Nathan's blog

BLM Maps for Android have recently become available for 12 western states. These maps primarily show the boundaries of BLM land, and secondarily show boundaries between state, federal and public land. 

The product is available as an overlay that displays boundaries on your existing maps. You can purchase it by going to "Purchasing Add-ons" deep in the menu. It has quickly become a popular product. Below are some comments about the source of the data, its accuracy, and some disclaimers. 

An Android GPS App allows you to use your Android phone as a GPS device. Considering your activity, you can choose a GPS app based on map types, map access, and style of navigation.
 

Greetings to all Pacific Crest Trail Hikers! I know some of you will be hiking the Pacific Crest trail this year with the help of the GPS in your Android Phone. Here are some tips for Android users.

A new video promotes the benefits of using an Android GPS App in hiking. With the right app, an Android phone can be used as effectively as a dedicated hiking gps. 
 

Many Android users have conclusively proven that Android can be used effectively as an outdoor GPS, substituting for an expensive handheld outdoor GPS from Garmin.

This is especially worth looking at given a new video about the threat to Garmin outdoor GPS from Android GPS apps.

The Android GPS in phones enables apps to get location and navigate. With the right apps, it can replace a handheld outdoor GPS. Here are some things to keep in mind about the Android GPS and its capabilities. 

Occasionally people ask if they can use some of their existing map data in an Android GPS app like BackCountry Navigator.  

I am pleased to announce that there is software that allows you to convert a GeoTiff, or a number of other calibrated formats, to a mobile atlas that can be used by BackCountry Navigator. 

Android GPS apps are often criticized for using battery life, when the mere fact that they use the GPS guarantees that they will. Battery life is especially important for those using Android GPS apps in an outdoor settings, such as hiking or hunting using Topo maps and GPS waypoints. 

Often, I get questions from people who zoom in on a map and only see a blank grid. I'll show an example that will show how this may not be a bug.

It can be easy and helpful to order a paper topo map. This video explains how: