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Messages - Jan Čapek

#1
Other features / Re: Online search
August 16, 2023, 17:04:25
Quote from: Jan Čapek on August 16, 2023, 16:27:40
Quote from: Tapio on August 12, 2023, 10:43:03For some reason, I don't like the presentation of the new searches results.
Would you please elaborate a little?
a) I mean on map
b) Eg search a category like "parking". A lot of other POI are displayed. Didn't ask for those
c) Tap beside poi, on map - under some circumstances the results stay on map, sometimes they disappear. Need to go into search again.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#2
Locus Map / Re: [APP] - version 4.18.+ ( 8/2023 )
August 15, 2023, 21:04:20
I just installed LM 4.18.2 and tested sharing POIs from the Google Maps app to Locus. Should be improved in this version.

Now a search list is displayed in Locus, which is mostly unhelpful.

Example: I click on a public toilet in Google Maps and share it with Locus. There, I am now shown a list with countless public toilets instead of the shared one.

Another example: I share the Kleistdenkmal (monument of Kleist) in Berlin, nearby Wannsee. Locus now shows in the list only the Kleistdenkmal in Saxony, 167 km away from the shared monument...

If I long click on the POI and then share it, it shows up correctly on the map in Locus.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#3
Other features / Re: Online search
August 11, 2023, 09:56:37
I do see the complexity in combining all searches together, and I can live with having to select different search "means". But one major bother, that should be not too difficult to change is this:
Everytime the search scope is changed, there's a new, empty input field. Why not prefill with the search term already entered in another search? All the time I start typing into a search field before realizing I have the wrong search - then I change it and have to start from scratch (unless I thought of that and copy-pasted the term, which of course is also a bother).

PS: I just realized that this works between internal point and track search, but that's the only place I found.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#4
Locus Map / Re: [APP] - version 4.18.+ ( 8/2023 )
August 09, 2023, 19:14:49
I don't really know where you want to go with your search. In any case, here are some thoughts from a power user (10 hours every single day, 300 days a year, since day one of Locus, always on the road):

You will never ever be able to compete with Google (or Apple) maps search. Period. This idea is completely delusional, even if you hire 50 more Locus programmers just for search. Here's a few reasons:

Google Maps gives me local results which are most relevant to my current situation. That works in completely foreign languages as well, where I cannot even read the alphabet. Searching for "bike shop" will show me local bike shops, in places with cyrillic writing, who might never have even heard of OpenStreetMap.

Google Maps knows if and when businesses are open.

Google Maps allows me to streetview directly into a stores front window. Very useful in judging whether it's worth taking a one hour detour in brutal heat to go there of if it's just a cheap bullshit shop with a fancy website that cannot help me anyway.

Google Maps sometimes allows me to chat to the store owner directly, including automatic translation. Yes... that is super handy in countries when you're not fluent enough for phone calls.

To be brutally honest, I wouldn't mind if you completely removed online search from Locus. It can never seriously compete with the worlds biggest players anyway, so why bother? Just make the sharing interface to Google Maps as smooth as humanly possible and concentrate on OFFLINE search in Locus... that is still a massive mess as well, leaving a lot to be desired.

For starters... why would I choose BEFOREHAND on where I want to search?! That is so completely last-millenium it's not even funny anymore :-).

When I search for "everest", I want to see
* all my tracks that contain "everest" in name or description or embedded waypoints or their description.
* all my points that contain "everest" in name or description.
* all track or point folders or groups names with "everest"
* all my custom maps that have everest in their name.
* all stuff from mapitems folder with "everest" in filename or contents (kml, gpx, anything)
* dashboards names and contents
* prefs items
* etcpp... you get idea... every(!) single(!) word(!) that locus has access to... anywhere. And you have exactly one search string that does it all. Not a dozen searches hidden all over the place.

You index all that and present the results all at once, immediately, while I'm typing. No clicking on "search" and make me wait for half a minute... and for the life of good... no pre-selection of where I want to search. That was a horrible idea from the start and needs to go.

Sorry for the longish post, that's just my two cents to bring offline search up to speed. Online search should be left to online search companies.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#5
Locus Map / Re: [APP] - version 4.18.+ ( 8/2023 )
August 08, 2023, 08:50:33
Hi guys,

@freischneider @Graf Geo @Andrew Heard @Tapio @joeloc

thank you for your feedback, that at least red push pin works. Now, we have updated also POI handling to new Google Maps format and hopefully they won't change it in a month. If you encounter silly URL in search window in the next release version, check if you are on latest Google Maps version and if yes, let us know.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#6
Locus Map / Re: [APP] - version 4.18.+ ( 8/2023 )
August 04, 2023, 14:46:53
Transfer to other maps.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.donutpond.sharecoordinates

Copy & Share GPS Location / Coordinates
     ✔ copy/share/feed Map GPS location from one map (e.g. Google Map) to your favorite maps

Operation.
Search a place in Google maps > Share > Select Transfer to other map > Select Locus map.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#7
Locus Map / Re: [APP] - version 4.18.+ ( 8/2023 )
August 04, 2023, 11:28:55
I think it is time for a drastic correction of approach here: whatever you do for iOS should not screw the 100000s of users from whom you make your living.
As long as the new search function is not professional, give the Android users back the Google based search.
Equal functionality is not a valid argument against this request, as the iOS version will lack essentials for years to come anyway.
At least give the existing and fully functional Google based search as an option to your (Android) users, PLEASE!
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#8
Other features / Re: Online search
July 15, 2023, 01:51:58
probably been mentioned before, but every time I use online search I feel I'm battling/ pushing uphill; example search for close-by road in Web Planner - first three suggestions are on the other side of the earth; why aren't these suggestions sorted by distance to the users position?

https://web.locusmap.app/en/?lat=-42.836418&lng=147.290826&z=15&map=hikeBikeYou cannot view this attachment.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#9
Other features / Re: Online search
June 25, 2023, 08:43:25
Another example of inconsistent online search . Screen caps from the web planner but identical results in LM4.

Search for "Lower Crescent, Belfast, Ireland" - the closest Belfast result in 1.3km away although unrelated to "Lower Crescent". Note I had positioned map to show Lower Crescent only a few metres away. Why not sorted by distance? Also note LM4 displays the distance but not the web planner.
You cannot view this attachment.

BUT the important point, search for "Lower Crs - now the correct results are displayed, but still not at the top of the list given they are the closest, and the "best match".
You cannot view this attachment.

Results displayed as "Crescent" but actually best to search for the abbreviation "Crs".
My Locus online searching experience is often a real hard battle ;-(
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#10
Other features / Re: Online search
May 25, 2023, 22:55:59
IMHO the current updated experience is really way better. Results to typed searches are a lot faster, before the blue circle was rotating and nothing happened (I even missed the magnifying glass in my focussed eye-catching area and thought 'what now?')..after a long while those far distant results appeared - now I get immediate results and even good related suggestions like categories.

See images attached, I searched for a franchise, there are several around.
IMHO the auto-results are not very helpful as very similar and hitting the search to get to the map results are different but okayyyy as I see the map and can choose, but there is a Munich entry - well that is 500km away..
I still cannot collapse the keyboard as the 3 buttons are hidden, I have to swipe from top to bring them in and then can collapse keyboard and see all entries.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#11
Other features / Re: Online search
May 25, 2023, 15:10:50
Quote from: Jan Čapek on May 25, 2023, 10:52:52But isn't "search this area" exactly this? Or do you missing it even for category highlighting?
I usually use a zoom that allows me to see a very small area on the screen because I prefer to see the details.
So when I do a search as the area is small I get few results as they depend on the zoom. I would prefer to set up the search with a filter of, for example, a fixed radius of 5 km. So I would always have the list of found items regardless of zoom.
Or
You could show on the map the elements found that obviously fit on the screen, but also list those that don't fit in order of distance.
So if in the list I see what I was looking for that is outside the on-screen map, I can click on it without having to zoom out on the map and be directly centered to that point
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#12
Other features / Re: Online search
May 22, 2023, 21:55:49
Hi guys, I have to post a few info here as well  ;)

Google API for search is not technically available to us. Its license for public API prohibits us to use it on our server. It should be also complicated to merge these results into our LoPoints system, but it is another story ...

Google search system was anyway used in the app till now, right? It was because Locus Map used a system directly integrated into the Android and that is free to use for any Android device.

Anyway, we are here creating a united search system on our server, that will be able to use more sources, user history and later also user-based personalization and return the best possible result to the user. This is not possible to do on the device => simply: Google API can't be used because of technical and license limitations. This is the fact, sorry.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#13
Other features / Re: Online search
May 11, 2023, 19:34:27
Map is on Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. GPS off, device located in the area.

I search for "Halde", those are artificial hills, results of former coal mining. There are quite a few in this federal state, they have "Halde" in their osm name, usually.

Now after pressing enter it shows some inappropriate results. In the south of Germany.

https://youtube.com/shorts/fhv1RJWkurw?feature=share
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek
#14
Hi all,

I made a little tool that shows explorer tiles (https://www.statshunters.com/faq-10-what-are-explorer-tiles) in Locus Map, which makes it easier to plan trips to unexplored tiles. It's here: https://liscopridge.nomi.cz/statshunters/



(red are all explored tiles, blue is the maximal explored square)

It helps me find new places to go, and it's a fun way to challenge friends. Posting here in case someone else finds that useful.
The following users thanked this post: Jan Čapek