Offline Maps and Routing in Suunto App

[Stefano M64]

OK! I found the culprit, in order to have the offline routing the user must switch to one of the three offline map styles

[Stefano M64]

it would be way better if in case of missing data connection the offline routing is automatically selected

[pavel.samokha]

@Stefano-M64 we decided that it’s better to have explicit control for various reasons. A few of them:

1. Online and offline data are different, it’s not good to mix neither the style nor navigation with different type of data.
2. If connection available or not is tricky to detect. Connection can be intermittent, or available but super slow. It’s more reliable to control it explicitly. In my personal experience it’s super frustrating when app switches online/offline unpredictably.
3. Even while having a data connection I might want to use offline map and routing. For example if I’m abroad in expensive roaming network, while I downloaded offline maps in advance
4. Offline and online routing engines are different. We tried to align them feature-wise, but they can produce different results. You may prefer one or another.

[sky-runner]

@pavel.samokha This is great! Now we need the low limit for the number of routes on the watch to be lifted so that we can always start navigation on the watch from the app.

This is especially important considering that routes tend to somehow reappear on the watch after they have been removed on the app. Perhaps that is a result of syncing multiple watches.

[sky-runner]

@pavel.samokha I’ve downloaded some offline maps and looked at them. The rendering seems to closely resemble what we see on the watch.

My main critique of all 3 map themes that are available offline is the same critique that I had about the offline watch maps - trails in forested areas are rendered using low contrast color combinations - dark green on light green for light maps, light green on dark green for dark maps, and very light almost invisible grey on white for winter maps. I understand that winter maps are intended for winter sports, so perhaps hiding trails was intentional, but consider backcountry skiing on snowshoeing where activities often follow summer trails.

I’m comparison, online winter maps offer the best contrast and legibility of all map styles!

[pavel.samokha]

@sky-runner styles are indeed based on watch ones and suboptimal. We’ll need to improve them, feedback is welcome

[Egika]

@sky-runner said in Offline Maps and Routing in Suunto App:

@pavel.samokha This is great! Now we need the low limit for the number of routes on the watch to be lifted so that we can always start navigation on the watch from the app.

This is especially important considering that routes tend to somehow reappear on the watch after they have been removed on the app. Perhaps that is a result of syncing multiple watches.

I also don’t understand the limit, but for me it is not really an issue. You can always switch off and on the routes on the watch.

[Stefano M64]

@pavel.samokha said in Offline Maps and Routing in Suunto App:

@Stefano-M64 we decided that it’s better to have explicit control for various reasons. A few of them:

I understand, nevertheless I believe that at least a warning would be useful: “no data connection available, please switch to offline map/routing”. The fact that to use the offline routing the offline map must be selected isn’t clearly stated, I guess that many users could be confused by that.

In any case, this feature is really great, a must have for outdoor adventures, many thanks!

[maszop]

@Egika Before that, you have to upload/remove them to the watch, and this is a big problem sometimes when using two watches/applications.

[pavel.samokha]

@Stefano-M64 said in Offline Maps and Routing in Suunto App:

I understand, nevertheless I believe that at least a warning would be useful: “no data connection available, please switch to offline map/routing”. The fact that to use the offline routing the offline map must be selected isn’t clearly stated, I guess that many users could be confused by that.

Thanks. Yeah, I agree that it can be confusing at first and we may need to suggest switching to offline mode

[Egika]

@maszop said in Offline Maps and Routing in Suunto App:

@Egika Before that, you have to upload/remove them to the watch, and this is a big problem sometimes when using two watches/applications.

today yes. tomorrow no

[Stoke80]

@Egika

So I have to charge my watch tonight…

[suzzlo]

Edge Case: No offline maps if no device is linked

Makes sense? probably. Just mentioning

[Egika]

@Stoke80 better not take this literally

[Stoke80]

@Egika

[Gunnar]

@Stoke80 right before the Easter public holidays would not be the greatest idea…

[isazi]

@Gunnar let’s be honest, when the app gets updates, new features in the backend/app are released, a firmware update cannot be that far in the future…

[safari]

An app update has just arrived. The Maps section now says “Update available.” “Download to watch time” and “Offline download” options have also appeared.

[JebClydeNC]

@Nelson-Diogo I was hoping for this—if its paired with processing activities into file exports offline as well (posted about that a few weeks ago), every Suunto watch compatible with the app turns into a backcountry powerhouse

[Stefano M64]

Another nice improvement would be to add a low resolution map of the whole country, so that it would be easier to move across the downloaded regional offline maps. For now only a portion of the country is shown around the downloaded offline regional map