We’re so excited – our app launched yesterday!
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve launched OS MapFinder – the new mobile app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. With OS MapFinder you can plan all your outdoor activities and take your digital maps with you. The new app is free to download from the Apple App Store and includes free overview mapping for the whole of Great Britain.
A key feature of the new easy-to-use app is the map tile download facility, which provides you with the ultimate freedom to choose the maps you want. The sections of mapping that you need can be purchased in single 10 km by 10 km tiles for £2.49 (per 1:25 000 tile) or £0.69 (per 1:50 000 tile). The maps bring our highest-resolution 660dpi print quality to Apple devices including those with Retina display with the clearest, sharpest map imagery available.
Maps on the device are cached so they can be used even without a WiFi or mobile signal. You can search for locations by place name, postcode, and Ordnance Survey Grid reference and when you’ve found your location, use the iOS zoom and pan functions to see an array of map views.
With OS MapFinder you can also record or draw your walking, cycling or running routes. Routes can be saved on the device to be taken with you or stored for using later. Another great feature is that routes can be personalised by adding your own photograph, either by taking one on the spot or by using a photo from your device library.
Peter ter Haar, Director of Products said: ‘Ordnance Survey prides itself on generating accurate and up-to-date mapping data. Customers have been asking us to extend the ways they can access our detailed and trusted mapping to meet the demands of today’s digital lifestyle. We are delighted to be launching OS MapFinder to give consumers the most up-to-date mapping from just 69p. Customers will now be able to enjoy the same experience as using a trusted Ordnance Survey paper map when exploring Great Britain on the go, at the touch of a screen.’
‘OS MapFinder is an extension of our outdoor products with accessibility to our high quality mapping in print, online and now on mobile devices.’
Themocracy
And for Android … ?
Hi Brian
The development team are working on the android version as we speak. It should be out later this year.
Thansk, Gemma
“Later this year” — sounds like eons away.
Excellent app! Is there any provision to provide free mapping for search and rescue through the app?
Hi
The app was aimed at the leisure and outdoors industry, but I’ll pass this feedback onto the team. Hopefully you’re aware that Search and Rescue teams can access our data under the Public Sector Mapping Agreement? More information here http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/public-sector/mapping-agreement/index.html
Thanks, Gemma
AND Windows 8 ?
Hi Tim
Our current focus is on developing the android version. Once that is delivered we can review plans for other platforms.
Thanks, Gemma
Love the app!
I understand it’s the first version, but is there a timescale for get a map integration?
Also, the map tile prices are extremely high
Other map apps on the App Store offer your latest OS Maps a lot cheaper.
I understand these map apps have to licence maps from yourselves (OS), so wonder how – as the licence holder – it’s more expensive to buy maps from yourselves directly.
As a get a map user, I’d be willing to pay an extra yearly subscription (£60?) to have the full UK on my iDevice
Love the app though and can’t wait to see what the future holds for it
Hi Matthew
Glad you’re enjoying the app and thank you for the feedback on pricing, I’ll pass it on to the team. They’re already working on version two, so look out for it later this year.
Thanks, Gemma
Hi,
Still loving the app – very swish and easy to use.
Thanks for the quick reply to my last post – exciting to hear that V2 is in the works and feedback is being taken on board
I purchased a couple of (the rather expensive
)
)
map tiles and have a quick question (as I couldn’t find it in any FAQ’s – feel free to update the FAQ with this question as others may ask it
What happens when the 2014 map data comes out?
Do I get to download the latest map data for free on tiles I’ve already purchased (and does this replace the 2013 maps, or can we keep both).
Or do we have to re-purchase.
In which case, will our current 2013 map tiles still work, and will they still be available for download from the server – even though the 2014 data is out?
Hope that makes sense?
Thank You!
Just to let you know that tiles purchased through the OS MapFinder app will be updated for free for the lifetime of the application. We update our tiles on a periodic basis and are working on a push notification system to let you know when an updated tile is available.
Awesome!
Thanks for the reply.
Can you please confirm if this works on the “wifi only” ipad (ios6) when using a suitable bluetooth gps ?
I can’t find this information on the app instructions.
Thanks
Hi Bryce, Thanks for your question. If you can let me know the model details, we can investigate further. It’s not entirely straightforward as far as I’m aware, but we’ve noted that it needs to get included in the FAQs.
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for you promt response.
I have downloaded your app onto the latest ipad with retina display and this is a model with wifi connection only.
I am using a garmin glo bluetooth gps which is specifically for use with an ipad.
This gps identifies my location when I use the installed apple map but I cannot get it to do this with your application.
Many Thanks
Bryce
Hi Bryce,
From the quick bit of research we have done, the device that is mentioned requires specific Garmin application to go with it in order to display the GPS data to the user. For us to use this data in the OS Mapfinder app we would have to add the facility to ‘talk’ to external devices instead of the iPhone/iPad – possible but I don’t believe its on the backlog for development in the app at the moment.
The team will do some more investigation – there are reports of some external GPS devices overriding the iPhones gps and providing better accuracy and they might be worth looking into. However, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be possible.
Really sorry.
Hi Melanie,
I found that I had to activate the Location Services on the ipad for your app. This is found is Settings>Privacy>Location Services.
I have tested using the garmin glo bluetooth gps on a local walk away from my wifi connection and your app recorded my route.
I will test again tomorrow and let you know but it seems that the wifi only ipad can with an external bluetooth gps work with your app.
The wifi only ipad doesn’t have an onboard gps.
Bryce
Hi Melanie
I have concluded that the OS Map Finder app will only work on a wifi only ipad when in built up areas when it can receive wifi information from the locality and an external blue tooth connected GPS does not work.
Your app will not work on a wifi only ipad in rural areas and perhaps this information should be included in the app information.
The Garmin Glo external (bluetooth connected)GPS does work with the ipad wifi only model with other mapping apps.
I would be very interested to know should your product become useable in this way.
Many Thanks
Bryce
Thanks Bryce, We will keep looking into it and I’ll ask the tech team to include something for the next release if they can.
Hi Melanie
Just letting you know that I have now been able to obtain location information on your app using my ipad (wifi only) with external Garmin Glo gps (bluetooth connected).
It worked yesterday during a car journey away from any civilisation. I am uncertain why it didn’t work previously and will continue to experiment.
Bryce
Oh that’s interesting. Thanks for letting us know.
Melanie
When will an Android version be available? The Android ecosystem has outstripped the iOS operating system – and has the advantage that it is open source. Please port this application software to Android – we simply don’t want and/or need to be locked into some class of a Mac firewall. I fully understand that OS are looking to proviode open access – so, please, give us an Androiod version as soon as possible!
We are working on an Android version of the app and are hoping to get it out very soon. We will let you know when we are launching it on this blog, on Twitter (@OSLeisure) and on Facebook.