[APP] - version 4.27/4.28.+ ( 12/2024 )

[balloni55]

V 4.28.0.1
GPS off
When I move the map and then centre it again (to last known pos), GPS automatically switches on.

Where can I disable this?

[Menion]

There is currently no setting for this behavior. Is it really a problem?

This change should have been in the app since 4.27, so there is nothing completely new in this test version.

The reason for this, is to make the whole "Where am I" flow easier to understand. I've just today also improved the style of the centering button a little more, to make it even more clear if "Location" is disabled in the system or permission for location is missing.

[balloni55]

as i have not been active lately i have only just realised
Yes it is important for me, if I switch off GPS consciously I don't want it to be switched on unintentionally by any action

[michaelbechtold]

It's definitely annoying. I did notice when that change happened, but was too busy to kick off and follow up a thread.
I'm happy not to be alone :-) !!

[Andrew Heard]

I had noticed the new behaviour, but wasn't prepared to say anything until I read the 3 other posts. For me it's just a minor issue, but agree if I turn off GPS I don't want it silently turned back on. I want to decide. For many users, the exact opposite would be the preferred.

[Menion]

Oki, thanks, I'll try to improve it ...

EDIT:
In the end, I believe that current behavior is correct and expected for most of users. You tap "center" to move to your current location. If GPS is disabled? Well, then this button moves you almost anywhere closer ...

Maybe you have not noticed, but the latest public version does not enable GPS by default when the app starts. This allows not to ask for location permission immediately, but later when the user really needs a location. The correct moment is tap on the centering button.

Solution for you? The new "Enable GPS when centering" setting will be in the "Expert settings" in the next app version.

[Tapio]

That's great, I understood, but also didn't like GPS On on centering.

[slarti76]

That's great, I understood, but also didn't like GPS On on centering.

I'm probably overlooking something here, but where should the Center button center without GPS? Don't wanna be obnoxious, but I agree with Menion that this would be (generally) expected behaviour.

[Tapio]

You don't overlook anything. It should either try a cheaper position retrieval (Google, wifi), or a last known, or none. I prefer it over having to turn GPS off again.

The use case is often not "where exactly am I", but "please center map to my area, because I'm currently reviewing far away tracks". I think that's the point.

[Žajdlík Josef]

I don't like GPS on centering either. I suggest the following solutions. Click the Center to turn on GPS, but only temporarily. After reaching an accuracy of about 50 m, the GPS would automatically turn off.

[Menion]

You don't overlook anything. It should either try a cheaper position retrieval (Google, wifi), or a last known, or none. I prefer it over having to turn GPS off again.

The use case is often not "where a I exactly", but "please center map to my area, because I'm currently reviewing far away tracks". I think that's the point.

Exactly. But this is the case for all of us NOW ... we play at home with the app. Use-case outside? I press "center" and don't wanna care about it.

Maybe there is a different solution for this? Like a "pin" a certain location on the map and allows to easily return back to this point? Something like enabled guidance with the pinned place floating around the screen? Because "center button" is still "center button" > center map to my current location! And we bend it to a little different use case.

[freischneider]

What has the behavior been like in recent years? Everyone was happy then.
When GPS is off, centering just doesn't work. Then the user has to switch GPS on first. The advantage is that I then know that it is on. If it only switches on briefly, then I think it is on and later it is not on.
So the user has to actively switch it on and actively switch it off. and it should be clear to everyone that they cannot find their current location without GPS.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Menion]

Previous behavior was as written by Tapio here. App tried to grab some last known cached location, if not available it tried to obtain some wi-fi/network from the system and if the location was too old or none, it displayed a warning. But there was a big chance, that the location was a few kilometers from your real current location ...

The fact that it worked somehow last years does not mean that "Everyone was happy then".
I'll think about it more, but in the worst case, it will remain as is now plus "Expert settings" to disable "Turn GPS on" behavior. Thanks for understanding.

[T-mo]

I am quite happy at least to switch gps on/off with the dedicated android controls.
Some safety-aware smartphones feature hardware switches for security-sensitive functions like radio (incl. gps) and camera, for understandable reasons.
From my perspective, I always do feel uncomfortable with pseudo-smart automations in the background without any dialogs and realising this way not being in control of hardware and software, e.g. therefore currently dropping windows and finally switching to Linux (Arch atm).
This understanding of who is basically in charge and control is quite basic, deep and fundamental, might be due to endless hours throughout the journey of C64 up to now and understanding the evolution of computer-technology.
Though I am not doubting Locus and the whole Asamm-Team and this only a simple not-so-simple app, I am glad definitely not being plagued by scepticism, I do not prefer such oversophisticated "features" (mechanisms) in LM, at least not without any option. Therefore introducing an expert-option would be ok to me. Using once a dialog to set this option is also smart.

Maybe it's an idea to use simple changes like eg. optimising status text when gps is off, text is there since ages, see pic. Just kidding and pointing

[slarti76]

Again, not to sound obnoxious, I'm a very privacy-aware user, but these days Android is fine-tunable concerning which app gets GPS data and which not. And if I switch to another app from Locus w/o "Fine location" permissions, GPS is dormant.
I may be missing something here and drank the Kool-Aid, then please open my eyes.