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[Q] Looking for this type of APP

I am looking for this type of APP.
A team of us works in 3rd world countries where street addresses are just not the same as back in North America; that is an understatement.
It would be nice to have an APP where I could add a geo point (if that is what they are called) to a map when I go to a location. I could then add a note about that location and the services, etc found there. My colleagues in another cities could also do the same. However, this would all be on one account so that all geo caches could be available to the whole team. When I add a geo cache to my phone it also adds it to their phones.
At the moment if this is only available on Android then it would work. However, some of the team also have iPhones so we would love something for both of these systems.
Look forward to your opinions and suggestions.
Thanks.

I remember Google Maps and Latitude can offer you this very service, you could checkin and add new locations, I don't know about privacy of these new added locations. so you need to look into it... before making it very public.

Thanks for your reply.
I will try using Google Maps a little more and see what I can fiind.
You mentioned Latitude. Is that an app? I searched for it in the Marketplace but nothing showed up.

Yes, lattitude is an app. maybe you should try different versions of your spelling or adding 'Google' in front of it, I'm not certain but it IS an app.

nosralr said:
You mentioned Latitude. Is that an app? I searched for it in the Marketplace but nothing showed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Latitude is part of Google Maps afaik. If you have maps, then it should be there.
From http://www.google.com/mobile/latitude/
Latitude is part of Google Maps for mobile on most phones. See supported phones in the Help Center for details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm currently experimenting with different map apps. Maybe one of them has what you're looking for.

[Q] maps (and stuff) when travelling

google maps...latitude...footprints...locations...places...navigation...and now, download area maps...whaaa?
i am so confused about what all these things are? i've used google maps online, and a couple of times on my phone, and i've downloaded city "locations", but how do i use these - or which is better to be used - when travelling?
i'll be all over Europe come next month, and will have a data plan (actually a mobile wifi hotspot device at 1GB a month)...i want to use these gadgets but really can't tell the difference between them all
any advice? what have you used and how do you use it?

n7of9 said:
google maps...latitude...footprints...locations...places...navigation...and now, download area maps...whaaa?
i am so confused about what all these things are? i've used google maps online, and a couple of times on my phone, and i've downloaded city "locations", but how do i use these - or which is better to be used - when travelling?
i'll be all over Europe come next month, and will have a data plan (actually a mobile wifi hotspot device at 1GB a month)...i want to use these gadgets but really can't tell the difference between them all
any advice? what have you used and how do you use it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google maps stuff
maps - google maps basically
latitude - allows google and your google contacts to know where you are.
navigation - directions on how to get from one place to another.
HTC location stuff
footprints - puts a marker where u are. i think it requires u to sign in to htc sense to fully utilise it.
htc location - your main gps app. notice there are categories there. u tap on one and places listed will be sorted by how far they are from you in an ascending order.
did that help?
i was using a nokia 5800xm previously and had garmin mobile xt. here in malaysia we have a forum where people upload points of interest and map builders add them in to map builds. when roads get changed or redirected, someone's gonna add them in. i was able to find almost any place in any state with garmin.
unfortunately, these two gmaps and htc's location arent that detailed.

that is helpful, thanks
so 'location' and 'places' is essentially the same thing?
it looks like Location uses purchased Navigation for directions, whereas Places uses free Google Maps?
yes that does clear it up...it looks like all i need is Maps and Places

n7of9 said:
that is helpful, thanks
so 'location' and 'places' is essentially the same thing?
it looks like Location uses purchased Navigation for directions, whereas Places uses free Google Maps?
yes that does clear it up...it looks like all i need is Maps and Places
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
location and places seem to serve the same purpose. so i just go with location. btw, when u purchased ur phone did u receive a voucher code for location? it should be printed on the location manual.

alexkit14 said:
location and places seem to serve the same purpose. so i just go with location. btw, when u purchased ur phone did u receive a voucher code for location? it should be printed on the location manual.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no voucher, nor a location manual

n7of9 said:
no voucher, nor a location manual
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they probably removed it from the bundle for ur locale. anyway, enjoy ur trip and good luck with getting around.

Be Careful When Installing Google Maps 7.0

When I saw that Google had a new version of maps available last night I was really excited. However, that excitement died down really fast when I saw how much they'd stripped from it. Just read the 1- and 2-star rating comments that this app is now getting on Google Play if you don't take my word for it.
Here's just some of the big disappointments:
- No more Google Latitude, though in fairness this isn't really a problem with Maps per se, because Google is SHUTTING DOWN Latitude on August 9th. They want us to use Google+ and its Locations feature as a replacement, but Locations is mere toy compared to what Latitude was able to do. It's a sad joke. To make matters worse, the location sharing feature of Google+ only works if the app is a SYSTEM APP. If your phone didn't come with it and you initially installed Google+ from the Play Store, Locations WILL NOT WORK. You must have a rooted phone on which you can assign Google+ to a system app using a tool such as Titanium Backup.
- No more Labs functions. One of the features I used to adore on my S4 was the "Larger Text" lab. This worked great on phones with 1080p screens, as the native text was just too small. The new maps app has small text, especially on a 1080p screen.
- No access to "My Maps". I read somewhere that this will be restored IN THE FUTURE, but until then you won't have access to your custom routes and maps if you upgrade to 7.0.
- No more zoom buttons on the map, though it is apparently possible to double-tap, and the swipe up or down to change the zoom. However, this still isn't as convenient under some circumstances.
- No more scale on the map. Okay, not everyone used this, but I liked knowing how far 1 km (or 1 mile) was on the map at the current zoom level.
- The Pegman in Streetview is gone and overall this feature seems less usable than it was before.
- Offline maps are still available, but they've been hidden. It's rather like an Easter Egg now, in that you must type (or say) "OK Maps" to get it to cache what you are zoomed in on at the time. However, it doesn't store as large an area as before and there is NO WAY to list or administer your cached local maps.
- Many people have reported that Navigation is now quite buggy, though I haven't had a chance to try it myself.
- You can no longer create navigation shortcuts and no Navigation icon appears on your phone. To use Navigation you must start Maps first and go through that.
- No more Terrain layer.
------------------------------------------------
So, if you are curious about trying Maps 7.0, then I strongly recommend that you backup your copy of the older maps first (if you have Titanium Backup or another apps for backing up your apps). Failing that, Google has made the old version available for downloading, if you can find it.
If you have Titanium Backup, use it to remove Maps from Play Store list so that it won't keep popping up as an update. You might accidentally install it.

Double tap, hold and swipe over the screen to zoom with one finger. Worked in maps 6.x and still works with maps 7.
To get access to your places, you just have to simply press the icon on the right side of the search bar, and there they are.

neluba said:
Double tap, hold and swipe over the screen to zoom with one finger. Worked in maps 6.x and still works with maps 7.
To get access to your places, you just have to simply press the icon on the right side of the search bar, and there they are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was not aware of the double-tap shortcut for zoom, but I tried it and it certainly does work. I edited the original post to reflect this.
However, I think you might have misunderstood what I meant concerning the second issue. I'm not so much interest in "My Places", but the sub-category of that called "My Maps". These are custom routes and maps you can create with the desktop version of Maps and they were loadable on Maps for Android prior to version 7.0. I double-checked to make sure they weren't there on 7.0, and they definitely aren't. I edited the original post to say just "My Maps" to clarify this point.

You can still launch navigation by voice, but it opens maps then navigation. What I'm not liking about this is that I often launch navigation by voice and like being able to change my route and check off avoid tolls and/or highways. This now has to be done from maps before launching navigation. A bit inconvenient.

Steve Punter said:
- You can no longer create navigation shortcuts and no Navigation icon appears on your phone.
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Click to collapse
I still have a separate Navigation icon? Takes me right to the 'choose destination' screen in Navigation...?
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda premium

Another thing to note which is now missing (I believe) is the separate "Car Mode" Maps display.
This was a quasi 3d display, similar to the old all-in-one GPS units, that followed the car movement from behind. This used to pop up automatically when my 'car mode' was activated. This mode would not screen time-out. Now it just pops up with the standard maps display, which will time-out and not follow along/scroll with your car position.

The offline maps feature has been added back in a small update. Still not done right, but it's at least accessible and not an easter egg.
I think latitude's features are supposed to be rolled into G+ before latitude itself is shut down.
Hadn't heard about the rest, but several sound like serious leaps backwards.

Well that's 3 google apps I'm leaving old versions now, all within the last few months I had to stop applying updates, I gave it a try and I agree, it sucks
Maps, GMail, and Talk.
I'm so disappointed in Google lately, nothing good has come out of their updates. I bought in to their infrastructure and now they're just ****ing around with me as they please. I wish they had a competitor worth a damn (Bing's worse imo).
Fire their new UI guys and let engineers develop apps again, sick of this design first philosophy that doesn't work.

what's remained ???
i will update and see what happens

waylo said:
Another thing to note which is now missing (I believe) is the separate "Car Mode" Maps display.
This was a quasi 3d display, similar to the old all-in-one GPS units, that followed the car movement from behind. This used to pop up automatically when my 'car mode' was activated. This mode would not screen time-out. Now it just pops up with the standard maps display, which will time-out and not follow along/scroll with your car position.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is mainly what I use Google Maps for in my car, had to downgrade to 6.x to get this back

I used Latitude a lot... now I have to use a separate (broken) app to see my latitude contacts? Shouldn't that be in the MAPS program?

Double tab to zoom,, it works to my phone in this last maps..:good::good:

Everyone talking about the update but how come I still can't get it!!! I'm on ICS 4.0.4 ...usa
Sent from my C5170 using xda premium

I also have the difficulty to see the tiny street name on the map. Why won't Google make the font size user adjustable.
I probably have to keep using the old version of Google maps unless a larger text is allowed.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Steve Punter said:
I was not aware of the double-tap shortcut for zoom, but I tried it and it certainly does work. I edited the original post to reflect this.
However, I think you might have misunderstood what I meant concerning the second issue. I'm not so much interest in "My Places", but the sub-category of that called "My Maps". These are custom routes and maps you can create with the desktop version of Maps and they were loadable on Maps for Android prior to version 7.0. I double-checked to make sure they weren't there on 7.0, and they definitely aren't. I edited the original post to say just "My Maps" to clarify this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just installed version 7 and no ``My Places``, how do we downgrade to the old version?

Downgrade?
raczyk said:
Just installed version 7 and no ``My Places``, how do we downgrade to the old version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I concur but don't know how to do that. I want the old version back. Anyone?

Thanks

Offline maps for Gear S2

I use different aplications for creating tracks/routes for trekking, hiking, cycling...
I transfer GPX (or KML) files into Locus Pro app on my phone, where I use track with offline maps for navigation. It's also important for me to have option to add points of interest on that track.
Is there any option to use that kind of navigation on Gear S2?
Ideal would be option to transfer track and map (smaller part or region) on watch, with similar onscreen guidance as for example Locus or Google Maps. (Well, Locus app for Gear S2 would probably be my biggest wish. )
Other solution would be offline maps with track (and POI) on phone and partial mirroring of screen on watch. Similar like HERE, but mora that just arrows and roundabout exits.
Apps that I found so far:
HERE - not suitable for my needs. (I use offroad maps)
Gear Navigator - can't find app in Gear Store. (Or I don't know how to make it work?) I don't know if it works completely offline.
Komoot - it takes long time to start/find location. Tested on bike route outside and lost signal/navigation several times. and it doesnt show map.

I'm guessing (but not sure) that you have a 3G watch with internal GPS, in which case when I search for "navigator" on the app store I see "Gear Navigator Standalone," which is supposed to work without getting a location from your phone over bluetooth. (I don't have a 3G, so haven't tried it.)
If you don't have a 3G variation of the S2, and thus expect to have your watch connected to your phone via bluetooth when hiking and/or biking, Samsung's android S-Health app can track your travels when you initiate hiking or biking from the watch, and the resulting track can be saved and used in other apps after the fact. But that doesn't offer on-watch turn-by-turn guidance, afaik.

I have non 3G version. I can see my location on watch (Maps for Gear) or show simple navigation instructions (HERE for Gear). So getting GPS location from phone is not an issue.
What I'm looking for is not to track my path, but showing the map/route to follow.

Blonti said:
I have non 3G version. I can see my location on watch (Maps for Gear) or show simple navigation instructions (HERE for Gear). So getting GPS location from phone is not an issue.
What I'm looking for is not to track my path, but showing the map/route to follow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know why you're not seeing Gear Navigator. That has the option to choose between using online Google maps data or offline Here map data from your phone, and shows turn by turn, as well as -- optionally -- a tiny map showing your location/direction. Was a bit buggy when I tried it, but that was a while ago. I've had decent luck with komoot guidance when biking; it knows my local bike paths pretty well.
There's evidence that the Gear S2's bluetooth connection is laggy. Some software developers have mentioned this. I think this shows up in the navigation apps, so that directions to turn sometimes appear a bit late, just when you're at the intersection rather than 30 seconds before. Don't know if this is hardware or software problem. (I wonder if it has to do with battery saving efforts on the part of the Gear S2's designers.)

tstreete said:
Don't know why you're not seeing Gear Navigator.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I contacted developer of Gear Navigator and it seems that there are some regional restrictions. Developer can't add my country, because it's not "in developer panel". I contacted later Samsung in my country and they said I should contact developer about his. Not funny!
I do believe that there is in fact problem that Samsung didn't add my country to the list of countries that have (full) access to paid apps. I explained to Samsung Suppport that other app stores work already in our country (like Google Store or iTunes Store) even for paid apps. Since both devices that I use (Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and Gear S2 Sport) are available in my country for purchase I expect to have access also to paid apps. I do understand that some apps are only in some regions available. But in this case, where developers wants to allow access, he is unable to do so, because my country is somehow not listed.

I've run into the Samsung support "it's the developer's problem" thing before; eventually one of them explained that things having to do with the store are just outside of their training. I wonder if there's anything we can do on this list to communicate to Samsung all the problems with their support. (The folks on the end of the phone are probably underpaid and undertrained and get blamed by their bosses if we give them bad ratings, so we'd need a way to reach somewhere higher in the system.)

OK, sorry - this is now off-topic, but may eventually partial solve (kind of) problem of navigation - if I could get access to Gear Navigator app for Gear S2.
How does Samsung define which country is in which region for access to Gear Store (or even Galaxy Store)? Is there any list of regions and countries in specific region?
(My country is part of Europe and EU member. However I can't access paid apps in Gear Store*. I guess some users from other EU countries can access paid apps in Gear Store. In this case my country must be in other region - probably. I'd like to clear this up and maybe ask someone at Samsung to change region for my country.)
* - I checked and I see only free apps also in "Galaxy App". Could be same reason. I never bothered with it, because I buy app through Google Play store.

I solved the problem - installed Gear Navigator.
I had to change the Samsung Gear Store to other country:
1. Installed VPN app on my phone
2. Cleared data for Galaxy Apps
3. Removed SIM card
4. Restart phone
5. Run VPN app (I choose region UK)
6. Run Samsung Gear Store and chose location UK
7. Browse apps that were before (for me) unavailable
9. Payment for apps works either with credit card or PayPal
I have installed (bought) all apps that I need.

Hello,
Question about "Gear Navigator".
Do you know the adress where I must save a gpx file to use it as a trace to follow ?
Thanks !

totospv said:
Hello,
Question about "Gear Navigator".
Do you know the adress where I must save a gpx file to use it as a trace to follow ?
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No response on above. I am also interested to find out whether I can view GPX on Gear Navigator and how to do it. Thanks.

JurekDJ said:
No response on above. I am also interested to find out whether I can view GPX on Gear Navigator and how to do it. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need a file manager for android, I use ES File Explorer, to open the gpx. When you touch the file the file explorer will ask you which app you want to open it with. You select Gear Navigator. You can even export GPX files from SHealth tracked running or hiking or cycling sessions and then upload it to Gear Navigator and use it to redo the same track.

Question Google Maps without mobile

Hi,
there is any way to make Google Maps works without the mobile phone with the non LTE version?
I mean my watch 4 have the GPS sensor, if it is connected to the city WIFi, I'm able to open Maps, see where I'm, but when I select a destination point it doesn't start the navigation.. Y?
Then, there is any way to download some Maps area to use it offline? Would be very useful to running without mobile phone..
Thanks!!

Same question...

I can't believe that Google redeveloped this application and still left it in such a poor state. I don't know why you can't use it offline in the slightest - you'd think the most powerful smartwatch going would be able to navigate at least basically by downloading offline maps to the watch - there is plenty of space for it.
You can't even appear to move the map around when navigating...
Currently if your phone dies for any reason you have no chance of navigating out with Google maps on your watch.

LaurenceGough said:
I can't believe that Google redeveloped this application and still left it in such a poor state. I don't know why you can't use it offline in the slightest - you'd think the most powerful smartwatch going would be able to navigate at least basically by downloading offline maps to the watch - there is plenty of space for it.
You can't even appear to move the map around when navigating...
Currently if your phone dies for any reason you have no chance of navigating out with Google maps on your watch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. Currently you can create offline maps in Google Maps on the phone app. I do this quite a bit because I'm in areas without mobile data. It would be great if they had a feature in Google Maps (phone) where you could download the maps to your watch. It currently lets you download them to SD card. The map that I use the most which covers much of the state of Wisconsin is only 300 mb.
What is even more maddening about the Google Maps watch app is that it does not work when you are running google maps on phone with offline map (with no mobile data). At the very least you would think the watch could use the offline map on phone.
You mentioned your concern of phone dieing and navigating out. Navigating out of what? There are map apps which you can download maps to your watch. I have not found a free one but ViewRanger looks promising. Not sure I'm ready to pay $40 a year though...

My watch has 4G connection but i don't know how to use map without my phone.
its not starting unless my phone is connected to the watch

affe2000 said:
My watch has 4G connection but i don't know how to use map without my phone.
its not starting unless my phone is connected to the watch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the LTE version, so can't vouch for this personally, but this might help:

unfortunally this is not working in my case. i have the same settings turned on but the watch still want my phone to be connected

Unfortunately, the method shown also did not work for me.
When connected to the phone (S9), my Galaxy watch4 (non LTE version), allows me to search for locations on the watch, but Google Maps also opens up on the phone, so I have the required maps and directions both on the phone and on the watch.
Together (connected), they function without problem.
Away from the phone, after opening Maps on the watch and searching for directions, all I get is a blue dot on the centre of the watch screen and a message "Waiting for location..." until, after a minute or so, an exclamation mark shows up above the message "Couldn't get location".
Is there any solution to "navigate" with Maps independently from the phone?

Only thing to do is be as loud as possible until google actually fixes it. Having no offline map when the older samsung watches had it is outrageous.

oniceto said:
Unfortunately, the method shown also did not work for me.
When connected to the phone (S9), my Galaxy watch4 (non LTE version), allows me to search for locations on the watch, but Google Maps also opens up on the phone, so I have the required maps and directions both on the phone and on the watch.
Together (connected), they function without problem.
Away from the phone, after opening Maps on the watch and searching for directions, all I get is a blue dot on the centre of the watch screen and a message "Waiting for location..." until, after a minute or so, an exclamation mark shows up above the message "Couldn't get location".
Is there any solution to "navigate" with Maps independently from the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The method shown on video was for a LTE watch. Regarding a solution for navigating away from phone, unfortunately not. The ideal option would be for there to be an option to move offline maps (which currently can be created with Google Maps on your phone) to your watch. The file sizes are not that big. Another thing that would be nice is if they allowed you to navigate with non-LTE watch connected to phone which was using offline maps. Currently this does not work. The phone needs data (LTE or wifi) in order to navigate on non-LTE watch with Maps.

Is there any alternative app that works standalone?

affe2000 said:
Is there any alternative app that works standalone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to suggest open street map, but it doesn't appear there is a wearOS version.
OsmAnd — Maps & GPS Offline - Apps on Google Play
Navigation on hikes is no longer a problem. Download the map, put notes and go!
play.google.com
Simple OSM Viewer - Apps on Google Play
Open street maps and OpenTOPO viewer with drag, zoom, and my location options
play.google.com
You might be able to at least make a vector PDF of a map of an area and view THAT somehow on the watch.

I don't understand how it is not possible yet to use an online or offline map on the Galaxy Watch only. Specially a GPX Reader with your current position (like GPX Viewer)

Offline
https://www.reddit.com/r/WearOS/comments/ugk8jw

There is an excellent app called "Maps" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.trackwear.maps) which has ability to download maps for offline use. You select square of area which you want to be downloaded and that's it. You can even select do themes of maps like Satellite view with street names or something else like terrain.

I am also searching for offline maps and without Phone...
Somebody tested the Pro Version with Germany?
GPS Navigation (Wear OS) - Apps on Google Play
Turn-by-turn navigation and offline maps
play.google.com
Need for Germany offline solution...
Thanx in advance.
Best Regards