New Locus 3.38 comes with a new map core and enhanced navigation

Michal, Locus team

The development can’t be stopped, not mentioning that one of Locus Map. We admit that not much has been seen for over two months from us, except for a few bug fix versions published right after the last “big” app release. Still, we did not sleep during all those days. So – a lot of work has been done mainly on two of Locus Map’s cornerstones – map-rendering core and route calculation.

New Map Core

The largest chunk of development, coding, and testing was consumed by the rebuilding of the very heart of Locus Map – its map rendering core. It was necessary. The old core started to become obsolete and unsuitable to follow all current requirements for map control, speed, and flexibility. The new map rendering guts bring a lot of unexpected features:

Automatic map scaling

Map zooms, as you were used to, are slowly flowing away with the stream of time and progress. Newly, the app chooses the best map resolution according to the device screen DPI and selected raster or vector type of the map. Resulting display experience is fluent and the map is crisp and well contrasted. Including crossfading effects between zooms when zooming in and out. EDIT: this feature can be turned off if the result is not satisfactory

Mapsforge V4+ support

The new generation of the vector map rendering engine is coming into Locus. It brings more options for work with map themes:

  • support of multiple vector themes per directory and V5 themes
  • faster autoloading of neighboring maps
  • overall pleasanter experience, e.g. improved running of world maps in upper zooms or optimized map sorting in the quick map switch.

No limits for map overlays

Until now it was possible to overlay only some types of maps. Others couldn’t be overlayed due to different properties. Now, actually, all kinds of maps can be put one above another. Online over raster, raster over the vector, maps of all possible systems and datums. Just select the background map and then any from the vast map portfolio Locus offers. Or, even better – your own custom map.

Route calculation for navigation and planning

Over the last months, we collected a pretty wide list of improvement suggestions about this topic. Locus Map 3.38 comes with a lot of them implemented. First of all, we improved the route recalculation system behavior when the route priority is set:

  • when you need to navigate from a custom starting point, the app will try to navigate you to this point as the first option
  • when you ignore 2 following recalculations, routing backward is blocked
  • when you make a shortcut of your original route, the recalculation no longer pushes you back to the last visited part of the route

Automatic route drawing in the route planner uses the same processes. We updated work with the via points – now you can set the planner so that it places via points directly without the need to change shaping points first.

And more…

As usual, the new version is full of other minor improvements. Among others, we added 7 new activities for track recording, e.g. handbike, canicross or snowmobile. Sports freaks will appreciate multiple track export to Strava. We also adjusted online map download. And more…

Test it and see!

90 Comments

  1. carolyn thraves
    23. 5. 2019

    the app has updated and the GEMF format map that I was using doesn't work any more: says "map is not available in this area".

    • Locus team
      24. 5. 2019

      Hi, thanks for reporting, we'll fix it ASAP.

  2. Bentzyp
    24. 5. 2019

    Good work!

  3. Ruslan
    24. 5. 2019

    I can't update my card. Does not accept the money.

    • Locus team
      24. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      please contact support at locus.map@asamm.com. Here we can't help you - we need your Locus Store e-mail which is private information you wouldn't like to publish in website comment.

  4. Lukáš Ondráček
    24. 5. 2019

    Tato aktualizace mi zatím přinesla hodně problémů. Dá se nějak stáhnout předchozí verze?
    Pořád mi "zamrzává" mapa, kdy se najednou přestane překreslovat, takže je rozmazaná a zoom to ještě zhorší, že nakonec zůstane mapa bílá. V těchto případech i body na mapě jsou najednou neaktivní.

    • Locus team
      24. 5. 2019

      Dobrý den,
      bohužel nové mapové jádro nereflektuje uplně dokonale všechny uživatelské mapy. Pracujeme na odstranění chyb. V případě potřeby prosím kontaktujte podporu na help.locusmap.eu. Starší verzi Locus najdete zde:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  5. jirka
    24. 5. 2019

    Nedá se to zoomování nastavit, jak to bylo dříve? Mám nějaké vlastní rastrové mapy s několika zoomy a různými typy map a nyní je to špatně použitelné. Na nejmenší zoom mi to nezmenší a největší (jiná typ mapy) se zobrazí až při velkém zvětšení. Rovněž překryvnou mapu mám ve vícec zoomech a ted´to nejde smysluplně používat. Ten původní systém byl naprosto ideální pro tyto mapy.

    • Locus team
      24. 5. 2019

      Dobrý den,
      bohužel nové mapové jádro nereflektuje uplně dokonale všechny uživatelské mapy. Pracujeme na odstranění chyb. V případě potřeby prosím kontaktujte podporu na help.locusmap.eu. Starší verzi Locus najdete zde:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

      • Radek
        24. 5. 2019

        Plně souhlasím s Jirkou a Lukášem. Takto je to nepoužitelné! Pro nás je nepřijatelné napsat, že nové mapové jádro nereflektuje všechny uživatelské mapy. Bohužel tento víkend budu muset používat mapy.cz. a věřte, že v Alpách je to děs.

        • Locus team
          27. 5. 2019

          Pracujeme na odstranění chyb. V případě potřeby prosím kontaktujte podporu na help.locusmap.eu. Starší verzi Locus najdete zde:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  6. Gerhard Halder
    24. 5. 2019

    First view: bad news. If I zoom to 20 m the map does not update, lines are distorted.
    I can't focus on (for example) hotel. Before update I got the information about distance and height.
    Please, can I get the former "engine" back?
    Regards

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  7. Fykantrollet
    24. 5. 2019

    Hi!
    Not so happy about the way maps are presented now. They seem to be in low resolution, much cruder visuals. I preferred the finer resolution earlier. Can you please allow for some adjustments ( below 100%)?

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  8. Dennis Jonasson
    24. 5. 2019

    After the update my map is very blurry and the details get lost when zoomed out. It's now very hard to get a good overview of a specific area when the map has to be zoomed in to be able to see small roads and trails.

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  9. Jozef
    25. 5. 2019

    Dobry den, nejde mi stiahnut aktualizacia mapy slovenska... Lebo nemam locoins ale dostall som 3 darceky zdarma jedno som pouzil pre cr. A na aktualizaciu to nefunguje?

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Dobrý den,
      ano, LoMapy zdarma se týkají pouze prvního stažení mapy, aktualizace jsou již za LoCoiny.

  10. R5O.nl
    25. 5. 2019

    I love what you guys did on Map Rendering: it is so much better, on all my devices, also the slower ones (like Nexus 10) !

  11. Gerhard Halder
    25. 5. 2019

    Hi and sorry for yesterday's entry. Now I loaded the offline map. Everything is fine now,! LocusMap is my permanent companion. At home while hiking now traveling by bicycle. Thx a lot!
    Gerhard Halder

  12. GeoThePS
    25. 5. 2019

    Schade,
    neue Karten nutzen mir gar nichts. Mein Gerätespeicher ist voll. Ich habe zwar eine fast leere Speicherkarte , verstehe aber nicht, wie ich das Smartphone dazu bringe, sie zu verwenden. Auch Kartenupdates funktionieren nicht mehr.

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      move your maps to the external SD card to free your internal memory. More info: https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=de:manual:faq:how_to_maps_sdcard

  13. SAMAKE
    25. 5. 2019

    Je suis ravie

  14. Ken
    25. 5. 2019

    The track information page now reports the distance in kilometers even though the chosen distance units on the settings page is "Imperial (ft/mi)"

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hi Ken,
      the bug is known and fixed. A new version is coming this week.

  15. Jürgen Herz
    26. 5. 2019

    I like the way you inform me very much. It tells me that there are real people working there.
    And of course I like Locus Map äs muchb

  16. Alexandre HUBERT
    26. 5. 2019

    Hello guys. I opened Locus maps like usual with vector maps and I was like "Wow !!". Then I read the change log and discovered you rewrote the map rendering core. Just to tell you : the result is just awesome. It is now a real pleasure to use vectorial maps :) Thanks for the excellent job. I use v3 maps from openandromaps and it just works perfect.

    Just a thing : I (quickly) tried v4 maps from openandromaps and I have the impression v3 works better. For instance some names are cut in v4 maps. It was a quick test but for now I stay with v3 maps.

  17. Krzysztof Warszawski
    26. 5. 2019

    Hmm. But I see that raster map are very blury at some zoom levels. And also in some raster maps there is possibility to zoom out. A see it only at 100% or more
    Previous version has much better raster maps support....
    It's only temporary bug or is it the feature?

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  18. Hendrik
    26. 5. 2019

    Meine Kartendarstellung ist seit dem Update völlig überladen mit irgendwelchen Symbolen, insgesamt sehr dunkel und unübersichtlich. Von Verbesserung habe ich nichts bemerkt - wobei ich auch nichts vermisst hatte.

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  19. Krzysztof Warszawski
    26. 5. 2019

    There is some issue with raster map. They are very blurry or zoom different than 100%. Is it bug or feature of the the new engine?
    Also at one raster map I can't use zoom l wl lower than 100% so I can't see whole map or bigger areas. At old engine I can.

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hello,
      unfortunately, the new map core does not fully reflect all user maps. We're working to fix bugs. If necessary, please contact support at help.locusmap.eu. An older version of Locus can be found here: https: //drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

  20. Hilde
    26. 5. 2019

    Sinds de laatste update duurt het heel lang eer de app geopend wordt. ongeveer 3 min. Is dit normaal? Ik krijg eerst een zwart scherm gedurende meer dan 1 minuut. Daarna begint het stilaan te openen. Hopelijk heb je hier een oplossing voor.

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      the bug is known and will be fixed in the next version. Thank you for the report.

  21. Ľubo
    26. 5. 2019

    Uff, má teraz trochu práce s downgrade-om lebo nová verzia (ako píšete) nechce moje vlastné mapy. Som sa unahlil, nečakal som to :-(

    • Locus team
      27. 5. 2019

      Dobrý den,
      bohužel nové mapové jádro nereflektuje uplně dokonale všechny uživatelské mapy. Pracujeme na odstranění chyb. V případě potřeby prosím kontaktujte podporu na help.locusmap.eu. Starší verzi Locus najdete zde:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16q5n2FcbJ62AhWKoT3vS5CyuEhfuji25

      • Dano
        28. 5. 2019

        Stara verzia locus pro je poskodena a neda sa nainstalovat. Opravte to dik

        • Locus team
          29. 5. 2019

          Dobrý den, omlouváme se za potíže. Prosím aktualizujte na verzi 3.38.3, již by to mělo být v pořádku. Michal, Locus team

  22. dainius rudzionis
    27. 5. 2019

    Hi, I did update to version 3.38.1. After that locus map won't start at all

    • Locus team
      29. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      we are sorry for the inconveniences and we are working hard on fixing the bugs. Please update to Locus Map 3.38.3. and let us know if the issue is gone or not. Thanks! Michal, Locus team

  23. Dainius
    28. 5. 2019

    Hi,
    I did update to version 3.38.1 and after that locus doesn't work with openandromaps v4. Program doesn't start at all

    • Locus team
      29. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      we are sorry for the inconveniences and we are working hard on fixing the bugs. Please update to Locus Map 3.38.3. and let us know if the issue is gone or not. Thanks! Michal, Locus team

      • Dainius
        30. 5. 2019

        After update to 3.38.3 Locus works with Opendandromaps V4. Thank's

  24. John
    28. 5. 2019

    Hi guys,

    I wish to report that in this release of LM autoload of offline maps (RMAP format ) does not work anymore.

    Anyway You are making a great job.
    Thanks

    John

    • Locus team
      29. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      we are sorry for the inconveniences and we are working hard on fixing the bugs. Please update to Locus Map 3.38.3. and let us know if the issue is gone or not. Thanks! Michal, Locus team

      • nico579
        2. 6. 2019

        Bonjour,
        J'ai le même soucis avec les cartes IGN RMAP.
        Quand je zoom trop, il y a un message "problème inconnu".
        Cordialement

        • Locus team
          5. 6. 2019

          Hi,
          better contact Locus support at help.locusmap.eu and describe the issue in detail, add screenshots etc.

  25. Jürgen Gärtner
    28. 5. 2019

    On the mobile with 3.38.1 (Android 7) seems to working well. On my tablet with 3.38.3 (Android 6) I was suffered with some problems. I use openandromaps and LoMaps. In 3.38.3 the configuration switch back to the older engine was removed, so I cannot decide which error is based on the new rendering.
    Sometimes occur big figures (house numbers) randomly in smaller zoom levels which is accidentally. Zoom level 11 around 100% is only showing the shaddows, but no map. Try to change configuration crashes.
    Some subjects to fine-tuning.

    • Locus team
      29. 5. 2019

      Hi Jürgen,
      better if you contact our support at help.locusmap.eu and give them detailed information about the issue. Thanks.

  26. Isabel Alves de Almeida
    29. 5. 2019

    Muito obrigado!
    É muito favorável para as minhas pesquisas.

  27. Roman
    29. 5. 2019

    On my tablet I suddenly have all maps twice after the update!?

    • Locus team
      29. 5. 2019

      Hi, go to the map manager > offline tab > add > external maps > delete all duplicate folders.

  28. Bill
    29. 5. 2019

    New verdion badly broken for offline Gemf archives which have aleays worked well in the past.

    • Locus team
      30. 5. 2019

      Hi,
      we are sorry for the inconveniences. Please update to Locus Map 3.38.3. and let us know if the issue is gone or not. Thanks! Michal, Locus team

  29. Dainius
    30. 5. 2019

    After update to 3.38.1/2/3 Locus doesn't autoload Oruxmaps pages. My territory is divided to pages (use Ozi maps converted to Oruxmaps), but Locus doesn't load next pages after finish previous page. In setting I choose "Automatic map loading"

  30. Gerhard Schweizer
    1. 6. 2019

    Automatischer Kartenwechsel:
    Bei Rasterkarten die eigentlich überlappen entsteht jetzt ein weißer Streifen von einem Km zwischen den Kartenblätter. Die ist auch nach der Abschaltung der automatischen Skalierung der Fall.

    • Locus team
      5. 6. 2019

      Hi Gerhard,
      please contact Locus support at help.locusmap.eu and describe the issue in detail, add screenshots etc.

    • Rainer Baumeister
      12. 6. 2019

      Moin
      ich kann die Kritik von Gerhard bestätigen: Weiße Streifen.
      Habe schon hin und her probiert.. :-(
      Samsung S4 mit Lollipop 5.01 und neueste App mit LocusMap+ und Assam LoMap Karte (NRW)
      Nutze es für das Rad in der "Wildnis"
      Ansonsten: Geniales Teil!
      Gruß Rainer

      • Locus team
        14. 6. 2019

        Hi, please update your Locus to version 3.38.4. If the error persists, please contact our support team at help.locusmap.eu

  31. Maria
    4. 6. 2019

    Dobry, preci su vsetky trasy na Sk s vynimkou Cesty Snp fialove?

    • Locus team
      5. 6. 2019

      Dobrý den,
      aby byly snadno rozlišitelné od turistických tras.

  32. Ohndorf
    4. 6. 2019

    Hallo
    mit der Version 3.38.3 auf Samsung S8 und Android Version 9 stürzt das Programm sehr oft ab. Tracks werden nicht gespeichert oder sind nicht auffindbar.
    Habt ihr eine Erklärung dafür.
    Vielen Dank für eure Bemühungen
    Peter

    • Locus team
      5. 6. 2019

      Hi Peter,
      please follow instructions here: https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=de:manual:faq:issue_reporting

  33. Florian
    4. 6. 2019

    After update to 3.38.3, gemf maps display is still broken for me.
    I have big gemf maps of about 4 GB which are split in several files under 1.9GB using -1,2,3,... suffix.
    The smaller gemf maps which are not splited seems to work.

    • Locus team
      5. 6. 2019

      Hi Florian,
      better contact Locus support at help.locusmap.eu and describe the issue in detail, add screenshots etc.

  34. Sam Byassee
    6. 6. 2019

    Is the app capable of providing an elevation plot for a chosen route? Thanks.

    • Locus team
      14. 6. 2019

      Hi, yes it is

  35. Alexandra
    11. 6. 2019

    After update to 3.38.3, my mbtiles do not work anymore. When choosing one from the list of offline maps, there is no question of focussing on it and it is not possible to focus manually on it.

    • Locus team
      14. 6. 2019

      We are going on improving the new map core. Please update to 3.38.4. version

  36. Hartwig
    11. 6. 2019

    Ich habe auf meinem Samsung Galxy S8 (G950F)LocusMaps und LocusMaps Pro installiert. Seit einem Mobilefunk Vertragsänderung mit einer neuen SIM-Karte ortet die Pro-Version keine Satelliten mehr, die Einfachversion empfängt diese einwandfrei.
    Woran kann das liegen und was muss ich in der Pro-Version neu eistellen, um wieder Satellietensignale empfangen und damit meinen Standort bestimmen kann.

    • Locus team
      14. 6. 2019

      Hi, please contact our support team at help.locusmap.eu.

  37. dainius rudzionis
    13. 6. 2019

    After update to 3.38.4 program starting time about 30 sec.

  38. Maik Dienst
    14. 6. 2019

    Ich kann das update 3.38 nicht aktualisieren. Nach dem download passiert einfach nichts... Bitte um Hilfe.

    • Locus team
      14. 6. 2019

      Hi, please contact our support team at help.locusmap.eu

  39. danilo brajovic
    14. 6. 2019

    Hi my lovus map pro work like free and ask to purchase a pro. I already have pro

    • Locus team
      17. 6. 2019

      Hi Danilo, please contact our support team at help.locusmap.eu and give more details about the issue.

  40. Marcin Bach
    15. 6. 2019

    Hi, it is a great app, but there is still room for improvements. I wish that the navigation arrow could be movable, so I could drag and drop it in the chosen part of the screen, also you could change its graphics , because it doesn't look modern. The last thing is that while navigation the pointer should be somewhere in the 1/3 from the bottom of the screen, not in the middle(when automatic rotation is on). Thanks.

    • Locus team
      17. 6. 2019

      Hi Marcin,
      - movable navigation arrow - it displays your GPS position so it is a nonsense to move it - there is the map cursor for pointing elsewhere
      - change nav. cursor's graphics - you can install your own custom cursor, see https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:advanced:customization:icons#map_navigation_cursors
      - pointer in 1/3 of the display - set it there: https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:user_guide:settings:control#shift_map_cursor

  41. Andres
    17. 6. 2019

    Muy buena aplicacion

  42. Thomas Baur
    4. 7. 2019

    Hallo,
    bei der Navigation mit Text zu Sprache funktioniert plötzlich Deutsch nicht mehr die Stimme redet auf tschechisch obwohl Deutsch eingestellt ist.

    • Locus team
      8. 7. 2019

      Hi Thomas,
      please go to your system settings and make sure your TTS engine is properly set up. Then go to Locus settings > Language&units > Text-to-speech and check if the TTS engine is selected and German language set - test it on the test phrase.

  43. ultraferrum
    9. 7. 2019

    Karte verschiebe reagiert sehr schwer es taucht immer ort auf wo finger beruehrt kann somit nicht mehr schieben war früher eindeutig ok

    • Locus team
      9. 7. 2019

      Hi,
      we are sorry for this inconvenience. This bug is present only on some devices and its fix has already been done and successfully tested. You can test it yourself https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=manual:about:free_beta_testing or wait till the end of the month for the new production version. Michal, Locus team

  44. Tadeas
    13. 7. 2019

    Zdravím, můžu se zeptat, co to je za mapové téma na tom prvním obrázku?
    Předem děkuji

  45. Daniel Kříž
    13. 7. 2019

    Dobrý den,

    děkuji za stále nový a nový vývoj appky.
    chtěl bych se zeptat na několik otázek:
    -S avizovaným sjednocením Pro&Free, bude možné na novou jednotnou verzi přejít a přenést si osobní záznamy (trasy, body, mapy atd.)?
    -cloudová sinchonizace: znamená, že bude k dispozici webová paralela a bude možné si připravovat trasy či body ve webovém prostředí?
    -Je nyní (3.38.7) možný automatický export po uložení trasy do účtu Strava.com? Zatím používám ruční export, pak GPX přenesu do PC a následně importuji na webu Stravy...

    Děkuji a mnoho zdaru.

    • Locus team
      15. 7. 2019

      Dobrý den Danieli,
      1) samozřejmě vaše data budou použitelná v kterékoli verzi programu
      2) cloudová synchronizace znamená, že se vaše data budou synchronizovat s úložištěm na webu a bude pak snažší přejít s Locusem na nový mobil nebo při resetu telefonu atp. Nicméně webové rozhraní pro plánování tras máme také v plánu, ale později.
      3) automatický export do Stravy je možný již několik let, viz https://docs.locusmap.eu/doku.php?id=cz:manual:user_guide:tracks:recording:profiles_settings#pokrocile_nastaveni

  46. Daniel
    9. 8. 2019

    Cum platesc pentru cumpararea licentei Locus map Pro. Se poate plati in cont direct ?
    Care sunt pasii urmatori dupa ce se plateste.

    • Locus team
      12. 8. 2019

      Hi,
      Locus Map Pro can be purchased over Google Play Store or via Amazon. We recommend the first option.

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