[jarda-manana]

Hi,
I’m a developer of XCTrack – application for (paragliding) pilots (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.xcontest.XCTrack). We have just released a version, that support offline maps via the mapsforge/VTM library. I would like to ask, if there is a possibility for a custom “Android Install on” link in download section (like Locus and others have)?
We currently recommend using OpenAndroMaps on our “about maps” site, here: http://xctrack.org/AboutMaps.html. But a custom action for installing maps on site will be definitely more user-friendly.

Thanks & regards,
Jarda
XContest team

[Tobias]

I think it would be finally time to have a standard install link, as it would blow up the download tables to add every app. There are already apps who “steal”/use the same install links as OruxMaps, as those are more common. But we could also introduce neutral ones like:
mf-map://
mf-theme://
or
vector-map://
vector-theme://
(as this app uses VTM not classic mapsforge, what might get more common).
@ChristianK, what do you think? I think there’s still another app developer waiting who asked about this…

Developer of Elevate mapstyle

1 user thanked author for this post.

jarda-manana

[jarda-manana]

@Tobias: I like this idea!

[plridgway]

Hello,
I downloaded Elevation4 by “Android Install on Backcountry Navigator” to my android phone (Pixel) without trouble but cannot download California.zip directly to my Windows PC or directly or by “Android Install on Backcountry Navigator” to my phone. I get no error message, it seems download is in progress but no bytes are transferred.
Any ideas for me?

[ChristianK]

Tobias wrote:

@ChristianK, what do you think? I think there’s still another app developer waiting who asked about this…

I like this idea…
However, we will have several special actions for specific APPs (Orux, BCN, etc..) and neutral actions like mf-map, aso.
For us its clear, for the users it will cause confusion – (is my app covered by the neutral action-link??)

At the other hand – if we continue with speccific action-links it will be confusing too.

.. and it does’nt solve one of the major problems with the action scripts = downloading of themes.
I’m pretty shure that a lot of users DONT install the approbriate theme (except of Locus Users that are forced to install the Themes by Locus scripting in link) and be disappointed and give upp

So, I dont really know how to proceed with this.

best regards
Christian

[JohnPercy]

Of course, the ideal solution would be for OAM to offer a neutral link and app designers modify their apps to make use of it. Might be worth asking…

Voluntary and Velocity themes - https://voluntary.nichesite.org

[plridgway]

I had no problem downloading California map from a friends wifi/ internet service. So my service is not compatible with openandromaps USA map page, but I can download Elevate 4 no problem. If you have any idea why this would be, Id love to hear it.

[jarda-manana]

@ChristianK, @Tobias, @JohnPercy:
Optimistic (maybe naive) scenario:

• deprecate app-specific links
• the neutral link first in the list
• remove app-specific links after some time

Users can be confused for a while but I think most of them will click on app specific link if they have this app, others will try the first generic link.

ChristianK wrote:

.. and it does’nt solve one of the major problems with the action scripts = downloading of themes.
I’m pretty shure that a lot of users DONT install the approbriate theme (except of Locus Users that are forced to install the Themes by Locus scripting in link) and be disappointed and give upp

What about serving a simple json (ie.) by generic link? Something like:

{
   "mapUrl": "https://openandromaps.org/....",
   "themeUrl": "https://..."
}

Yes, little bit of work for app developers, but generic consistent and better user experience, I think…

[Tobias]

plridgway wrote:

I had no problem downloading California map from a friends wifi/ internet service. So my service is not compatible with openandromaps USA map page, but I can download Elevate 4 no problem. If you have any idea why this would be, Id love to hear it.

This is a totally different topic, so maybe that’s why you don’t get any answers 🙂
But the Elevate file is on a different server than the maps, at least this is a reason. Probably you have to talk to your provider.

Developer of Elevate mapstyle

[Tobias]

jarda-manana wrote:

• deprecate app-specific links
• the neutral link first in the list
• remove app-specific links after some time

I think that would be a good scenario, although there are always users who use old versions of apps so the removal might take a long time.

But putting the neutral link first, with a caption like ” Install with android app* “, and a linked footnote: ” *apps that support this include: XCTrack, ABC, DEF,… ” should be enough.

@ChristianK: it’s not that users forget to install a theme, they also don’t choose it in the app, as several support threads have shown. So even with Locus it doesn’t work at the moment.

So, what do you think, any preference for install links? mf-map or vector-map? I can ask Orux to include it.

Developer of Elevate mapstyle

[ChristianK]

Hi @Tobias,

Its worth a try..
mf-map should be OK cause there are different vector-formats like Osmand or even img so “vector” is not _that_ clear.

If will add an action-link next week.

Best regards
Christian

2 users thanked author for this post.

Tobias, jarda-manana

[Tobias]

I’ll add it to the Elevate page as well.

Developer of Elevate mapstyle

[ChristianK]

Hmm…

Another issue….
What kind of maps should be downloaded via these action_links?
V3 or V4/multilingual??

The reason why I ask this is that there are still _many_ Apps that cant handle V4 maps.
In addition the V4 zips contain the poi_files and tthe only APP I know so far that can handle these files is ORUX.

Christian

[Emux]

And Mapsforge maps v5 are expected to be out of Beta soon! 🙂

[ChristianK]

Emux wrote:

v5 are expected to be out of Beta soon!

🙂
😉

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