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Zoom in/zoom out alternative methods

elmuSSo shared this idea 11 years ago
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I feel there is a need to introduce a new button-less method od zomming in/out in Locus. Buttons are too small to hit them on the bike, so I have a few ideas:


1. Punching/hitting the phone in the left/right side. I discribed it here: https://getsatisfaction.com/locus/top...


2. Introduce a Intent-receivers for the zoom in/out functions. Intents will make a possibility to write your own script (eg. in Tasker) to execute zoom in/out functionality. Then It will be possible to implement the zooming method on your own. This doesnt need to change GUI so this one should be painless.


3. Introducing division of the screen into a few invisible areas, which will react as a big invisible buttons in some special circumstances (eg. after activating special mode). I imagine it like this:


but they will be totally invisible, but fully clickable. Im aware there are some collisions with clicking on the points beneath the invisible buttons. It can be solved in three ways:


A. Clicking on the points will be disabled if some kind of "special invisible buttons mode" will be enabled


B. Long-clicking on the point will act as clicking on the point


C. Clicks on the point will get through the invisible buttons


And "special invisible buttons mode" will be neccessary. It can be implemented as a new Function and added to the Quick switch menu.

Replies (12)

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I can understand your ideas. When one is in movement (biking/running/fast walking ...), it is often rather complicated to tap the exact tiny little spot of a button. However, the way of solution presented above seems to me too radical and against the way it is done now.


I am having these ideas:


1) One can move the map by dragging and/or can zoom the map by pinching already. Unfortunately, there isn`t currently (is there ?) any simple "touch event" to make Locus revert back to the current GPS position (i.e. an equivalent of tapping the left-bottom key). Could one be added ? (e.g. a tap on the crosshair)


2) Isn`t there already a way (custom screen, quick switch, ...) to achieve the behaviour similar to what you have described above ? (e.g. large user-defined semitransparent keys above the map or ...)

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As I think about it, I think that there is already too much zoom systems isn`t it? I was just on small bike trip and had no problem with controlling Locus. During a ride, you usually just need to check if to turn here left or not. If you need some more info, it`s still necessary to stop and handle phone when not riding! So I understand to you and joeloc about concern in "tiny" buttons etc. but I more and more think, that some complex handling (even zooming) during a ride is really not a good idea.

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Hi Celda


1) no there isn`t but you can enable "Hold center method" in map settings. Quite useful


2) yes it`s possible by custom screens. But we all know that creating screens is quite complex task ... have to do something with it soon (or at least create few useful screens)

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ad 1)


I have just tried "Hold center method" but find it pretty annoying, sorry. :-0 :-( But it may be due to my - specific - way of using Locus. :-) Give you an example: I drag the map away from the GPS position to explore geocaches (wpts) in the surroundings, then open a cache and look at its listing. The map position is gone ín the meantime ...


A simple touch-event to revert to GPS position would be much better. I use Locus cofiguration with disappearing side panels to see maximal map size. I can zoom in or out by pinching, I can move the map by dragging but have to use a triple-click in the left bottom corner to revert to position. But I can live with that - Locus is perfect anyway !

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I like the idea of introducing intent-receivers (is that the proper android term?) for every action (zoom in/out, jump to gps position, next map, previous map, etc). Your "powerusers" could simply play with Tasker or some other automation app to customize their UI without bothering you any more :).


One could eg introduce voice commands and thus control Locus without even letting go of the handle bar.

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tasker is not directly an idea here on GS, anyway I think about it for some time and will surely work on it ...

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This is a bit of an unfortunate way to configure auto zoom. With a different approach in settings, that feature could be made useful on bikes or planes or other things as well. How about just three items:


Zoom when stopped: 18


Zoom at maximum speed: 10


Maximum speed: 40 km/h


Anything inbetween can be calculated by Locus automatically.

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googlemaps recently introduced a new method for zooming the map: double tap but HOLD the second tap (ie dont release finger). now you can zoom in/out by simply moving your finger up and down.


i think that works really great and does away with the need of buttons or using more than one finger. locus should copy this behaviour.

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Google Maps also uses 3D mode when pulling 2 fingers down ;)

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i wouldnt mind a working 3d mode in locus :)

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Earlier in my life when I used to paraglide I used an app for my PDA that used presses on the lower or upper part of the screen for zooming in and out. I think it worked just fine.


I don`t know how this stuf is programmed, but if it is possible to have these tap functions on the bottom layer of the UI all other functions would be accessible. I hide the menus automatically, so for me a double tap on top or bottom would be best.

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sounds good also for a bike. but it must be some additional "mode" turned on at that time. maybe it would turn itself on after some time automatically.

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