Home

Overview

About the app

Orienteering Companion is an outdoor map utility for iPhone, which is primarily intended for orienteering training. The position of the user is displayed in real time on a map image that has been imported from the picture library and calibrated by the user.

The app uses the Location Services in the device to get the current position information. The accuracy is at best  +/- 5 meters, which requires a good GPS reception.

Map images that have been imported are saved in a map collection. A new map image must be calibrated the first time before it can be used. After that, a calibrated map can be used an unlimited number of times without any need for recalibration.

Features

  • Map Sharing:
    The maps can be shared with other users of the app.
  • Map Import:
    Maps in the form of KML/KMZ files (Google Earth map format) that contain calibrated map image overlays can be imported from websites and are ready for use in the app.
  • Snapshot of Maps:
    The currently used map, with visible track details can be captured to the Picture library.
  • Logged Tracks:
    The user can choose to log the run and see the actual track in real-time. Logged tracks can be exported in GPX format to be used with other applications.
  • Courses:
    Orienteering waypoint symbols (virtual flags) can be created using a built-in editor for each map. The user can practice run against the course that has been created in order to “find” the waypoint flags and get a result with found flags, split times and distance information. The course run is logged and the result can be viewed later and exported just like any logged track.

Release information

  • Release date: 2023-04-19
  • Version: 4.1.1
  • Compatibility: 6S and later models with support for iOS 14, iOS 15, iOS 16
  • Languages: English, Swedish

Version history

    • 4.1.1 (2023-04-19)
      – Fixed a bug that could cause lines between control points to become partially invisible when printing a map with a course enabled.
    • 4.1 (2023-01-20)
      – Support for iOS 16.
      iOS 13 and previous versions are no longer supported. 

Versions for iOS 11, 12, 13:

    • 4.0 (2019-09-30)
      – Support for iOS 13 including Dark Mode.
      – The support for iOS 9 and 10 has been dropped. Version 11 or later is required.

Versions for iOS 9, 10:

    • 3.6.2 (2018-09-11)
      – Fixed some bugs that prevented importing .KMZ files that are exported from OCAD with the option “KMZ Google Earth (Raster)”.
    • 3.6.1 (2018-04-26)
      – Fixed a compatibility issue with iOS 11.3 that made it impossible to view and share logged tracks with the Files app.
    • 3.6 (2018-01-30)
      – AirPrint support: print a map to A4 or US Letter size pages, optionally with course and logged track content.
      – A PDF can be generated for sharing using a pinch-gesture (or 3D-Touch gesture) on the map thumbnail in the print view.
      – A map can be manually tagged with Contour interval info in the map Details view (the i-button in the Map Collection) which will be displayed on a printed map along with scale information.
      – If a map has one or more courses, it is now possible to hide the current by deselecting it in the Course List for the map.
    • 3.5 (2017-09-17)
      – Support for iOS 11.
      – The Files App can be used to browse and export logged tracks.
    • 3.4 (2016-11-06)
      – Support for importing maps in KMZ format (compressed KML archive).
      – Fixed an issue with iOS 10 that caused failure to upload exported GPX track files for maps containing Swedish characters in the name to track visualiser websites, such as Livelox.
    • 3.3 (2016-10-12)
      – KML (Google Earth map file format) support. Now possible to import maps that are defined in .kml files (with a calibrated map overlay). To import, open a .kml file from a website and choose to open the file from Orienteering Companion. Other ways to import, such as via mail, iCloud Drive, etc. are supported as well.
      – Imported maps are now indicated with green icon to make it easier to find those in the Map Collection.
      – iOS 10/iPhone 7 adaptions.
      – Bug fixes.
    • 3.2 (2016-08-17)
      – Courses are now included when sharing maps.
    • 3.1 (2016-07-12)
      – Multiple courses for each map.
    • 3.0 (2016-03-12)
      – Logged tracks can now be imported directly in GPX format from another app, e.g. from Safari, where tracks can viewed with a browser and selected for upload to websites (this has been tested with Livelox.com, Endomondo.com, Strava.com).
      – The support for iOS 8.0 has been dropped. Version 9.0 or later is required.
Versions for iOS 8, 9:
    • 2.3 (2016-02-17)
      – Sharing of logged tracks in GPX format (export to Mail, iTunes, Dropbox, etc.) that can be uploaded to web sites for visualizing of tracks such as for example Livelox.com, Strava.com and Endomondo.com.
    • 2.2 (2015-12-17)
      – Miscellaneous calibration user interface improvements.
      – Restore and Save Default calibration now asks user for confirmation to avoid accidental changes.
      – Bug fixes
    • 2.1.2 (2015-11-05)
      – Solves a problem with GPS location updates not working when the app runs in the background on iOS 9.
    • 2.1.1 (2015-09-16)
      – Supports iOS 9.
    • 2.1 (2015-06-17)
      – Virtual orientering course with automatic tracking and registration of found control points. A run result, which includes time and distance information is displayed after the run is finished.
      – Backup of calibration for possibility to restore a recalibrated map to an earlier accepted calibration.
      – Automatic adjustment of a map against a control point in a virtual course.
      – Sharing of maps via Dropbox is now supported.
    • 2.0 (2014-10-01)
      – Developed for iOS 8.
      – iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
      – Multiple logs with colored trails can be created for each map.
Versions for iOS 6, 7:
  • 1.4 (2014-05-27)
    – 64-bit support
    – Maps can be shared via iTunes, Mail, Messages or AirDrop (AirDrop requires iPhone 5 or later model).
  • 1.3 (2014-01-22)
    – Distance markers for log trails that show time and distance from the logged start location can be created by holding a finger on the trail.
    – The list in the Map Collection is sorted alphabetically.
  • 1.2 (2013-09-25)
    – New design for iOS7 (iOS 6 still supported).
    – Scaling of maps when calibrating (slider) and running (pinch gestures for “zooming”).
  • 1.1 (2013-07-21)
    – Location logging and visible trail on the map.
    – App active in Background mode (screen lock on).
  • 1.0 (2013-03-26)
    Release Version

Note

[color-box color=” customcolorpicker=” rounded=false dropshadow=false]

  1. The use of this real time route guidance application is at the users sole risk. Location data may not be accurate.
  2. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease the battery life.
  3. Maps are normally protected by copyright and the user must make sure to own the right to copy the images of the maps that are to be imported to the app.

[/color-box]