Location direction from compass in normal map view

[kds112]

Since there is no map orientation by compass in the normal map view I have a wish for a new selection.
The direction indicator at the position marker shows the (last known) gps direction, right? Is it possible to show the (compass based) heading of my smartphone as well? Maybe a long tap on the compass to have such a selection?
As a hiker I normally switch off the smartphone for battery reasons (I don't want to carry a heavy powerbank with me). When I have to decide which direction to walk, I switch on the smartphone and I want to know where I am and which direction my phone is aligned on the north-directed map.
Thank you for considering this feature 🙂

[devemux86]

@kds112 thanks for the suggestion.

Do you mean the compass to rotate showing the north in normal map view?

[kds112]

Exactly 👍

[0709wiwiwi]

Provided regular calibration, away from magnets (bookcase closure) and mounted not too near to iron handlebars the compass can be indicative IF sufficiently filtered. See video shows a result by a phone mounted on the handlebar. GPS direction switches to compass at speed < xx kmh. Stationary, the map direction automatically follows the handlebar direction. MTB'ers sometimes use this. Since recalibration has been necessary all too often, I still hardly use that option.

[kds112]

But if you are hiking you don't have these problems with handlebars... 🙃 And I hope that Cruiser is not a biker-only app... 🏃

[0709wiwiwi]

I am by no means discouraging the use of the feature anyway ;-)
Pay attention to the pain points mentioned it functions fine.
Especially avoid these bookcases with magnetic closure !

[kds112]

I just use a plastic protection cover, therefore I am safe. 😇

[kds112]

Thanks a lot for the excellent updates b12 and b13, Cruiser works very well while hiking! 👍Any chance for implemetation of this small feature? I could test it during autumn hiking tours at the next weekends...

[devemux86]

@kds112 thanks for the kind words!

It is usually difficult to estimate time for new features.
But it's already in my list to check it. 🙂

[devemux86]

As the code already exists in Cruiser, it is not difficult to implement and test it in the next update.

We can have a new orientation menu when long press compass in normal map view with options:

• GPS (default)
  It works like now, the location arrow's direction is the GPS location's heading.
• Compass
  The location arrow rotates in the direction of the compass based heading of the device.
  (also using the orientation of the device: vertical, horizontal, normal / reverse)

For the compass function you must activate the "Settings | Map | Compass sensor".

---

This can be combined nicely with:

• Compass shows true north #628

[devemux86]

@bios4

The code already in Cruiser is to use the compass sensor for directional purposes.
Compass "accuracy" (if it actually exists) is something else.

[WolfgangZ42]

explanation for your thumbs down would be nice

(Thumbs down should be explained? Thumbs up aren't explained either. 🤔)
I just don't like additional colours - and I would feel overinformed.
If the compass accuracy is relevant, there are lot of special apps for that - it doesn't count to the core business of a navigation app. My opinion ...

[kds112]

Well, when I am hiking with my navigation app, compass and GPS accuracy are important information and are core business of my navigation app. Please, Cruiser is not designed for motorbikers only. At least I hope so...

[WolfgangZ42]

Certainly compass and GPS are important for navigation - but not their accuracy, and that's what I mean.
I've guided a lot of hikes with Komoot, few with Outdooractive, none of these apps shows any accuracy.

@kds112 ... Cruiser works very well while hiking! 👍

That's true! I did already two of my last tours via Cruiser - sucessfully.

[kds112]

Let's wait for the next beta version... Then Emux can decide to integrate more compass information or not... 🧭

[umpfmpf]

I ask myself whether the Qi charger or the electrics on the motorcycle could possibly disrupt the compass?!

[devemux86]

@umpfmpf

You can already test this with a dedicated GPS / compass app like the GPS Status.

[devemux86]

Location direction from compass in normal map view is available in the latest:

• Cruiser 5.0.0 (Beta) #610

Activate with "Settings | Map | Compass sensor" and long press compass.
For more instructions please see above.

[kds112]

It seems to work great!! I will test it next weekends hiking around... 🥾

[kds112]

I come back to compass accuracy because it might be a useful Information for the user. I found the following link:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/53418627/android-sensor-how-to-get-the-accuracy-at-anytime
Might this be useful for you? If the compass is activated in the settings, a yellow/red exclamation mark (or something else) could be displayed Inside the compass in order to indicate poor compass accuracy. The calibration itself could be done in an external app (like GPS Info), but I don't want switch all the time to GPS Info just to know that the compass accuracy is good or not...
Might this be an useful addition to the compass feature?

[devemux86]

Thanks, let's first see how it works with current implementation
and if we really need something else to not complicate the interface.

[devemux86]

• Location direction from compass in normal map view is available in Cruiser 5.0.4 #641

Activate with "Settings | Map | Compass sensor" and long press compass.
For more instructions please see above.

[kds112]

This new compass function works very well 👍My compass signal is still quite jittery and needs stronger filtering. Is it possible to get this option as a selection or a permanent implemetation if other smartphones have the same effect? 🧭

[kds112]

Well, for me it is a big improvement 👍The compass is now very smooth.

[Ciutnik]

It's hard to say what's causing it. The video I posted is from Samsung. But it looks exactly the same on Pixel 1. Or is it external interference? I'm in the middle of the city...
At the same time, I confirm the observation of @0709wiwiwi - I don't see such an effect in Locus.

[Ciutnik]

OK, I watched my video again, and I have to admit it's better now! Although the compass still shakes, it's not as noticeable. I apologize to @devemux86 for misleading you.

[devemux86]

@Ciutnik Is it possible to post a similar video on same device with the new version to compare them?

[Ciutnik]

oh, I posted the answer in the wrong place: #625 (comment)

[Ciutnik]

Of course. I'm posting a video from 10 minutes ago. Same device, same place, 5.0.1-b1:

Cruiser_compass-2.mp4

[devemux86]

Please try with 5.0.1-b2 which has more filtering and refresh every 1 sec.

[Ciutnik]

Yes, now (b2) the compass is calm 🙂👍
I don't know if refreshing every second isn't too infrequent for a walker? Maybe half a second would be smoother? I don't think it matters in any vehicle.

[kds112]

B1 was definitly better. The refresh rate 1 sec is too slow. At least twice per second is necessary. B2 compass is too jerky right now.

[Ciutnik]

I agree with the above opinion @kds112

[devemux86]

Please try with 5.0.1-b3, it has the same increased filtering as b2, but the refresh is 2 times per sec.

[kds112]

I think, B1 was still better than B3. Is it possible to have the stronger filtering without restriction of the refresh rate?

[devemux86]

Is it possible to have the stronger filtering without restriction of the refresh rate?

It is possible, we have to make tests until we find a nice middle solution.

[devemux86]

Please try with 5.0.1-b4, the refresh is every 200 ms.

[kds112]

It looks like a good compromise👍

[Ciutnik]

It's more than good. The compass is like set in concrete 🙂
I wonder if 200 ms filtering is even necessary?

[devemux86]

We can try more frequent refresh for smoother movement.

[Ciutnik]

@devemux86 Does the refresh rate affect the battery or overall performance? Because if so, then in my opinion there is no need to increase the rate.

[devemux86]

Does the refresh rate affect the battery or overall performance?

Not really.

Note that the GPS location with all its properties, such as heading, speed, etc., is updated at best every second.

That's why navigators cannot refresh faster than one time per second.
Only animations can help with worse battery and then the animated location on screen is not the real location.

[devemux86]

Please try 5.0.1-b5.

[kds112]

Perfect compass movement 🎉🏁

[Ciutnik]

I confirm! It's perfect. The compass doesn't shake and turns very smoothly. Thanks! 👍
Instead of a video, I could upload a photo - it would be the same 🙂

[Ciutnik]

I don't think it's bad, but I hadn't really thought about it before. While you cannot actually see the movement of the compass arrow, you can see the movement in the map view (it's just an obvious matter of size).

But I really don't think it's a problem, I just want to inform you about this behavior:

Screen_Recording_20241017_115132_Cruiser.mp4

[kds112]

Just for curiosity reasons as asked earlier in this discussion: the compass accuracy... 😇 Might it possible to catch the Android Information? And in case of bad accuracy displaying a yellow or red spot Inside the compass icon?

[devemux86]

Compass will not be easily readable if we add many colors and info in it, except the mandatory north direction.
We will see, need to think about it.

[kds112]

Maybe a panel like the gps Info? 🙂

Then it could be disabled by someone who does not use the compass functionality.

[devemux86]

A panel option for such info is indeed a better solution.

[devemux86]

you can see the movement in the map view

Please try 5.0.1-b6.

[devemux86]

We mean follow mode enabled and then select "Compass direction" as "Map orientation" (long press compass).

[kds112]

Yes I know... Latest beta:

Record_2024-10-17-16-17-40.2.mp4

[devemux86]

@Ciutnik @kds112

At first I thought the report was that the compass was fixed but the map was moving.
Checking the videos again carefully, the compass is also moving, so all should be fine.

Or is there anything else we need to improve?
The map follows the compass movement, so is the compass now smooth and ok?

[kds112]

Yes, everything looks convincing👍

[kds112]

My last wish is the accuracy... 😁 Next week I will hike in South Tyrol and Cruiser can show its power 💪

[devemux86]

Cruiser 5.0.1-b7 is available with compass internal improvements (no functionality change).

[Ciutnik]

Well, I guess there's no difference from the b6. While the compass seems to be stationary (I know, it just looks that way), the map rotates a bit in follow mode.

[devemux86]

If we maximize the video and look the compass, it also moves with the map.

Is the device stable on a surface?
Because then the compass / map should not be moved?
Isn't this supposed to be fixed with these betas?

[Ciutnik]

Is the device stable on a surface?

Yes, of course, it lies flat on a wooden table, away from anything metal or electrical.

As a curiosity: I once walked across a large bridge in the city with a tourist GPS (Garmin Etrex) in my hand. About halfway along the bridge, a several dozen meters above the river, there was a place - a section of a few meters - where the three-axis compass went completely crazy! The readings turned 180°! I think something beneath the surface was causing a very strong electric field.
Maybe my close neighbors have something like that? 😃

[kds112]

Map rotation is smooth enough. The current map moves are okay, the cheap compass units inside the smartphones won't deliver better results... 🧭

[devemux86]

More filtering improvements are included in Cruiser 5.0.1-b8:

• Cruiser 5.0.4 #641 (comment)

[kds112]

Still looking good! 👍

[devemux86]

• Compass sensor filtering was improved in Cruiser 5.0.4 #641