or slows down as you move away):

You can end guidance by tapping the button in the guidance menu in the top bar:

Temporary point with a long press

When you hold your finger on any place on the map, a temporary point is created with coordinates, aerial distance, and postal address:

You can perform several actions with the temporary point:

• In its place, you can create a permanent point and save it to your library.
• You can share its location using a link, display it in another map application, or launch external navigation to it.
• You can start guidance on it, see above

When you swipe away the panel with details about the point, the point disappears.

Winter vector map

Winter is approaching, so we have added a vector map for winter sports to the app. It includes ski slopes with color-coded difficulty ratings, ski lifts, cable cars, and marked cross-country skiing trails. It now also supports text rotation to maintain readability, just like its summer alternative: 

Compass and GPS status

Every navigation app has a screen with a compass and information about the GPS status of your phone. In Locus Map Lite, you can now display it by tapping the GPS signal indicator:

The compass also includes an accurate azimuth. Furthermore, the screen displays information about your current altitude, coordinates, speed, and horizontal and vertical GPS accuracy.

When target guidance is activated, the compass displays an arrow pointing toward the target:

New Locus Map 4.32

We have also released a new version for Android. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to get it onto Google Play due to a technical issue on their part. Unfortunately, communication with user support at Google for Developers is incredibly poor, so the official release date for the new version is nowhere in sight.

If you don't want to wait for it, you can download it from our Repository.

A complete summary of news can be found on our Helpdesk.

The Garmin add-on supports the latest watches

We have also updated the Garmin watch add-on, Locus Map for Garmin. We have made it available for a whole range of new models.

Make your loved ones happy

Christmas is fast approaching once again, and if you're thinking about gifts for your loved ones, we have a tip for you - a 20% Christmas discount on Premium Silver and Gold annual vouchers!

You can purchase discounted vouchers on our website www.locusmap.app/voucher until January 15th, 2026. The vouchers have no expiration date, so they can be redeemed at any time.

Článek News from December on the web portal and other platforms se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

It's finally here! Locus Map Lite, our app for iOS devices, can now be used without an internet connection. You can download an offline LoMap of the area you're in at home, and you can set off without worrying that the map will disappear after the first hill due to a bad signal. As well as browsing the map, you can also search for places of interest without a connection.

New LoMaps

For starters, let's recap what LoMaps are: they're hiking and biking maps of the world, tweaked for the Locus Map app. They are based on OSM map data, which we modify into our map themes and convert for use in our applications. You can use them online, i.e. streamed from the internet, and now also offline. In addition to the map, they also include LoPoints, which are points of interest or places that are either interesting or important for orientation and staying in the field.

Not only are LoMaps on iOS now available offline, but they're premiering their latest, next-generation version, which is improved in many ways:

• maps are faster, clearer and with smoother scaling
• allow a seamless transition between online and offline maps without changing style or behaviour
• have more detailed terrain shading
• can be rotated while the labels remain horizontal for better readability
• can be tilted

Three display modes

So you can easily view the map in places where there is no signal. However, some data still needs to be downloaded, such as photos for points of interest or terrain shading. Therefore, the app offers three map display options:

Automatic

A default setting that seamlessly connects the online and offline worlds - the app prioritises offline data when you view the map, but fetches missing information like photos, shading or addresses from the internet when you search. No worries, you can always see where you are on the map - if you accidentally go off the offline map, Locus Map will display the online map.

Offline only

Without an internet connection, you can only use the offline map and database of points of interest. However, some details are not available, such as photos and ratings on the LoPoint details screen or terrain shading. You can choose to use one downloaded LoMap or view all maps for easy transition from one to another.

Online only

Use this mode if you want to make sure you see the most up-to-date map data. However, keep in mind that the map loads a bit slower (if there's no signal, not at all) and the app consumes slightly more power.

How to download maps?

In the main menu, you will find a new item, "Download offline maps", where you will find a list of downloadable maps. In the current version of the app, the maps are simply sorted according to your current location. We know this is not ideal for downloading more distant destinations. We are planning a better organization of regions for easier selection for a future update.

Three free LoMaps

As usual with its "Android brother", you can download three offline LoMaps for free in Locus Map Lite. So if you're holidaying at home, or in two neighboring countries, you're covered without dropping a penny. Plus, of course, you have the whole world covered for free with the online LoMap in summer and winter themes.

The whole world offline with Premium Gold

If you're travelling further afield and need to check the satellite map now and then, it's worth investing in the Premium Gold package. Not only can you download as many LoMaps as you want, but you also get all the updates. Add to that the ability to sync your trips, workouts and places of interest with your web library and other devices, and it's a no-brainer!

If anything, get in touch!

Introducing the new maps into the app involved a huge amount of background work - we had to completely overhaul the way the maps are generated, deploy new infrastructure... We don't want to burden you with technical details. However, we would be very happy if you let us know how satisfied you are with the new maps. Either in the comments here below the article, or drop us a line at the helpdesk.

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

You already know that Locus Map is a versatile and flexible tool that enables a wide range of uses. That it can serve hikers, bikers, geocachers, runners and cross-country skiers is a given. That it can also help rescuers, conservationists, and the development of new technologies we wrote about a year ago.

This is because of the plethora of features and gadgets the app offers. Often these options are somewhat hidden, as you had a chance to see in the article about the "magic" of long pressing some buttons. Today, we're going to look a little deeper into the menu and bring to light a few features you may not have known about in Locus Map.

Map specialties

Maps are essential and Locus Map can display a plethora of them - online or offline, of different types, dedicated LoMaps, or maps from various third-party vendors. Now we'll take a look at a few features that further enrich the map.

Automatic zooming

With autozoom, you don't have to manually zoom in and out if your hands are on the handlebars or steering wheel - the map zooms itself depending on your current speed. When you're going fast, the map zooms out, and you can see more of the landscape and get an overview of the overall context and progress along the route. Conversely, when you slow down or stop at an intersection, the map zooms in and you can see all the details you need, such as the shape of the intersection.

Unlike conventional navigation apps, in Locus Map, you can set in detail which zooms to display at which speed. This way you can tailor the auto zoom to any activity, from slow walking to driving, and use the presets to activate it when needed.

Auto zoom can be found in the map screen settings. Details here >>

All maps magnification

Many middle-aged people are losing the ability to focus their sight at short distances. For them, Locus Map offers the ability to enlarge all maps from 125% to 800% of the original resolution. You can enable map magnification in the advanced map settings. Details here >>

Terrain shading

The classic map shading, which increases the plasticity of the terrain and aids orientation, needs no introduction:

However, Locus Map offers something extra again:

Slope gradients for ski mountaineering

The popular activity on the snow plains of the mountains brings with it one crucial aspect to watch - the slope gradient. The risk of an avalanche increases with a higher angle. Based on elevation data, Locus Map can color-code slopes exceeding 30°, which is critical for safe movement in open terrain. Steeper slopes are further distinguished by a darker color:

Slope colouring by cardinal directions

Landscape photographers and other hunters of sunrises and sunsets will appreciate being able to tell from a map which slope leans in which direction. The cardinal points are color-coded so you can guess fairly accurately where the shade will be at what time of day:

Quickly turn shading on or off in the map content panel on the left. Details here >>

Auxiliary graphics

The rather generic title in the map settings menu hides some real treasures that can be very useful to you as you wander through the countryside. This section is worth exploring in more detail, but we'll just list the highlights here:

Dynamic elevation

The height of the location on the map is displayed above the cursor. You always know what elevation you are at and the elevation of your surroundings:

Time circles

Intuitively and quickly show us where we will get to in half a minute, a minute, etc., at the current speed:

Cursor to position line

A very fast tool to measure the beeline distance between your current location and any other location. You can also add other values to the line such as elevation difference or azimuth:

Course line

This element highlights the direction of your movement. Useful for water sports on a larger body of water:

Heading line

Highlights the direction of rotation of the phone. For example, it can help you find the names of peaks on the horizon or other landscape features you can see from a viewpoint.

Show view

Particularly helpful for those who have trouble orienting themselves on the map - it shows the viewport you are currently looking at:

More about auxiliary graphics here >>

Specialties for athletes

The primary goal of the Locus Map app is to help people who enjoy being active in the outdoors. In addition to the main functions such as track recording, route planning, navigation, or connection to external sensors, there are also a lot of auxiliary functions that can make these activities even more enjoyable.

Audio coach

The audio coach is appreciated by runners and everyone who needs to know their performance data first-hand, so to speak. When recording an activity (running, cycling or other trail training), Locus Map reports the current statistics of the ongoing activity to the headphones at a selected interval.

A range of parameters is available - in addition to the usual data such as distance, speed, or pace, Locus Map also provides information on elevation, heart rate, cadence, or energy consumption. The reporting interval can be selected as distance or time, and the parameters can also be layered on top of each other. And don't worry that you won't hear your favorite music while running - Locus Map only sounds when it needs to.

You can set up as many audio coaches as you want and use a different one for each sports activity. Connecting audio to a specific route recording profile and starting it automatically is a matter of course.

You can configure the audio coach in the route recording settings. Details here >>

Track naming automation

Locus Map offers several options for naming a recorded track when you save it to your library. The default format is a timestamp, however you can further enrich this or replace it with something else. There is the activity type, start and finish location, country, name of the route you are navigating, start time, and distance traveled.

Everything is set using tags in the track recording profile settings. Here are the details >>

And now something for the experts

As if the primary settings in Locus Map weren't enough, there are other settings that are rather hidden from the general user. We refer to these as "Expert" and they can be used to set up almost anything you can imagine. Just to name a few:

• colors and styles of all possible auxiliary lines above the map and graph curves
• colors and fonts of titles or labels
• detailed settings for hardware drivers
• various tweaks and shortcuts

However, there are also settings that may not work properly on all phones, such as fullscreen, as well as a few options for developers, so it's best not to touch them at all. Either way, you can customize Locus Map in many, many ways.

And how do you activate the expert settings? You can find everything here >>

Locus Map LITE - iOS cherry on top

What does iOS have to do with the unknown features of Locus Map, you ask? The "unknown". This time, however, not for users, but for us developers - until recently, the iOS platform was an unknown and unexplored place for us.

We admit, throughout the history of Locus Map development, we couldn't imagine developing an app for another platform. However, as they say, "Never say never", and so, after less than two years of intensive work, we created our first iOS app - the Locus Map LITE.

Not to be misled - this is not the equivalent of the Android Locus Map. Locus Map LITE is so far just a Locus baby that can only do a fraction of what its "adult" Android brother is capable of. Anyway, we want to teach it as much as possible in the future to make it as much the same as the Android app.

And what can Locus Map LITE do now?

• display your location on an online LoMap or satellite map
• record your activity
• import your route in GPX format
• view your route and waypoint library and synchronize it with the web

You can learn all about it on its brand new page at www.locusmap.app/ios.

Enjoy your summer!

Článek Specialties From the Locus Map Menu se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.