"Navigation has another popular feature: a new dynamic map auto zoom while driving. Enabled with “Automatic” option in Auto zoom settings and works currently in real time with next turn instruction."
That choosing “automatic zoom level” means “automatically chosen bei Kurviger” - hmm, seems to be self-evident.
Then the question is - depending from what? DISTANCE to next turn instruction? Category of road? Speed?
And still unclear (for me!): “Fixed auto zoom” - that sounds like a paradoxon: Either zoom is fixed, or it is “auto” (i.e. it is NOT fixed) - and in combination with the option to choose a zoom factor … - perhaps I am not the only one who does not understand instantly?
IF this would be the explanation:
THEN GOTO above “Then the question is - depending from what? DISTANCE to next turn instruction? Category of road? Speed?”
“Auto zoom” means more that the engine reverts the map zoom after some seconds in case of external changes (e.g. from user).
The options define if the active zoom is “Automatic” (aka dynamic / auto-calculated) or “Fixed” at some user selected value.
The “Automatic” zoom is mentioned to be calculated currently with distance of next turn instruction in real time. In the future we could introduce the speed factor too.
BTW there is also an “Auto center” active in navigation / follow modes. If scroll the map, it will revert back to user location after some seconds.
Perhaps we should rename the “Automatic” to “Dynamic”?
Then, when auto zoom = on you have two sliders:
min zoom level
max zoom level
Setting both to the same value (min = max) would be equivalent to the old fixed zoom level.
I think this would even simplify the UI from a user perspective.
I would absolutely prefer such options. It’s more important to have flexible configuration options than lean menus. Normally you will choose your optimal and individual configuration for your device and personal needs only once.
My irritation mentioned above perhaps comes from the double meaning of “auto / -matic” in Kurviger, what results logically in these two options “automatic auto zoom” and “non automatic auto zoom”, what is indeed logical (for us people more familiar with algothmic thinking), but does not SOUND intuitively meaningful.
So perhaps it is indeed a good idea to think about these both designations once again to distinguish between
(a) "going back to the center of the navigation screen automatically"
and
(b) “choosing a matching scale of zoomingautomatically”.
I have one big issue with the automatic zoom level which I try to explain.
When I arrive on roundabout, the zoom level increase automatically at a level which is almost fine for me. So perfect.
As soon as I enter the roundabout, the zoom level decrease automatically to show the sort of general itinerary and then I’m screwed: shall I take the first or second exit? It is just really too small on the screen to see which one I shall take, especially when then 2 exits are quite near from each other.
Same thing happens as well on road junction where there road split itself like a fork: one on the right, one straight ahead, one slightly on the left.
As soon as I’m on the juction, the zoom decrease and it’s then not clear at all if I have to take the one straight ahead or the one slightly on the left.
And these 2 kind of situations happened way too often on my last trip.
So I would suggest that the zoom decrease only happens once one have actually moved out of the juction or the roundabout instead of just once arrived at the junction or roundabout.
No need to be accurate here.
It would be sufficient if distance to junction >50m before zooming out.
Speed as an additional criteria to distance may work.
Zoom level based only on speed is IMO not a wise idea.
I can easily imagine junctions which can (safely) be passed with 80Km/h or more.
(e.g. turn slightly right)
I also would absolutely prefer if the zoom level would be adjusted back to a zoomed out view a little bit later (50m or so should be enough). Sometimes the view zooms out to fast be able to identifiy your current position on the street (which means: at a junction or in a circle). No rocket science needed here (like zooming out depending on the route geometry), just leave the zoomed in view a little bit longer.
My preference would be the opposite: driving slower → zoom out for better orientation where to go… driving faster → zoom in for better view the curvature of the next 3 curves. Would be nice to make this optional by a preference setting, so that everyone finds its best preference.
During my last tour using the Kurviger app this behaviour was again confirmed to be inconvenient: I was in a larger circle when the view suddently zoomed out. No chance to see what’s the correct exit (and a shame if you don’t remember what the instruction said which number of exit you should take).
The view should definitely be zoomed out later (and maybe not instantly but in a few steps).
Dynamic Auto Zoom (how ME I would call it now to avoid the "automatic Auto Zoom" irritation of terms) is one of the most important features for cruising, in my view.
So let’s go ahead to argue about this feature, if you don’t mind.
A Navigation mode
Question: To which parameter is dynamic Autozoom linked?
It could be, for example,
distance to next instruction point,
speed,
curvyness,
building situation (cities or overland).
Following recent observations, dynamic auto zoom is directly correlated to "DISTANCE to next instruction point" - is that correct?
Although it already works well - and just to continue the discussion - could SPEED not be an even better parameter, because speed reflects a combination of ALL the parameters above?
B Following mode
In every case - DISTANCE would not work with the pure following, non navigation mode, because there are no instrution points.
But, as already mentioned above by others, a Dynamic Auto Zoom would be a great feature also for this mode, for example to be able to forsee the street running or buildings for security reasons.
So, at least in case B you need another parameter, and again SPEED could be a good choice, I believe.
C Conclusion
Doesn’t it then make sense to choose SPEED in both modi as parameter for Dynamic Auto Zoom?
There isn’t any dynamic or fixed distinction with current options.
Just set auto zoom on / off and select your min / max zoom levels.
Navigation will play seamlessly between them.
Already mentioned above that auto zoom currently works with next turn instruction (when min ≠ max).
There are no immediate plans to transform Follow mode to Navigation.
Having a route can navigate. Follow remains a very simple alternative.
Speed certainly remains on our radar for future enhancements.
Don’t think that offline routing automagically solves all world problems.
When desktop waits routing to complete, mobiles won’t ever be faster.
CPU on that case will work overtime too, consuming battery as always.
I am actually not sure. I think speed is an important parameter and could in some way influence the zoom.
With Kurviger you often have to turn on very small roads in the middle of nowhere. If the zoom depends on speed, you would be cruising for example with 100km/h, this results in a pretty low zooom that offers a lot of overview to see the next couple of curves etc. Now there is a turn coming up.
When using the distance to next instruction, the display will zoom in and show you details about the turn. If you are 200m away from the turn, you can already see all relevant details.
When using speed, 200m before the turn you might be still going around 100, maybe you already slowed down a bit. But you wouldn’t see all relevant details for your turn, because you need to slow down first. I think it should be the other way around, see details about the turn and then slow down.
But speed could be an important factor for the zoom. For example, when slowing down and there is no turn close, the app could zoom in to show details. When speed reaches 0, the app could start to slowly zoom out again to show overview.
Don’t agree: Me I often use Following Mode in cases I don’t use navigation, for example when I am very familiar with the roads used, that is mostly the case in my home region.
But although then I use Kurviger in Following Mode to have this overview of street running, as other users already mentioned as well.
Why then do not even improve this not unimportant feature by an (optional) Dynamic Auto Zoom in Following Mode? Could be an unmique selling point particularly for bikers.
