Re: Magic Earth app

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:

VanguardLH, 2024-08-07 14:53:
 

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> 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.