Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told
I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

Oops, see "Magic Earth" is the name of the app you mentioned in your
Subject. The Play store has it at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en

Use wifi at home for Internet access to connect your phone to the Play
Store to install the app. If you don't have wifi at home, there are
plenty of other wifi hotspots available; e.g., library, cafe, coffee
house, schools, etc.

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"

Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app. A lot of map apps use the OSM
maps database. That is a crowdsourced map database, so expect some
errors, plus areas with few travelers won't be submitting in that area.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand&hl=en

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and
was told I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving
directions.

Is there a reason the "GPS tool" is a secret?

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

How did you post here in Usenet? If you have a wifi modem at home, you
connect your phone to wifi to get to wherever is the secret app.

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

GPS is just positioning. You need a cellular data or wifi connection to
the Internet to get the map data. You might have wifi at home with your
router to download map data, but would have to use it offline on the
road. With Google Maps, you can save a region of a map, and use while
offline. Another map app that works offline (you need an Internet
connection to get the map data) is Here [WeGo].

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Andrew wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 07:02:03 -0000 (UTC) :

One way to do that is to use any computer or phone browser to get the APK
but it seems to only be on Google Play, Amazon, Huawei & AppGallery.
<https://www.magicearth.com/>

I'm not familiar with the latter three, but here's a link which it gave me.
<https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Earth-Navigation-and-Maps/dp/B077XTY4F9/>
<https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C100134401>

Of course, if the Magic Earth is what the OP really wants, he can always
use a FOSS Google Play Store client, which I use every day, to get anything
off of the Google Play Store without having to create a Google Account.
<https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore/-/releases>
<https://aurorastore.org/> & <https://auroraoss.com/>
<https://f-droid.org/packages/com.aurora.store/>

This, of course, would be done while the OP's Android is on Wi-Fi.

Again, this may be too much for the OP, but all these FOSS Google Play
Store replacement apps get the EXACT app from the EXACT Google repo.

Most people think it's a "different store" but most people are stupid.
Most people are afraid of doing anything that marketing doesn't tell them
to do - so most people are filled with fear if they use alternate clients.

Even Vanguard once said he's fearful of any app that doesn't come directly
from Google - which is a ridiculously crazy fear - but fear is fear.

The apps DO come directly from Google.
But when people are afraid, they manufacture all sorts of obstructions.

Even when those obstructions are absurd.
Rest assured, it's not a separate store.

It's the same Google Play Store repo.
It's just a different client (which is much better, of course).

It's sad that I have to mention this, as it's like telling people not to go outside in the rain because they might get wet, but I've had this
discussion with people like Chris (about F-Droid) and Vanguard (about
Aurora) so I know that there are people so afraid of their own shadow that
they make absolutely terrible decisions because they're driven by pure
abject fear. Sigh.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

VanguardLH wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 00:25:00 -0500 :

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"
Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app.

The OP doesn't appear to be technical so this solution may be too much.

1. The problem with the Google Play Store is you need a login/passwd.
2. Sure, you can get the APK off of a mirror - but it takes knowledge.
3. Better to give the OP a way to get the APK w/o a login/passwd needed.

One way to do that is to use any computer or phone browser to get the APK
but it seems to only be on Google Play, Amazon, Huawei & AppGallery.
<https://www.magicearth.com/>

I'm not familiar with the latter three, but here's a link which it gave me.
<https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Earth-Navigation-and-Maps/dp/B077XTY4F9/>
<https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C100134401>

Me?

I'd download OSMAnd Plus (actually the free OSMAnd~) on F-Droid instead:
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/>

The OP needs to be told that with just GPS and without cellular data, the
free adfree OSMAnd~ (aka OSMAnd Plus) will navigate just fine w/o Internet.

It won't do traffic but without Internet, the OP wouldn't get traffic
anyway, but the OSMAnd~ address lookup (aka points of interest) database
sucks compared to Google Map's lookup.

We could also explain to the OP that Google Maps has an offline capability, which I've tested in the past, but it was a PITA and I think it requires a Google Account to do it - but if the OP has a google account, they can use
the Google Maps offline if they know where they're going to be going.

Yeah, I know. TMI. But that's what I'd do if I were the OP as I care that everyone who asks a question on this newsgroup gets a good answer to it.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

VanguardLH <[email protected]> Wrote in message:

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told >> I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, >> but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

Oops, see "Magic Earth" is the name of the app you mentioned in your
Subject. The Play store has it at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en

Use wifi at home for Internet access to connect your phone to the Play
Store to install the app. If you don't have wifi at home, there are
plenty of other wifi hotspots available; e.g., library, cafe, coffee
house, schools, etc.

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"

Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app. A lot of map apps use the OSM
maps database. That is a crowdsourced map database, so expect some
errors, plus areas with few travelers won't be submitting in that area.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand&hl=en

Magic Earth: "Get real-time traffic info, updated every minute"
How - even if you have mobile data? I know some countries (NL?)
have open data sources for traffic data.

Are speed limits remotely up to date on OSM? In England they
change frequently.

I have OsmAnd (on an iPhone) for walking. For driving I use Google
Maps.
--
Remove numerics from my email address.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dave Royal <[email protected]> wrote:

VanguardLH <[email protected]> Wrote in message:

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told
I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files,
but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

Oops, see "Magic Earth" is the name of the app you mentioned in your
Subject. The Play store has it at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en

Use wifi at home for Internet access to connect your phone to the Play
Store to install the app. If you don't have wifi at home, there are
plenty of other wifi hotspots available; e.g., library, cafe, coffee
house, schools, etc.

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"

Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app. A lot of map apps use the OSM
maps database. That is a crowdsourced map database, so expect some
errors, plus areas with few travelers won't be submitting in that area.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand&hl=en

Magic Earth: "Get real-time traffic info, updated every minute"
How - even if you have mobile data? I know some countries (NL?)
have open data sources for traffic data.

Are speed limits remotely up to date on OSM? In England they
change frequently.

I have OsmAnd (on an iPhone) for walking. For driving I use Google
Maps.

Never used the Magic Earth app. While I have the Here [WeGo] and OSMand
apps on my phone, I've only needed to use Google Maps. OSMand is
crowdsourced for data, and I found it often out of date. Some folks
were submitting plat data from their municipalities, but those include
proposed roads, and those may not yet exist. In sparsely populated
areas, there are far fewer OSM submissions, so their map data is even
more unreliable there. Google has trucks traveling around taking pics
to provide their street view. OSM, and its variants, has no street
view. I saw no satellite view at OSM.

While map data can be downloaded for offline driving routes, there will
be no interactive features, because you're not connected anywhere. What
is in the map data depends on how often it gets updates, and how often
you download the updates. How are you going to see what is happening
now when you are not now connected?

Google Maps only lets you select a region for downloading offline map
data. Here [WeGo] lets you pick by country, state, city, or other
granularity. The more regions you choose to download, the more storage
gets consumed, and some regions are better mapped than others so they
have more data. You better have a decent SD card on which to store all
the offline maps you want, and it take a long time if you download them
all. I didn't download all their maps, just all USA which consumed
9.7GB of storage. There is an option to download only only via wifi, so
you don't consume your cellular data quota. Here WeGo provides
turn-by-turn navigation even when offline. Google Maps does not nor
does OSM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_WeGo

I have hardly used OSMand or Here WeGo, so I cannot attest to whether or
not they provide interactive data, like traffic volume, reroutes, etc,
but I can't see how any offline map data could ever include that
present-time data, and definitely not without a current Internet
connection.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dave Royal wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 08:22:24 +0100 (GMT+01:00) :

Magic Earth: "Get real-time traffic info, updated every minute"
How - even if you have mobile data? I know some countries (NL?)
have open data sources for traffic data.

I have a thread from a while ago on how to get real-time traffic on the
phone WITHOUT using Google products - but - they require the Internet.
<https://i.postimg.cc/g0c6q5n0/traffic02.jpg>
<https://i.postimg.cc/kX88nK07/traffic03.jpg>

Of course, FM radio doesn't require the Internet but then the OP will need
to know how to install an FM Radio app and how to use wired headphones (assuming the phone the OP is using has an FM radio chip & 3.5mm jack).
*SpiritF* (requires root) Use headphones as antenna for FM radio
<https://f-droid.org/packages/fm.a2d.sf/>

*FM Radio* AM, FM, Radio Tuner by NonStop Radio (requires Internet)
free,adfree,gsf?,10K+Downloads <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.liveradio.fmradio.radiotuner.radiostation.amradio>

Spirit2 Free (requires root) is an Over-The-Air (Real) FM Radio <https://xdaforums.com/t/spirit1-spirit2-real-fm-radio-general-thread.1059296/>

Spirit1 (does not require root?), but this is aimed at AOSP only:
<https://apkcombo.com/spirit1-real-fm-radio/com.mikersmicros.fm_unlock/>

Are speed limits remotely up to date on OSM?
In England they change frequently.

I never felt the need for speed-limit warnings but I understand why others
may feel they're appropriate, particularly for young inexperienced drivers.

I have OsmAnd (on an iPhone) for walking.

OSMAnd~ (which is not available for iOS) works surprisingly well for
walking but so do most of the parking-locator apps (for short distances).

*Parked Car* by Myroslav Kolodii
Free, ad free, requires GSF, 4.4 star, 179 reviews, 10K+Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unagit.parkedcar>

*Car Location* by DigitalBox Studios
Free, ad free, requires GSF, not rated, not reviewed, 500+Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carparking.location>

*Find my parked car* by Aurum App
Free, has ads, requires GSF, 4.6 star, 32.7K reviews, 1M+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.carfind>

For driving I use Google Maps.

Unfortunately, Google Maps is still the best for accurate POIs and routing information (with traffic); but notice that Apple recently put Apple Maps
on the web (which won't help the OP - but I say that for others here).
"Jul 24, 2024 �X Today, Apple Maps on the web is available in public beta,
allowing users around the world to access Maps directly from their web
browser."
<https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/07/apple-maps-on-the-web-launches-in-beta/>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

VanguardLH wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 03:58:29 -0500 :

You better have a decent SD card on which to store all
the offline maps you want, and it take a long time if you download them
all. I didn't download all their maps, just all USA which consumed
9.7GB of storage.

A technical trick to download map data for one phone and bring it to
another phone without having to download it again is to format your
portable memory sd card with a name that you know which is easy to do.

I use, for example, 0000-0001, which I use for all my sd cards
(otherwise it's some unremememberable list of eight characters & numbers).

When I get a new phone, I just pop the old portable memory card into the
new phone and map apps work perfectly using the data from the old phone.

There is an option to download only via wifi, so
you don't consume your cellular data quota. Here WeGo provides
turn-by-turn navigation even when offline. Google Maps does not nor
does OSM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_WeGo

I have hardly used OSMand or Here WeGo, so I cannot attest to whether or
not they provide interactive data, like traffic volume, reroutes, etc,
but I can't see how any offline map data could ever include that
present-time data, and definitely not without a current Internet
connection.

I don't think any app can provide traffic realtime without the net other
than FM radio apps, but you can get real-time traffic with the net without using Google Maps - we have an entire thread on this topic in the past.
<https://i.postimg.cc/g0c6q5n0/traffic02.jpg>
<https://i.postimg.cc/kX88nK07/traffic03.jpg>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Thank you for the replies, their website got back to me
and supplied a weblink so I guess I will have to find a wiFi hotspot
and download it.

They say there is a 64 bit and a 32 bit version. How can I tell if
this phone is 32 bit or 64?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO, 2024-08-06 04:39:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

A "GPS tool" will not give you driving directions, you need a navigation
app.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

Using USB sideloading.

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

You can download APK files, copy them to the phone and use the file
manager app of the phone to install the app by opening the APK file.
However you also need map data not only the tool.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Arno Welzel <[email protected]> wrote:

UFO, 2024-08-06 04:39:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told >> I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

A "GPS tool" will not give you driving directions, you need a navigation
app.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

Using USB sideloading.

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files, >> but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

You can download APK files, copy them to the phone and use the file
manager app of the phone to install the app by opening the APK file.
However you also need map data not only the tool.

According to https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/#maps-help:

- Although they are using the crowd-sourced map data from
OpenStreetsMap, their app downloads offline maps from their web site,
not from the OpenStreetMaps web site.
Maybe that is a requirement for 3rd-party apps to eliminate OSM from
having to brunt the bandwidth.
- Maps are updated approximately once per month (middle of month).

The OP doesn't have an Internet connection via cellular data, only wifi
which means static hotspots. According to the map FAQ, their offline
maps only include cartographic data. No elevation/terrain info. No
satellite imagery. Those would bloat the maps to large sizes, lots of bandwidth, and slow downloads to update. The more offline maps you
download, the longer the update process since all offline maps get
updated, not just the one in which you might be currently interested.

As you noted, getting just the .apk installer file is an incomplete
solution. The OP will also have to use a wifi hotspot to download all
the offline maps for the regions he intends to visit or drive through.

I suspect the OP will be very disappointed in using only offline maps downloaded to his phone. If he visits elsewhere, he will have to wait
until he finds a wifi hotspot to get another map for a new region. Lots
of data is missing in offline maps. OSM map data is incomplete or
missing in many areas simply because there is no one in those areas
submitting map update (resident population too sparse).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for the replies, their website got back to me
and supplied a weblink so I guess I will have to find a wiFi hotspot
and download it.

They say there is a 64 bit and a 32 bit version. How can I tell if
this phone is 32 bit or 64?

And your version of Android is ...? Android has support 64-bit CPUs
since Lollipop (v5.0). You could look up the specifications for your
Moto G5 Plus phone, like at:

https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g5_plus-8453.php

which says your phone has a Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. You could
then look online for the specifications on your phone's CPU, like:

https://developer.arm.com/Processors/Cortex-A53

which says both 32-bit AArch32 is supported and so is 64-bit AArch64.
You have a 64-bit phone with a 64-bit OS.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth

That is the app page at Google's Play Store. When you click on "About
this app", and if you have logged in (and you registered your phone), it
will tell you if your phone is compatible with the manifest published
for the app. When I login, and because I registered my phone, it says "Requires: Android 8.0 and up". So my phone is barely acceptable as it
has Android 8.0 on it. LG discontinued my phone in 2019, so there was
never a later OS update, and then LG left the smartphone market in 2021.
The Play Store doesn't offer a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the app. It
offers what is found compatible with your phone.

The Play Store app page does not list minimum Android version, but what
is compatible with your phone. There is additional information at the magicearth.com web site which says the minimum Android version supported
is 4.4 (Kitkat), and why they mentioned 32- and 64-bit versions of their
app. Have you visited the Play Store's app page to see if your phone is
listed as compatible?

I suspect if you are way back on Android 4.4 that you will need a very
old version of their app which means there will be many fixes and
features missing in the old version. According to the GSMarena specs
page for your phone, it comes with Android 7.0 (Nougat), but you may
have upgraded to a later Android version since then.

At their web site, they mention "If you use a degoogled phone, please
use the direct apk link on our website." However, I didn't see any
downloads offered from their web site. Their Support hyperlink points
to https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en. No downloads there. Maybe they
have a hidden web page: no links to it from their other web pages, so
their support has to give you the URL to the hidden web page. Maybe
their support provides a URL to the .apk file on a file server that they
inform you about when you contact them. I didn't spend much effort
digging through their web site other than to find obvious download links
since I'm not the one wanting their app.

There are no download links at the magicearth.com web site. There are
links pointing to: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Store (don't
have an account there to check if the link points to an existing app
page), and Huawei's AppGallery (which is a dead link).

Oh, by the way, did you ask their support if their app supports
turn-by-turn or other interactive features when your phone has no
Internet access (no wifi, no cellular data)? A lot of the features they
list, which is shared with other apps based on OpenStreetMaps, won't be available when you are offline. GPS will still work, because that uses
a GPS radio inside the phone to get coordinates from satellites (and why obstacles, like parking ramps, can make it impossible to get a GPS
signal). However, driving instructions are an interactive feature.
Perhaps they still provide voice instructions while driving when using
offline maps since I've seen other map apps using offline data claim the
same feature, but I didn't see that mentioned at their web site. If you
want driving instructions when using offline maps, better check with
their support if that feature is available when offline. Obviously
offline maps won't have traffic volume, accident, or other
current-condition information. You won't get "now" info when using
offline maps that were generated umpteen weeks or months ago.

While you can have an Internet connection using cellular data, that will automatically jump between cell towers as you drive: the same reason you
can continue making a phone call while moving. Wifi doesn't work that
way. You could stop at a library, Internet cafe, or someplace that has
wifi connectivity, but once you move out of range of that wifi hotspot
then you lose your Internet connection. There is no automatically
jumping between wifi hotspots, and auto-reconnect is to hotspots to
which you previously connected which won't be true as you're driving
down the road hitting unvisited hotspots. wifi hotspots have very
limited range, like 150 feet for 2.4 GHz and 50 feet for 5 GHz. Having
to stop at someplace to use their wifi hotspot, and assuming it was open
with no login (public doesn't mean no-login) pretty much obviates the convenience of navigation instructions as you are driving unless the app specifically provides for navigation instructions based solely on the
offline maps you previously downloaded and stored on your phone.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Thank you , Its 8.1

I am downloading the Intel 64 but option, there is ARM32/64
and ADAS options, no clue what those are.

Their website said to try the 64 bit versions first then if they dont
install,
the 32 bit.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The ARM32 bit one installed, seems to be working. Its located my pos,
dunno how to zoom out tho.

I guess if you see something that is not showing up, you can submit it something like a business that is not marked you can enter it?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 10:52:57 -0400, UFO wrote:

The ARM32 bit one installed, seems to be working. Its located my pos,
dunno how to zoom out tho.

You may want to check out osmand+ freeware instead of magic earth.

https://www.slant.co/versus/3746/36936/~osmand-maps-navigation_vs_magic-earth https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/magic-earth-app-vs-osmand-app-maps/10157 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26083001#:~:text=Magic%20Earth%20offers%20a%20more,non%2Ddriving%20features%20in%20OsmAnd.
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/3040-what-is-the-best-offline-navigation-most-similar-to-google-maps-and-why/21

Not many people use Magic Earth compared to the freeware alternatives. https://alternativeto.net/software/magic-earth/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

VanguardLH wrote on Wed, 7 Aug 2024 07:53:16 -0500 :

I suspect the OP will be very disappointed in using only offline maps downloaded to his phone.

While for road routing the online Google Maps can't be beat, since I do backcountry hiking, I am very happy with offline topographical mapping.

I'm not disappointed but I use the free USGS geocalibrated PDF 7.5-degree quadrangle maps, which work great in all the good offline map programs.

For road routing, it's hard to beat Google Maps, but OSMAnd~ isn't too bad
of a compromise given the OP does not happen to have cellular data service.

The main problem I find with OSMAnd~ road routing is the Address POI lookup pales in completeness compared to that of the online Google Maps POI data.

And, of course, without Internet, I don't know how the OP does traffic.
<https://i.postimg.cc/9fVMz0Pd/traffic01.jpg>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO wrote on Wed, 7 Aug 2024 06:55:21 -0400 :

They say there is a 64 bit and a 32 bit version. How can I tell if
this phone is 32 bit or 64?

*DevCheck* Device & System Info by flar2, In-app purchases
free,adfree,gsfreq, rated 4.6 star, 16.3K reviews, 1M+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.devcheck>

*Device Info HW* by Andrey Efremov
free,adfree,gsffree, rated 4.6 star, 10.6K reviews, 5M+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.andr7e.deviceinfohw>

*Treble Info* by Hackintosh Five, with In-app purchases
free,adfree,gsffree, rated 4.6 star, 1.45K reviews, 100K+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tk.hack5.treblecheck>
Project Treble = Supported
VNDK version = 31.0
Linker namespace isolation = VNDK is not in lite mode
Manifest location = Modern
System as Root = Enabled
Seamless Upgrades = Unsupported
Dynamic Upgrades = Unsupported
Dynamic Partitions = Enabled
CPU architecture = ARM64
Binder architecture = 64 bit

*Inware* by evowizz
free,adfree,gsreq, rated 4.5 star, 1.69K reviews, 100K+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evo.inware>

*CPU Info* (open-source) by KG Soft
free,adfree,gsffree, rated 4.5 star, 950 reviews, 100K+ Downloads
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kgurgul.cpuinfo>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 07:39:05 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

At their web site, they mention "If you use a degoogled phone, please
use the direct apk link on our website." However, I didn't see any
downloads offered from their web site.

It's trivial to download any app APK on the Google Play Store whether or
not any given phone is "degoogled" so I don't see why degoogling matters?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Bill Powell <[email protected]> wrote:

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 10:52:57 -0400, UFO wrote:

The ARM32 bit one installed, seems to be working. Its located my pos,
dunno how to zoom out tho.

You may want to check out osmand+ freeware instead of magic earth.

https://www.slant.co/versus/3746/36936/~osmand-maps-navigation_vs_magic-earth https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/magic-earth-app-vs-osmand-app-maps/10157 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26083001#:~:text=Magic%20Earth%20offers%20a%20more,non%2Ddriving%20features%20in%20OsmAnd.
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/3040-what-is-the-best-offline-navigation-most-similar-to-google-maps-and-why/21

Not many people use Magic Earth compared to the freeware alternatives. https://alternativeto.net/software/magic-earth/

Your statement impugns Magic Earth is not free. It is free, and yet
another OSM variant of map app using the OSM database. There are pros
and cons to each map app, so trialing each lets you know which you
prefer, or you can read online compare articles assuming what they rank
for pro and con is of interest to you.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Bill Powell <[email protected]> wrote:

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 07:39:05 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

At their web site, they mention "If you use a degoogled phone, please
use the direct apk link on our website." However, I didn't see any
downloads offered from their web site.

It's trivial to download any app APK on the Google Play Store whether or
not any given phone is "degoogled" so I don't see why degoogling matters?

Not by using the Play Store app. Many suggestions are mentioned when
looking online. Instead of making a vacuous statement, how do YOU get
the .apk file for the Magic Earth app? The magicearth.com web site
doesn't provide the .apk file, so just where are you getting it, and how
are you downloading it? Please enlighten instead of being vague.

https://www.wikihow.com/Download-an-APK-File-from-the-Google-Play-Store

That provides one set of instructions for obtaining the .apk file
assuming it is a free app. There might be other methods. Which do you
use?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you , Its 8.1

I am downloading the Intel 64 but option, there is ARM32/64
and ADAS options, no clue what those are.

Their website said to try the 64 bit versions first then if they dont install,
the 32 bit.

Please give the URL to their web page stating such. I didn't see any
mention of 32-bit versus 64-bit, or any downloads from their site.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

I emailed: [email protected]
they responded with a URL and PW for the DL's.

Please give the URL to their web page stating such. I didn't see any
mention of 32-bit versus 64-bit, or any downloads from their site.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 15:11:33 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

It's trivial to download any app APK on the Google Play Store whether or
not any given phone is "degoogled" so I don't see why degoogling matters?

Not by using the Play Store app.

I do it all the time without needing to use the Google Play Store app.

Many suggestions are mentioned when looking online.

I think everyone already knows there are many ways to get any APK off the Google Play Store repo without using the Google Play Store app on Android.

Instead of making a vacuous statement, how do YOU get
the .apk file for the Magic Earth app? The magicearth.com web site
doesn't provide the .apk file, so just where are you getting it, and how
are you downloading it? Please enlighten instead of being vague. https://www.wikihow.com/Download-an-APK-File-from-the-Google-Play-Store
That provides one set of instructions for obtaining the .apk file
assuming it is a free app.

That's the hard way to do it, but it will work.

There might be other methods. Which do you use?

There are so many ways to scrape the Google Play Store repo, it's not
funny. Some of the ways are here but there are many other ways also. https://xdaforums.com/t/de-googled-roms-app-stores-aurora-store-vs-app-lounge.4573919/

But the simplest way to get an APK off the Google Play Store is to log into
it using a web browser and just downloading it. What's hard about that?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

UFO <[email protected]> wrote:

Please give the URL to their web page stating such. I didn't see any
mention of 32-bit versus 64-bit, or any downloads from their site.

I emailed: [email protected]
they responded with a URL and PW for the DL's.

Ah, a special-use file server only accessible to their customers; i.e.,
a hidden file download. That's why I couldn't find a download link at
their web site, and mentioned it might be customer-only access.

Maybe they have a hidden web page: no links to it from their other web
pages, so their support has to give you the URL to the hidden web
page. Maybe their support provides a URL to the .apk file on a file
server that they inform you about when you contact them

Did you manage to download the .apk file to your Windows host to then
copy to your phone to run it on your phone? However, since it is a file server, you could probably just use a web browser on your phone (with a
wifi hotspot since you don't have cellular data).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Bill Powell <[email protected]> wrote:

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 15:11:33 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

It's trivial to download any app APK on the Google Play Store whether or >>> not any given phone is "degoogled" so I don't see why degoogling matters? >>

Not by using the Play Store app.

I do it all the time without needing to use the Google Play Store app.

Many suggestions are mentioned when looking online.

I think everyone already knows there are many ways to get any APK off the Google Play Store repo without using the Google Play Store app on Android.

I asked. And this is your response. You're being evasive again.

Instead of making a vacuous statement, how do YOU get
the .apk file for the Magic Earth app? The magicearth.com web site
doesn't provide the .apk file, so just where are you getting it, and how
are you downloading it? Please enlighten instead of being vague.
https://www.wikihow.com/Download-an-APK-File-from-the-Google-Play-Store
That provides one set of instructions for obtaining the .apk file
assuming it is a free app.

That's the hard way to do it, but it will work.

Which has the OP trust some web site to do the .apk retrieve, and yet
another app to do the extract. To get the APK Extractor app has the OP
do the app install, but that's a waste of time since the OP could just
do the Magic Earth install in the first place. No web site needed, no
extra app to install somehow, and wifi on the OP's phone gets him to
Google's Play Store to eliminate all the roundabout workarounds.

There might be other methods. Which do you use?

There are so many ways to scrape the Google Play Store repo, it's not
funny. Some of the ways are here but there are many other ways also. https://xdaforums.com/t/de-googled-roms-app-stores-aurora-store-vs-app-lounge.4573919/

That has the OP go somewhere other than where the app author publishes
links for downloads (which are installs to the phone). With indirection
you point to the Aurora app store.

https://auroraoss.com/
https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore
When I go there, and search on "magic earth" for an app, nothing found.
Looks like you have to use their app store app to find, and download the
APK file to get to and install on your phone. But since it is an
Android app, the OP would already need a means of getting the Aurora
Store app to then use it to search on "magic earth". Didn't see there
was a Windows version of the Aurora Store app for the OP to get the APK
to his Windows host to then transfer to his phone to install there. If
he has to install the Aurora Store app on his phone, he might as well as
do the Google Play Store install of Magic Earth without wasting time
with anything Aurora.

Does the OP first sideload the APK for the Aurora Store app (download to
his Windows host, and copy to his phone) to then search for the Magic
Earth app using the Aurora Store app?

Eventually I found:

https://aurorastore.org/aurora-store-pc/

Lots of hoops to jump through before the OP ever gets the APK for Magic
Earth on his Windows host to then copy to his phone for a sideload.
Since the OP can use a wifi hotspot to get to the Google Play Store, why
would he bother with trying to get just the .apk file?

The OP said the dev of Magic Earth told him to get the .apk file, but
never gave a URL of where to find the .apk file. Would've been much
simpler if they gave a URL to a download instead of having to use
alternate store apps.

But the simplest way to get an APK off the Google Play Store is to log into it using a web browser and just downloading it. What's hard about that?

On a Windows 10 Home host, I went to:

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=magic%20earth&c=apps

I see an Install button. Don't see a download button. If I click the
Install button, Google wants me to login. Then they list the phones
that I registered under my Google account, and an Install button that
will push the app to the Play Store app on my phone. Still didn't see a download link to the .apk file. I could, of course, install it to my
phone, but that's not getting just the .apk file.

You apparently found a download link at the app page at Google's Play
Store that I cannot find. Again, instead of mentioning this method,
please detail how /you/ use the Play Store to get only the .apk file.
Once a web browser connects to the above Play Store app page, detail
what steps are next to *download* just the .apk file. Don't evade. I
am curious to know how to get APK files DIRECTLY from the Google Play
Store, not by incorporating some extra web site to do the yank and
another app do to the extract.

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/manifest-intro
"Google Play Store doesn't let users install your app on devices that
don't provide the features or system version that your app requires."

The AndoirdManifest.xml file is a text file. I know the Google Play
Store accounts for which device you registered there by using the
manifest to determine which, if any, version of the app you receive.
Maybe the Aurora Store app does the same. If all it dumps on you is the
.apk file, seems you could get an APK that is unusable on your device.
If the Aurora app doesn't do the check before letting you download the
.apk file, does the installer inside the .apk check the manifest to make
sure the app works on that phone?

It is misleading for the app author to tell the OP to get the .apk file,
but never provide a URL for where to download the .apk file. Not how to
jump through hoops installing other apps (which, if performed, means
those extra steps are worthless since the originally targeted app could
be installed without all the workarounds), but how to JUST get the .apk
file downloaded.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Andrew, 2024-08-06 09:02:

VanguardLH wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 00:25:00 -0500 :

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"
Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app.

The OP doesn't appear to be technical so this solution may be too much.

1. The problem with the Google Play Store is you need a login/passwd.
2. Sure, you can get the APK off of a mirror - but it takes knowledge.
3. Better to give the OP a way to get the APK w/o a login/passwd needed.

Or just use F-Droid:

<https://f-droid.org>

No user/password required, just install the F-Droid APK once.

And OSMAnd is available there as well:

<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/>


--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

VanguardLH, 2024-08-07 14:53:

Arno Welzel <[email protected]> wrote:

UFO, 2024-08-06 04:39:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told
I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

A "GPS tool" will not give you driving directions, you need a navigation
app.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

Using USB sideloading.

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files,
but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

You can download APK files, copy them to the phone and use the file
manager app of the phone to install the app by opening the APK file.
However you also need map data not only the tool.

According to https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/#maps-help:

- Although they are using the crowd-sourced map data from
OpenStreetsMap, their app downloads offline maps from their web site,
not from the OpenStreetMaps web site.
Maybe that is a requirement for 3rd-party apps to eliminate OSM from
having to brunt the bandwidth.
- Maps are updated approximately once per month (middle of month).

OSMAnd also allows to download the map files for offline use:

<https://osmand.net/docs/user/start-with/download-maps/>

And you can also download the map data on your computer, unzip it and
copy the files to the phone via USB when you know where OSMAnd expects
the map files on the device:

<https://download.osmand.net/list.php>

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Arno Welzel <[email protected]> wrote:

VanguardLH, 2024-08-07 14:53:

Arno Welzel <[email protected]> wrote:

UFO, 2024-08-06 04:39:

Was given a Moto G5 plus phone, with just the emergency service and was told
I can install this GPS tool to it and use it for driving directions.

A "GPS tool" will not give you driving directions, you need a navigation >>> app.

How would I get the app onto the phone since its not got service?

Using USB sideloading.

I have a Windows Desktop and I can plug the USB into it, and exchange files,
but I dont think the app can be downloaded on a Win Machine
because its a differenet OS?

You can download APK files, copy them to the phone and use the file
manager app of the phone to install the app by opening the APK file.
However you also need map data not only the tool.

According to https://www.magicearth.com/faq-en/#maps-help:

- Although they are using the crowd-sourced map data from
OpenStreetsMap, their app downloads offline maps from their web site,
not from the OpenStreetMaps web site.
Maybe that is a requirement for 3rd-party apps to eliminate OSM from
having to brunt the bandwidth.
- Maps are updated approximately once per month (middle of month).

OSMAnd also allows to download the map files for offline use:

<https://osmand.net/docs/user/start-with/download-maps/>

And you can also download the map data on your computer, unzip it and
copy the files to the phone via USB when you know where OSMAnd expects
the map files on the device:

<https://download.osmand.net/list.php>

That's the one I mentioned earlier as an alternative to Magic Earth
which also says they download maps to use offline. Using offline maps
means you know or plan the areas where you'll be visiting.

What is the granualarity of the offline maps from OSM? Here [WeGo] lets
you download by city, county, state, or country. I found:

https://osmand.net/docs/user/start-with/download-maps/#download-maps-menu

where it seems "regions" are countries or continents. The web page only
shows partial lists, so I cannot see if smaller regions are available,
like states, counties, and cities.

I found a list at:

https://download.osmand.net/list.php

It shows states and cities, but few cities.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Arno Welzel wrote on Sat, 10 Aug 2024 10:11:12 +0200 :

Or just use F-Droid:

<https://f-droid.org>

No user/password required, just install the F-Droid APK once.

While a lot of people use the F-Droid app on Android, if people want to use
an app on Android to get APKs off the F-Droid repo, the Aurora developers recently recommend F-Droid Basic instead as they say it's better supported.
<https://f-droid.org/packages/org.fdroid.basic/>

I keep F-Droid & F-Droid Basic around, but most of the time I download my Android apps using either Aurora on Android or a web browser on the PC.
<https://i.postimg.cc/5tzd8kCF/fdroid-basic01.jpg>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Dave Royal, 2024-08-06 09:22:

[...]

Magic Earth: "Get real-time traffic info, updated every minute"
How - even if you have mobile data? I know some countries (NL?)
have open data sources for traffic data.

Yes, of course they must query some kind of traffic service for the
current location and this needs mobile data enabled.

Are speed limits remotely up to date on OSM? In England they
change frequently.

I don't know - I do not drive with a car very ofen. Most of the time I
commute by bike and for that purpuse OamAnd is totally fine, especially
in combination with BRouter and custom profiles - complete fast offline navigation and much better routes than many online services.

I have OsmAnd (on an iPhone) for walking. For driving I use Google
Maps.

With Google Maps I already had some serious issues for car navigation
when you do not only take major roads and highways. OsmAnd was much
better for that.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 2024-08-06 09:02, Andrew wrote:

VanguardLH wrote on Tue, 6 Aug 2024 00:25:00 -0500 :

"Magic Earth uses OpenStreetMap data"
Well, you could just use the OsmAnd app.

The OP doesn't appear to be technical so this solution may be too much.

1. The problem with the Google Play Store is you need a login/passwd.

That's a problem only for people like you, not for normal people.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Carlos E.R. wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:40:17 +0200 :

1. The problem with the Google Play Store is you need a login/passwd.

That's a problem only for people like you, not for normal people.

Most people are incredibly stupid.

Therefore, that's a problem for YOU, as I get all the apps I want to get
off the Google Play Store repository WITHOUT creating a login on my phone.

People who put a login on their phone are fundamentally stupid because then they need to add all sorts of idiotic biometrics to PROTECT that login.

Rest assured, I'm not stupid.
If you are using the Google Play Store app, then it's you who is stupid.

But this isn't about you, so the fact you don't know how to get apps isn't
the issue - the issue is the OP said he had trouble getting the APK.

We need to know from the OP why he doesn't just use the Google Play Store client on his phone with the phone connected to his LAN over a Wi-Fi AP.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Arno Welzel wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 18:26:19 +0200 :

I have OsmAnd (on an iPhone) for walking. For driving I use Google
Maps.

With Google Maps I already had some serious issues for car navigation
when you do not only take major roads and highways. OsmAnd was much
better for that.

I do a lot of routing on foot, on backcountry & on the car where....

1. IMHO, Google Maps is the best, bar none, unfortunately, for roads.
2. OSMAnd~ is surprisingly good for walking about such as between buildings
at apartment complexes, or along park trails, or outside shopping malls.
3. But OSM maps suck like you can't believe for backcountry topography.

For backcountry topography in the USA, nothing beats the USGS topo PDFs.
These PDFs load perfectly into backcountry apps on Android for hiking.
<com.Avenza>
<ca.abbro.androidmap>
<com.mirfatif.mylocation>
<net.psyberia.offlinemaps>

In the USA, this free program has all the georeferenced park maps in it.
<com.trailheadlabs.outerspatial>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 7 Aug 2024 16:40:32 -0000 (UTC), Andrew <[email protected]> wrote:

While for road routing the online Google Maps can't be beat, since I do >backcountry hiking, I am very happy with offline topographical mapping.

I'm not disappointed but I use the free USGS geocalibrated PDF 7.5-degree >quadrangle maps, which work great in all the good offline map programs.

I'm just getting used to using a "smart" phone, and was quick to install a hiking-based map app, and chose GPS Tracker, but it seems to not use
offline maps as far as I can tell.

I'm extremely interested to know which app you use to work with USFS topo
maps. That sounds perfect.

--
croy

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

croy wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:51:06 -0700 :

I'm just getting used to using a "smart" phone, and was quick to install a hiking-based map app, and chose GPS Tracker, but it seems to not use
offline maps as far as I can tell.

I'm extremely interested to know which app you use to work with USFS topo maps. That sounds perfect.

There are fire service geoPDFs, but I think that was a typo on your part.

For USGS topo maps, mostly I use Avenza, which has a free limit of 3 maps
(you can combine them & swap them in & out so it's not a real limit).
<https://www.avenza.com/avenza-maps/>

Avenza is recommended by the USGS and it works on both mobile platforms:
<https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id388424049>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Avenza>

Given Avenza can swap out USGS geoPDFs, I don't need Paper Maps but it will handle any number of geoPDFs but rarely you need more than 3 quadrangles.
<https://www.paper-maps.com/>
PaperMaps works on both iOS and Android just like Avenza does.
<https://apps.apple.com/app/nextmap/id1147385120>
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.abbro.androidmap>

The USGS keeps changing their web site for how to download the free PDFs
so any instructions I provide will change - but they're easy enough to get. <https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topographic-maps>

You can go back to the 1800s to hike along old logging roads if any are in
your area, where I generally find the 1:24K 7.5-minute quadrangles best.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The Real Bev wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:54:27 -0700 :

1. IMHO, Google Maps is the best, bar none, unfortunately, for roads.

BUT... I wanted to put a certain route on my phone because I only cared
about the twists and turns at the far end. I was absolutely unable to
change the route from what IT wanted. I finally just wrote the turns on
a piece of paper. Old school, right? How can it NOT allow you to
choose your own route?

I've been using Google maps for routing to a destination and then finding something (like a Target store or whatever) in between the start & finish.

Supposedly you can do it with the web version, but it's like pushing
string and only a little more effective.

It's rare I'll say something good about Google but can't you use your
finger to "push" & "move" a section of a route on the Android Google maps?

2. OSMAnd~ is surprisingly good for walking about such as between buildings >> at apartment complexes, or along park trails, or outside shopping malls. >> 3. But OSM maps suck like you can't believe for backcountry topography.

And last time I used it several years ago it was more battery-hungry
than was tolerable.

What I found useful was that OSMAnd~ seemed shockingly useful for walking between buildings in areas such as parking lots and apartment complexes.

My battery on my 2021 Samsung Galaxy A32-5G is 5 amp hours so I never even
look at it so I can't say about that but I remember your thread on that.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The Real Bev wrote:

I wanted to put a certain route on my phone because I only cared about
the twists and turns at the far end.  I was absolutely unable to change
the route from what IT wanted.  I finally just wrote the turns on a
piece of paper.  Old school, right?  How can it NOT allow you to choose your own route?

Supposedly you can do it with the web version, but it's like pushing string

If you use the web version, you can plot a course from start to
destination, then "drag" midpoint(s) to make it go whichever way you want.

There is then a button to "send to phone", unfortunately all that does
is send the start and destination to the phone, which then calculates
the route from scratch, ignoring your alterations in the web version ...
grrr!

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The Real Bev wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 21:01:30 -0700 :

Supposedly you can do it with the web version, but it's like pushing
string and only a little more effective.

It's rare I'll say something good about Google but can't you use your
finger to "push" & "move" a section of a route on the Android Google maps?

No. And I was unable to find some sort of option/setting that would
permit such a thing. The movable dots on the web version are OK when
they work, but sometimes you just create knots and have to start all over.

Yeah. I see what you mean. I just tested it using the Android Maps app.
<https://i.postimg.cc/qv5RpC8n/map-change-route.jpg>

You can tap on any of the light-blue alternative routes and the Android
Google Maps app will switch the routing to that alternative route but you
can't push and shove the route to go the way you want using the Map app.

I tried using the shortcut to Google Maps on Ungoogled Chromium but that
too only allowed me to tap on an existing light-blue route to change it.
<https://i.postimg.cc/9MRq3Hzd/maplink-change-route.jpg>

You're right. I was wrong. I'm not sure why I thought it would work.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Andy Burns wrote on Mon, 12 Aug 2024 06:54:33 +0100 :

I wanted to put a certain route on my phone because I only cared about
the twists and turns at the far end.� I was absolutely unable to change
the route from what IT wanted.� I finally just wrote the turns on a
piece of paper.� Old school, right?� How can it NOT allow you to choose
your own route?

Supposedly you can do it with the web version, but it's like pushing string

If you use the web version, you can plot a course from start to
destination, then "drag" midpoint(s) to make it go whichever way you want.

There is then a button to "send to phone", unfortunately all that does
is send the start and destination to the phone, which then calculates
the route from scratch, ignoring your alterations in the web version ... grrr!

1. I set my GPS location to the north end of the golden gate bridge
2. I turned off "Precise Location" to hinder Wi-Fi geolocation
3. It wouldn't route without "Precise Location" so I pinned the start point
4. When it routed, I tried to push and drag the route on the Google Map

You're right. TheRealBev was right. I was wrong. Mostly I was wrong anyway.
You can't move the dark blue route around on the Android Google Maps app.
But you can tap on the light blue alternative route - and that will switch.
<https://i.postimg.cc/qv5RpC8n/map-change-route.jpg>

I also have a Google Maps shortcut to Ungoogled Chromium set to "Home",
which, if necessary, we might test to see if there's a way to change it
on the web Google Maps and then feed that to the Google Maps APK maybe?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 8/12/2024 7:52 AM, The Real Bev wrote:

Google gives us something nice and then cripples it.

I always liked Google for the speed trap and accident/road problems
ahead warnings. My theory was that likely more folks were using it and
thus more immediate and accurate warnings. I haven't traveled in recent
years so things may be different now...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, 12 Aug 2024 03:42:37 -0000 (UTC), Andrew <[email protected]> wrote:

croy wrote on Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:51:06 -0700 :

I'm just getting used to using a "smart" phone, and was quick to install a >> hiking-based map app, and chose GPS Tracker, but it seems to not use
offline maps as far as I can tell.

I'm extremely interested to know which app you use to work with USFS topo
maps. That sounds perfect.

There are fire service geoPDFs, but I think that was a typo on your part.

???

For USGS topo maps, mostly I use Avenza, which has a free limit of 3 maps >(you can combine them & swap them in & out so it's not a real limit).
<https://www.avenza.com/avenza-maps/>

Avenza is recommended by the USGS and it works on both mobile platforms:
<https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id388424049> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Avenza>

Given Avenza can swap out USGS geoPDFs, I don't need Paper Maps but it will >handle any number of geoPDFs but rarely you need more than 3 quadrangles.
<https://www.paper-maps.com/>
PaperMaps works on both iOS and Android just like Avenza does.
<https://apps.apple.com/app/nextmap/id1147385120> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.abbro.androidmap>

The USGS keeps changing their web site for how to download the free PDFs
so any instructions I provide will change - but they're easy enough to get. ><https://www.usgs.gov/programs/national-geospatial-program/topographic-maps>

You can go back to the 1800s to hike along old logging roads if any are in >your area, where I generally find the 1:24K 7.5-minute quadrangles best.

Thank you, Andrew!

--
croy

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)