Bone shattering freezes are over, snows are slowly melting, we wake up with first rays of sunshine... Winter season is coming to its end. Time to plan first hiking trips! However, early spring weather can be pretty nasty so what information do we need the most? Obviously, it's the weather forecast. Plus, sunset time for proper trip timing. Locus Map offers both!

If you don't like rainy hikes, weather forecast is a must

Locus Map offers 7 day weather forecast in 3-hour intervals for any place in the whole world. It is powered by DarkSky.net and is available in Pro version of the app:

By default, Locus displays weather forecast for the place you're in at the moment. Nevertheless, you can choose another location. You've got a wide selection of options: online/offline address search, your database of points of interest, you can show it on map, insert coordinates etc.:

or select some of previously chosen places:

The weather forecast consists of a few layers of details. Firstly, there's an overall view of today and next days. Each day can be unfolded into a detailed, 3-hour interval forecast of all necessary meteorological parameters:

Additionally, you can preview the forecast on a simple meteograph:

Mind the sunset time so that you can enjoy your trip in daylight

Hiking in the dark is not much even with a head torch. Moreover, it gets colder very quickly after dusk so it's recommended to know when the sun sets and adjust your trip planning to it. Sunrise and sunset times can be displayed on two places in Locus Map:

1) it's part of the weather forecast:

2) it can be displayed in the topbar of the main screen:

Now, you've got the basics - the weather - adjust your gear according to it, plan your hike by it and don't underestimate anything. And enjoy your first spring stay outdoors!

Title photo by @paulgilmore_

Článek Planning early spring trips? Only with decent weather forecast! se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.

It's been over a month since last "big" release and the summer is not only knocking on our (out)door but it's right here in the middle of Europe with all the sunshine and heat. People gulp gallons of beer and stuff themselves with tons of ice cream and, which matters the most, enjoy trips in the great outdoors. As usual, we've got a few more treats for them, for you:

Vacation in Denmark? Why not?

With newly added FREE OFFLINE map combining topographic data of DTK Kortforsyningen and marked hiking and cycling routes from Waymarkedtrails your trip planning in Denmark is a piece of cake! Maps covering European part of Denmark are available in offline packages containing zooms 9-15:

More online free maps in the Store

Not only hiking or cycling maps are subject of Locus users' interest as Locus is not used by pure outdoor freaks only - Locus can serve also as a viewer of topographic or historic maps. From now on you can enjoy browsing historic maps of Iceland, made by the National Meteorological Department of the Danish Army in the first four decades of the 20th century, last updated in 1989. The maps, known as the Atlaskort, are online scanned in the scale of 1:100000 and can be cached.

Next we are bringing ZBGIS maps of Slovakia - basic database of Slovak geographic information system for mapping, land registry, cartography and land surveying office. Maps are WMTS based and available in zooms up to 16.

New weather forecast

Planning trips always depends on the expected weather conditions so global localized weather forecast has been always a part of Locus features. Recently we reworked the WF panel and changed the forecast data source. The main page s bigger and clearer:

Tapping a day forecast unfolds a new screen with lots of details including meteograph:

Each day forecast is divided in 3-hours intervals with their own values of temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation and sky coverage:

Enhanced distance measuring

A few months ago we introduced a quick method of distance measuring - by tapping two fingers on the screen. Originally we intended to use this metod just for approximate distance estimate. Many of you liked this method and  needed to make it a bit more accurate so we resolved to add magnifiers on both finger points  - now you can define the measured points quite precisely:

Custom definition of automatic zooming

Automatic zooming is very useful when you move at wide range of speeds - typically in a car - and need to have relevant view of the map. When you are traveling fast on a highway you need  a low zoom with few details and wider map context. When you are traveling slowly, e.g. in a city center, you need to see as many details as possible - all intersections, traffic lights, oneways etc. All car navigations are equipped with this feature and Locus is not an exception. Although, until now, the speed values per zoom has always had default setting only. Now you can set the speed levels on your own and customize Locus behavior to your needs. The option can be found in Settings > Maps > Advanced features > Speed auto-zoom:

We'll finish as usual - you know it's not all the new version introduces. There are many more smaller improvements, UI enhancements, fixes... And one secret at the end (don't tell anybody ;): it is possible to switch off on-screen blogpost notifications. The switch is somewhere in Settings > Miscellaneous... Enjoy!

Článek The summer is beginning with Locus Map 3.24 se nejdříve objevil na Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app.