Author Topic: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging  (Read 23767 times)

jimbob

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #30 on: 12:23:22, 21/02/21 »
Welcome to the forum Wardie.
I am rapidly becoming either a technophobe since retirement or just another old dog who no longer wants to learn new tricks .

As ardent admirer and user of VR, I was initially dissapointed in the OA appearance. However I can continue using VR as I do now and for the foreseeable future. So no problems there. I still have access to everything I purchased and my annual subscription to VR, much the same price as OS, has given me the added "benefits" of O A. I will miss buying routes from VR of course but I never bought that many and I can still download purchased routes as external GPX files anyway, so no loss there, providing I can find them.I have been having a good look at OA and find that their TOPO maps are way superior to the IGN maps I bought for Spain and France. Much easier on the colourblind eye and just clearer, for reasons a previous person explained in this thread.
I have used it to plot a mythical route for fun, just to learn how to do so, and if I can, then most can. I have not yet used it to track an actual walk whilst out there or to follow a route.

In short it doesn't seem bad and as I explore, slowly, it may have some gems that VR misses. My hope is that OA just start using the VR plotting and route guidance. Then I won't have to learn anything much.

The absolute fact is that I will use VR when out and about because I  I trust it. Also OA have taken on the VR  team, and that team have an outstanding reputation for first class customer service, ask them anything and they respond in double fast time.
As with everything its horses for courses. I like my Nissan my sister loves her Citroën, but they both do the same job of getting us from A to B which, I believe VR, OA, OS, Garmin and others do. You goes for what you likes.
Too little, too late, too bad......

Kev06

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #31 on: 13:24:04, 21/02/21 »
Useful to hear all this, thanks everyone for the info.

If they decide to keep ViewRanger in active development that would be great, but if it is simply to be maintained 'as is' for now, then it would seem inevitable to become unsupported before long - if not directly, then by incompatibility with newer versions of android and devices. :(

Percy

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #32 on: 14:41:09, 21/02/21 »
I'm testing OA on local walks where I don't need any navigational help. Did 12 miles today and it all went well, the recorded track is spot on. When I'm able to get out on the hills properly I will do some trials with both OA and VR running, battery permitting.

watershed

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #33 on: 13:07:59, 23/02/21 »
Looks like ultimately I will have to take the yearly Subscription.
I have had Viewranger since 2017. I bought the Scottish maps, with a one off payment and they have served me well.
Yesterday I added the free link to outdoor active as that is the only way to sign up for their challenges. (they have moved the Viewranger ones over to Outdoor access)
If you take the free link you will find that you are inundated with adverts.
They say that for a small protection racket fee they will stop the averts.
Or if you take the yearly subscription £2 dearer than Viewranger, you will have maps for the whole of the UK and various other frills, I personally don't require. And I hope no adverts.
I attach a piece on it by Chris Townsend


What's happening to ViewRanger? | The Great Outdoors (tgomagazine.co.uk)

jimbob

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #34 on: 13:43:13, 23/02/21 »
Thanks for this Watershed.

The primer linked at the end if that article is a valyabke document for technophobe like me.

Again this is so useful, thanks.
Too little, too late, too bad......

Kev06

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #35 on: 11:16:45, 24/02/21 »
For me, viewing downloaded OS maps/tiles offline is the most basic requirement of such an app (given the UK's poor rural network coverage), and about the only one I'd really have of it.

On ViewRanger that is simply done for the price of the maps or tiles, which can be bought as and when actually wanted. But am I right in thinking on outdooractive offline viewing is prevented unless one pays 30euros for the privilege - every year?

Percy

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #36 on: 12:37:04, 24/02/21 »
For me, viewing downloaded OS maps/tiles offline is the most basic requirement of such an app (given the UK's poor rural network coverage), and about the only one I'd really have of it.

On ViewRanger that is simply done for the price of the maps or tiles, which can be bought as and when actually wanted. But am I right in thinking on outdooractive offline viewing is prevented unless one pays 30euros for the privilege - every year?
It does appear that the only way to access os maps is via a subscription - both online and offline - can’t see an option to buy a specific area.

Kev06

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #37 on: 08:30:40, 25/02/21 »
Oh yes, well spotted. Well, at least that makes the decision easier.

Probably if I were constantly travelling to new places and wanting all the virtual/online/social aspects they seem to be pushing, then it may be a fair deal (assuming the price doesn't get raised later, anyway).  But in reality I don't, and the subscription model would be many times more expensive than my annual tile purchases for viewranger.  :(

Percy

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #38 on: 11:32:37, 25/02/21 »
It’s the business model most software companies are moving to. Why sell someone something once when you can sell it to them every year? It’s called SaaS - software as a service.


I was already paying ViewRanger an annual subscription so I’m not too bothered at the moment but if I wasn’t I’d be less happy. At least purchased maps are still available in ViewRanger.


What’s the os app like for purchasing v subscription?

GoneWest

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #39 on: 11:55:46, 25/02/21 »
What’s the os app like for purchasing v subscription?
Using the OS Maps App, you can download your purchased paper maps (while online) by entering the scratch code for each one. You can then view them offline. If you have a subscription, you can view the whole country at 1:50000 and 1:25000, and can cache the bits you need (while you have an internet connection), then use the cached areas offline.

To make full use of OS Maps in a browser (e.g. on a PC), you really need a subscription and you cannot view anything offline, AFIK. Annoyingly, you cannot view your purchased paper maps in a browser!


These are the only features I use; I know nothing (yet) about how the OS software deals with routes and such.

Kev06

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #40 on: 12:53:57, 25/02/21 »
Thanks for that, it is possible that the scratch code system might be my best option now. The occurrence with ViewRanger has shown purchasing electronic maps to be vulnerable, but presumably if anyone is likely to maintain support for OS maps then it will be OS themselves, plus of course there would always be the paper copy if not.

I have come to like GPS on the phone (less faffing with compasses and reading glasses or large sheets of paper trying to become airborne in the wind!). But something less detailed would do for that provided there was still a decent OS map to at least refer to if/when needed.

Though I'm perhaps also more likely to consider a subscription with OS; their priority and service seems more centred on their maps which is the part I actually want. Probably worth working out how many maps I'd otherwise buy and how often they would need updating/replacing vs paying for a sub.

Mel

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #41 on: 20:33:39, 25/02/21 »
... I'm frantically downloading my maps to max out the memory ...


Stick a memory card in and save them to there.  That's what I've done.  No problems with maxing out the phone's memory and no need to worry about being able to save a cache for offline use.  Just remember to point the VR app to the maps' new location!


PS. the reason I'm replying about this now after so long is because my old phone has just suffered Terminal Deadness and I've had to get a new one.  My other dedicated GPS phone (no SIM) has an SD card in with all my purchased map tiles and bundles saved to there and I've just replicated that setup on my new phone.  Tried it out today and everything works fine.


I don't pay an annual VR subscription I just downloaded the free app and purchased the map tile/bundles I needed.  Yes, I've probably spent about £70 on those but that's been over the course of 8 years so at less than a tenner a year, VR and OA can poke their subscriptions  ;D


I anticipate being able to continue using this current set up until Terminal Deadness affects these phones.  I also anticipate still being able to use these purchased maps even if my VR account is migrated to OA. 


OA have bought out VR and they're gonna lose a hell of a lot of customers and their reputation will go down the pan if they don't honour existing VR customer migration setups. 


If it turns out I'm wrong please feel free to remind me I said that and I'll spend a happy evening wiping egg off my face  :D




Percy

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #42 on: 22:36:44, 25/02/21 »
Did anyone actually read the small print when they bought maps through VR? Me neither. I imagine they were quite careful not to promise access in perpetuity.

JohnML

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #43 on: 00:02:25, 26/02/21 »

Stick a memory card in and save them to there.  That's what I've done.  No problems with maxing out the phone's memory and no need to worry about being able to save a cache for offline use.  Just remember to point the VR app to the maps' new location!



Unfortunately I use an iPhone... and they don't take sd cards :-\

JohnML

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Re: ViewRanger/OutdoorActive Merging
« Reply #44 on: 00:14:54, 26/02/21 »
Did anyone actually read the small print when they bought maps through VR? Me neither. I imagine they were quite careful not to promise access in perpetuity.


That's a fair point, Percy... I joined them soon after they started when they were a very eager new-kid-on-the-block with a simple but VERY effective GPS app - and they were one of only 3 firms that carried the specialist walking maps (tour and trail) that I used (and still do) a lot in Spain and the Canaries that I had previously had only in paper form. I still can't get them anywhere else.


I think I was probably naive investing in the OS maps without reading the small (minute?) print carefully... it was before they even THOUGHT about a subscription model and I was spending £££s downloading grid squares as I needed them, so it seemed a good idea at the time.


I guess the writing was on the wall when they expanded into the bloatware of "Skyline" and "buddy beacons"... while they still provided good customer service if I had a problem, the app was slower, and I found became less accurate (over-estimating distance travelled) over the last year or so. Good business for the team to make a buck or two on selling out... and good luck to them, but not so good for their older  customers (in both senses!) who signed up for a different product... I live and learn #wontgetfooledagain

 

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