Winter is in full swing outside our windows in the northern hemisphere, we've swapped our bikes and trekking boots for skis and snowshoes, and we've switched LoMap to a winter theme in Locus. But our blog isn't here for some general chatter. Let's recap the pile of news that November and December brought.

New start

Literally! The new version of Locus Map has a completely redesigned launch and boot-up of the application. It's much faster, as a lot of settings and your data are loaded in the background. It's also smoother and prettier thanks to a nice opening animation (hello to our graphic designer Zdenda).

The route planner, continued

We're still tuning the route planner for you because we want to have the best one in the world. We want it to come up with exactly the routes you need. And what's new now?

A new selection of routing profiles

A little heads-up - the route planner uses a little machine we call a router to automatically draw routes along paths and trails. This offers a number of settings depending on the type of activity on the route - and these are profiles. For example, the "hiking" profile will generate a route along paths and hiking trails. Well, since the number of profiles and their parameters is growing in our LoRouter, we had to rework their selection. We simply couldn't fit them into the original solution anymore.

This new feature does not yet apply to the activity selection for the “Navigate to” - direct navigation to a specified destination. On the contrary, we have now simplified it a bit, as a big change is coming. But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

All for better cycling routes

We have added additional parameters to all cycling profiles that affect route generation. So you can turn on and off tunnels, cycle paths, ferries or stairs, depending on what bike you're riding and what you're up to. And, there are the five levels of terrain difficulty for mountain bikes we wrote about last time. If you have a tip for another useful customization, post it in the comments, we'd be happy to consider it. 

Gravel versus touring

The much-loved gravel has now been added to the group of bike profiles. With this profile, the LoRouter will push you harder on gravel and firm forest roads and is not afraid of hills. We've toned down the original touring a bit so that it plans trips more on bike paths and doesn't bother you as much with climbing.

Online or offline, still the same LoRouter

Thanks to configuration sharing, both versions of our router now offer the same profiles and their parameters. So with or without the internet, you have the same planning options. Soon we will see this option in the web planner as well.

If you're adventurous, you're properly adventurous

In the previous version of Locus Map, we introduced displaying warnings about various pitfalls on the route - unprotected crossings, difficult terrain, barriers, etc. However, the more adventurous among you immediately said they'd rather enjoy the ride with all the risks. And so we've accommodated them - you can turn off the warnings centrally in the settings, at three levels - on the map, in the planner and when navigating.  

And lots of minor improvements

• Something for the geocachers - we continue to add features directly into Locus Map so that they are available without the need to download the Geocaching4Locus add-on. We're adding cache search by GC code (don't worry, the Live Map is in the works).
• Aspect shading - something for those hunting for beautiful sunrise or sunset shots
• the ability to display the dashboard as a separate screen - appreciated by technical types who are bothered by the numbers above the map and want to have them nicely visible extra. This option can also save battery significantly, as the map is not redrawn below the dashboard during activity.

Refreshed Locus Map Watch

We've resuscitated the popular Wear OS smartwatch add-on so it meets the latest standards and works on the most advanced devices. Furthermore, we've improved its UI and added a dark mode to save battery. 

So head out for a snow adventure, the conditions are excellent!

Photos by Locus Map,  Alessio Soggetti and Dmitrii Vaccinium on Unsplash

Článek Locus Map 4.20 and other pre-Christmas news se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

Locus Map Watch add-on for wearables has been available for a few months now, gaining bigger and bigger popularity among Locus Map users who own Android Wear or Wear OS devices. However, many outdoor fans use wearables made by Samsung. Those, alas, haven't been so lucky - Samsung wearables Gear S(X) and Galaxy Watch run on Tizen - a completely different operation system than Android Wear/Wear OS devices and therefore we had to develop the add-on on an absolutely different platform.

To be honest, it was a struggle but in the end we won the battle and Locus Map Watch for Gear and Galaxy watches is finally here!

Free and Pro versions

More exactly, there are two Locus Map Watch addons - Locus Map Free Watch and Locus Map Pro Watch. Reason? Unlike Android, Tizen perceives Locus Free and Pro as two independent apps and is not able to connect one add-on to both of them, so:

If you use Locus Map Free, install Locus Map Free Watch. If you use Locus Map Pro, install Locus Map Pro Watch

Both add-on versions are, of course, for FREE. If you use Locus Map Free and you install, by accident, Locus Map Pro Watch, don't worry - you don't have to purchase Locus Map Pro. Just uninstall the wrong add-on and install the right one - Locus Map Free Watch.

Map, track recording controls or navigation right on your wrist!

Samsung version of our Locus Map Watch add-on offers almost the same features as its Wear OS twin:

Find your position right away

• just a short glance on the map and you see where you are:
  

Tap your watch and start to record your trip instantly

• select type of your activity on track
• start recording or insert a waypoint
  

Browse and zoom the map and orient yourself better in the landscape

Besides browsing the map you can zoom the map across several levels and see what is ahead or around your position:

You know where you're heading - the map rotates in your direction during navigation:

Navigate easily with your watch

• watch turn-by-turn navigation commands
• always know your position an route, shape and distance of the next turn
  

Check all stats and adjust your watch dashboard

Each sports freak needs to monitor something else. One needs to check his average speed, another one his HR, cadence or elevation gain. We added a lot more, including energy consumption or battery status.

Not all values fit in the small watch screen so the dashboard can be rolled down. And what's more, the dashboard cells can be customized - you can select what values you need to see on what position. Just long tap the cell and confirm your selection from the vaste range of features.

So, what are you waiting for? Go to Galaxy Apps and install!

Článek Locus Map Watch add-on ready also for Gear and Galaxy Watch se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.