Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
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Avenza Maps Virtual Training: October 17, 2024
Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
Avenza Maps Virtual Training: November 21-22, 2024
Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
Avenza Maps Virtual Training: December 18-19, 2024
Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
Avenza Maps Virtual Training: February 5-6, 2025
Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
Avenza Maps Virtual Training: March 5-6, 2025
Whether you’re new to Avenza Maps®, an experienced user, or simply thinking about a purchase, Avenza Maps training is a worthwhile experience. Get hands-on training from Avenza product specialists at one of our training courses online virtually from anywhere.
Paper Maps and Digital Maps Go Together Like…
It’s no secret that we believe digital is the future of maps because of the many advantages that digital maps and mobile map readers offer. But we also recognize that there is still and always will be demand for paper maps. They go together like peanut butter and jelly, pizza and beer or fish and chips. In today’s digital marketplace, the trick will be for map publishers find ways to serve up these tasty combinations to map consumers in a commercially viable way.
While this seems trivial, in fact, there are challenges for publishers to efficiently provide maps in both paper and digital formats. For most established map publishers, the paper distribution channel is well characterized. With the right relationships, publishers can get their maps onto the market through websites, brick-and-mortar retail stores, at events and through other business partnerships. On the other hand, selling digital maps requires an e-commerce platform capable of handling digital products and an application on which to view and use the maps effectively.
To address the challenge, we have partnered with print on demand and publisher MapSherpa.
While our vision is to have all of your maps on your phone or tablet, theirs is to have maps in your pocket, or on your wall. Together we can make both of those scenarios a reality.
Our joint pilot project will allow map consumers to easily get maps in both digital and printed formats. Now, when view selected maps in the Avenza Map Store you’ll have the option to also purchase a paper copy in a variety of sizes, and printed on a variety of different materials from MapSherpa’s map store, MapTrove. Find one of the selected maps on the MapSherpa site, in paper format, and choose to purchase the digital version for use on your mobile device from the Avenza Map Store.
We see this as a model for the future of map publishing and distribution, and a winning solution for publishers and consumers alike.
You can find NOAA Charts and National Geographic maps in the Avenza Map Store, available to download and print.
New Release – Avenza Maps 3.6
Avenza Maps v3.6 is now available for iOS and Android devices! This latest update includes new features and improvements based on user feedback.
A major theme for this release is navigation, as it introduces a suite of features in the new navigation tool set accessible in the new Map View toolbar. We have enhanced the app’s usability by adding the GPS and Tracking features to the new toolbar. The toolbar is easily accessible by swiping up in the Map View to reveal three options; GPS, Tracking and Navigation.
GPS
We’ve added some basic GPS location data to the toolbar including altitude information (frequently requested by users!) as well as bearing and accuracy information. Heading in a specific direction? Your course will change based on your average bearing to help keep you orientated!
Tracking
What was previously the Record GPS Tracks feature has found a new home as the Tracking feature on the Map View toolbar (but it can still be accessed through the Map Tools in the bottom right). This tab includes some of the features from the GPS tab, and also allows you to track distance travelled, average speed and the duration of your tracks. Once you start tracking, swipe the toolbar down to reveal more of your map but keep those valuable tracking statistics viewable at the bottom of the screen.
Navigation within the app is intended to be a direct route to the destination (point-to-point). Navigation can be accessed in the new Map View toolbar but is also quickly available in the Map Tools (three dots) at the bottom-right of the screen.
Project Destination
Do you know the direction and distance to a particular location? Set the bearing and distance to your destination, and the app will place a placemark on the map as a guide. You can choose the bearing by either pointing your device in a direction (the heading will automatically be entered) or lock the compass and type in your own bearing. Select from different units of measurement for your distance like meters, yards, or even minutes by walking!
Navigate to Placemark
There are a few ways to navigate to an existing placemark on the map. Of course, you can select Navigate to a placemark in the navigation tab or you can elect to edit one of your previously placed placemarks on the map by tapping the Navigation button.
Enter Destination Coordinates
Know the specific coordinates of a destination you want to navigate to? We’ve got you covered! If you receive a set of coordinates you want to navigate to, use the Enter destination coordinates option which will place a placemark on the map, create a path between your location and the placemark as a guide, and bring up the navigation features to help lead you to your coordinates.
Once a navigation option is chosen, details such as speed, distance, and estimated time of arrival are shown in the navigation panel and can be accessed for the duration of your course by swiping the toolbar down. This will hide the compass, thereby allowing you to have a full view of the map and the course to your destination while still showing key statistics like speed, distance and the estimated time of arrival to your destination.
Cloud Import and Export Options
We’ve added more opitons for importing and exporting map features with support for cloud storage apps. When importing map features, and choose From Storage Locations to pull up every possible file storage option on your device. New options include Google Drive, OneDrive, Box and other third-party cloud storage applications.
Magnetic North
You can now choose the declination for the app’s built-in compass as it now supports magnetic declination and magnetic north. Users can opt to switch to magnetic north in the Map View settings in the app.
About the Author
Andrea Becker is a member of the Support team at Avenza Systems and is excited to help navigate users through all of the wonderful new features in version 3.6!
Avenza Maps 3.5 Released
We’re excited to announce that we’ve completed the release of Avenza Maps 3.5 for iOS and Android. This update contains new features and performance improvements as well as fixes for reported issues. Some highlights are mentioned below, for the full release notes see below.
Plus subscription. We’ve renamed the Unlock Map Imports subscription tier to Plus. The simply named Plus subscription tier will better align with more features that we’ll be introducing in the near future. This subscription still allows you to import as many of your own maps as you want—ideal for map and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoying sourcing and loading their own or third-party maps.
Active and inactive maps. In this release we’re introducing the ability to make imported maps (not including those downloaded from the Map Store) inactive. In previous releases, the standard version (without a paid subscription) allowed you to only import up to three of your own maps into the app and were limited from importing any more. However, now you’ll be able to import as many of your own maps as you’d like. The first three imported maps will be considered ‘active’ and available to use with all of the app’s functionality. Subsequent imported maps will be considered ‘inactive’. Inactive maps can still be opened and viewed, but without GPS location and map tools enabled. You will have the ability to delete active maps that you no longer use and then activate new ones to stay within the three active map limit. Maps downloaded from the Map Store (versus imported from an external source) are always location-enabled and are never limited. To import an unlimited number of your own maps with full location-enabled features and functionality, Plus and Pro subscriptions are available.
Sort and filter your maps. This release provides some handy sort and filter options on the My Maps screen. You’ll have the ability to sort by distance (how far away a map is from your current location), by name, by date, and by how much storage the map takes (measured in MB). In addition, you’ll now be able to filter maps to show only those from the Map Store, maps that you imported, folders and collections, active or inactive maps, just maps (no folders), or all items.
Map Store Login and My Account improvements. The user interface around logging and viewing your Avenza Maps account details has been vastly improved. You now have the ability to change your password, change your email, and view your download history. The Download History screen has new functionality as well. Previously you were only able to download one map at a time. Now you’ll be able to select multiple maps at a time and download in bulk. In addition, you’ll also be able to access map descriptions without having to go to the Map Store to look it up.
Layers now available on Avenza Maps for Android. Rejoice Android users, layers are finally here! Having the same functionality as the iOS version, map features (placemarks, lines, tracks, areas, photos, and schema) are now contained on layers. Map features can be managed here, including adding, deleting, and editing map feature information. In addition, the layers can be linked (and unlinked) to maps, so that map data can continue to be used even if a map is no longer on the device. Similarly, if that map is installed again, you’ll be able to link that layer to the map again. You’ll also be able to export layers data directly from the Layers screen without having to go into each map.
Better quality Map Store previews. All of the map listing previews in the Map Store have been updated and now have higher resolution of busy sections of the map to provide better detail of features, lines, labels, and colours.
Release Notes
- User experience improvements, including sorting and filter options on the My Maps screen
- Newly designed Map Store Login and My Account screens
- Re-discover, select and re-download previously purchased Map Store maps using new options available on the Downloads History screen
- Export Layers data directly from the Layers screen
- Link a layer to any available maps or unlink from all maps from the Edit Layer screen
- Better quality map previews in Map Store
- More granular control of map features’ visibility
- Manage, import or export your data independently of maps using the new Layers tab on Android
- Brand new bottom navigation bar on Android
You can get Avenza Maps now from the App Store and Google Play.
Paper Maps and Digital Maps, Friends Forever
As a company that makes software to create digital maps, that has a mission to create the largest repository of digital maps in the world, and has built a mobile app to consume them, we believe firmly that digital maps are the way of the future. Like it or not, digital maps will eventually (if not already) reduce the need for traditional paper maps. It’s a debate that many people are as passionate about as they are about the digitization of books and music.
Take Dave McIlhagga, Founder and CEO of MapSherpa, a company which has spent years at the forefront of developing new ways for map publishers to deliver maps and for people to consume them. MapSherpa offers on-demand printing of maps so you’d think he would be on the side of the paper maps. “In fact, I see digital maps as more of a way to promote maps and map use rather than a replacement for paper,” says Dave.
A pioneer in the digital mapping space (read an interview with Dave on our Facebook page), Dave sees paper versus digital not as a competition for supremacy but as viable options that complement each other. “Digital maps offer new ways of interaction and help us visualize the world differently by viewing data in ways that may not have been feasible in the past. However, paper maps are simple, informative, and accessible by everyone. They aren’t being replaced. Offering both are important and will ultimately drive demand for map publishers.”
When we look at recent history, streaming services like Spotify and iTunes all but replaced physical forms of music, and Netflix and similar video streaming services are doing the same to DVD sales, not to mention delivering the knockout punch to companies like Blockbuster. However, while streaming is the heavy favourite of Netflix users, they still have subscribers hanging onto its DVD service. Isn’t the same scenario playing out here for maps? Let’s look at some pros and cons.
Distinct Advantages of Digital Maps
- More accessible (download from anywhere, instantly)
- Easily edited, augmented, personalized, and updated
- More useful – more map data in one package, multiple layers
- Flexibility to zoom in and out change perspectives with a digital map (replacing the need for multiple paper maps)
- Navigation and routing capabilities
Paper Maps Will Never Die
- Digital maps are the future, but paper will be around forever
- Publisher and retailers still have a strong demand for paper map sales
- Maps for recreation
- Maps for visualization on a large scale
- Maps as paper art
Neither Format is Perfect
- Paper maps can become outdated quickly, are more costly to update
- Paper maps can wear out, tear, and become unusable
- Digital maps have a learning curve on how to properly use them
- Digital maps have screen size limitations
- Mobile devices run out of power, break, and become unusable
Best of Both Worlds
We recently partnered with MapSherpa on a project that will allow map consumers to easily get maps in both digital and printed formats. Now, when you view a MapSherpa map in the Avenza Map Store you’ll have the option to also purchase a paper copy in a variety of sizes, and printed on a variety of different materials from MapSherpa’s map store, MapTrove. Find a map on the MapSherpa site, in paper format, and get the digital version for use on your mobile device in the Avenza Maps app. “It’s the best of both worlds for consumers and for publishers,” says Dave.
Honestly, corporate vision aside, we have to agree.
See MapSherpa’s collection of Winter Games themed maps of South Korea, featuring Pyeongchang Seoul and Gangneung regions.