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HTC phones and free maps

Does anyone know if there are any plans by HTC to bring out free maps for use on the WM platform for use in their phones?
When I was in the UK and had a virtually free GPRS connection as part of my plan, I used Google maps quite a lot, switching between whatever connection was available without any real problems, however I'm on the other side of the world now.
I find that my phone an HTC Touch HD has developed a big black hole and seems to have reverted back to the dark ages, in that even though it has a massive storage card installed, I can't easily save maps to it and use the built in GPS on the move, even though I can view Google maps via the WiFi here. Crazy!
Maybe my next phone will be a Nokia as it seems they are taking smartphones to a new level with their free Ovi map offering!

Can I politely ask you to rephrase the question?
Do you want a download-maps-as-you-go service like Bing / Google or a maps-saved-on-the-storage-card application like iGo? If it's either of those, what's wrong with either of those?

Go? Please enlighten me! Nothing seem to come up on a search of Google from here. Is it free? Is it easy to get working with the built in GPS - I've downloaded some maps of Vietnam that displayed fine (eventually) but the gps refused to play ball..
Google maps is wonderful IF you have a connection. Here in Vietnam, in the city with all the free WiFi around it's fine but as soon as I'm moving around, I'd rather not be paying for that data connection. And Google maps soon lets you know it hasn't got one!
So yes, stored on the card is the easiest and to me the best option. I'm not bothered about GPS navigation software, I just need a stored local map ( a storable google type map would be great) and the gps will tell me where I am on it! I can usually work it out under my own steam where I want to go to from there.
Thanks

Android Acer Stream or Symbian Nokia N8

Im thinking of buying the newly announced Acer Stream android phone
Im new to the android idea so A few things i dont understand:
i want to use gps in some special cases a few times a year,
other than that i want just to be able to view maps on my device,
no need for turn-by-turn navi, i dont need : after 1km turn left , follow the road,
can i just view maps 2d maps and my position for free?(excluding the price of the map being downloaded from the web)
cann i store G maps on the phone? donwload them when im in a wifi zone, for example a map of a country?
-if im in a area where there is no 3G or connection can i still use the gps function? Can i lock a position and then see it on the blank map?
What about some longitude and latitude numbers and then it shows me the direction and how far is it?
-do i get a compass?
Or would nokia n8's Ovi maps suite my needs better?
Thats all for now thanks
Any opinion is appreciated

Also for example Can i download Google Goggles for free?
how many apps are free and how many are paid?

bumb bumb bumb

Google Maps and Buzz are free yes. As for saving maps i do not know, maybe try search for an app that does that.

what about using the gps for latitude and locking position in a no coverage area, with no maps and the using it for distance to locking point. desstination and direction

anyone
i want to know this

i have an acer stream and it is a very nice package

GPS Map Downloads

Is there a place to download all US map info for the GPS feature on this device? I got lost today and it wouldn't ever establish a new route because I "lost data connection", but it continued to track my position just fine.

I would suggest using an alternative app. I use google map but have copilot as a backup. The copilot let you download and store maps on the device. Google map let you cache map tiles but to cache the whole US probably to big a file. If you must use Goole map only, check out the Brut's version

baseballfanz said:
I would suggest using an alternative app. I use google map but have copilot as a backup. The copilot let you download and store maps on the device. Google map let you cache map tiles but to cache the whole US probably to big a file. If you must use Goole map only, check out the Brut's version
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Click to collapse
Do you happen to know when they last updated it? I Bought for my WM phone a couple of year ago & was really disappointed. That was because my address of 7 years couldn't be found. I ended up sending it back & sticking with TomTom. Unfortunately we are limited with Android with gps programs with down-loadable maps.

With the new version of google maps you can go to Labs (from the menu) and enable a limited form of map caching. It downloads 10 square miles around the area you long press on and you can use it without a signal. You can store up to ten so I basically stored my local area and popular places I go.
Google's obviously working on map caching and this is the first sign of it. Give it a shot and see if it works for you.

Double posted by accident... don't know how to delete.

App idea: basic google map viewer

Hi,
I am looking for a simple map viewer for Gear 2.
There are a few apps for maps but they all focus on navigation. I am not interested in navigation. I just would like to have a snapshot of my location on Google Map. (Also maybe moving around the map by gestures.)
Is it too difficult to write such app ?
There are tons of nonsense apps which are really far more complex than this but nobody has ever wrote such simple one.
thx.

mrmrmrmr said:
Hi,
I am looking for a simple map viewer for Gear 2.
There are a few apps for maps but they all focus on navigation. I am not interested in navigation. I just would like to have a snapshot of my location on Google Map. (Also maybe moving around the map by gestures.)
Is it too difficult to write such app ?
There are tons of nonsense apps which are really far more complex than this but nobody has ever wrote such simple one.
thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be more difficult then you think.
On android you put a mapview object in your app and ask it to load a map for a location, that is basically it.
There is also a web api for google maps to use in a browser (never done that myself);
That is what is need for the gear, but the gear browser (the apps are basically browser windows with html5/css/javascript),
can not get the maps data by itself, it has to get it via the phone app.....

mrmrmrmr said:
Hi,
I am looking for a simple map viewer for Gear 2.
There are a few apps for maps but they all focus on navigation. I am not interested in navigation. I just would like to have a snapshot of my location on Google Map. (Also maybe moving around the map by gestures.)
Is it too difficult to write such app ?
There are tons of nonsense apps which are really far more complex than this but nobody has ever wrote such simple one.
thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try the gear navigator that is available from the samsung store since yesterday. Yes if focuses on navigation but will also show a snapshot of the map on the gear2.
/A

AnderlR72 said:
try the gear navigator that is available from the samsung store since yesterday. Yes if focuses on navigation but will also show a snapshot of the map on the gear2.
/A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have already tried it today.
It's too far complex , and the result is:
- battery consuming on the phone, because the app has to be on foreground and it uses GPS all the time.
- battery consuming on the Gear itself. (nonstop connection to the phone)
- necessity to have a running navigation. Why do I need it when I just want to see a snapshot of my location ?
- necessity to run the app on phone (can't run anything to view on phone screen)
Instead of all that necessity and complexity, I am just looking for a snapshot of my current location. Maybe updated on touch of a screen, or update every few minutes...
This way it wouldn't consume battery of the Watch and the Phone.

klwinkel said:
It could be more difficult then you think.
On android you put a mapview object in your app and ask it to load a map for a location, that is basically it.
There is also a web api for google maps to use in a browser (never done that myself);
That is what is need for the gear, but the gear browser (the apps are basically browser windows with html5/css/javascript),
can not get the maps data by itself, it has to get it via the phone app.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in fact, a very simplistic approach would be;
- get a screenshot of Google Maps on phone every X seconds
- update it to the browser window on Gear 2.

mrmrmrmr said:
in fact, a very simplistic approach would be;
- get a screenshot of Google Maps on phone every X seconds
- update it to the browser window on Gear 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But for the screenshot, the phone need to be on and then you could better use the phone anyway.
you want to be able to do it with the phone in your pocket, screen locked.
but keep thinking, maybe we discover a way to do it......

Hi,
Apart from my screenshot idea, I believe this is much more simple than creating a navigation app. It will just update the current location view periodically.
No one is interested in this ?
thx.

Finally. Someone made it. Thanks to Aleksandr Martiushev. App name is Gear Guide.

mrmrmrmr said:
Finally. Someone made it. Thanks to Aleksandr Martiushev. App name is Gear Guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know where I can find it? Because I'm searching on Samsung App but I can't found nothing.. :\

S3th94 said:
You know where I can find it? Because I'm searching on Samsung App but I can't found nothing.. :\
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Click to collapse
It shows for me on a Sprint Note 3. Yet another case of the Samsung/Galaxy Gear store not showing availability for all phones.

JimSmith94 said:
It shows for me on a Sprint Note 3. Yet another case of the Samsung/Galaxy Gear store not showing availability for all phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never mind, it was a my error, it's also available for Galaxy S3. The app works fine, waiting for an implementation of a blue line for the indications, like on google maps!

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.
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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 !
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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.
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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.