Bit Map

Bit Map is an offline map viewer for your own topographic or specialised maps even when there is no phone or WiFi network available.  Store multiple maps on your iPhone, and switch between them. With Bit Map, you can view your own choice of maps, instead of generic maps chosen by somebody else, making it ideal for specialist maps with details not available on other mapping applications, such as highly detailed topographic maps obtained from your government mapping authority. Your topographic maps can also be viewed while offline with no cell phone or wifi network access, making it ideal for a wide range of outdoor pursuits in remote locations including bushwalking, hiking, treking, camping, cycling, touring.

Bit Map can use map images from many common bitmapped (raster) image file formats, including JPEG, PNG, TIFF or GIFF.  It can display large maps, and can even join several consecutive large maps into a single huge topographic map. The map size is limited only by the iPhone's storage and memory capacity.

Some basic navigation features are also included, such as dynamically showing your current location on the map as well as recording and display of waypoints and routes.  Waypoints and routes can be imported and exported as KML files which can be used in desktop applications such as Google Earth.

WARNING:  You will need to provide your own maps for use with Bit Map.  You will also need to understand how to prepare your map images for use with Bit Map. Read the user guide and the 'Files Acquisition Guide' to understand how to prepare map image files for Bit Map before purchasing.

If you have multiple maps of different scales for the same location, and you zoom in or out beyond 5 times the default image scale, Bit Map will automatically switch to the next map in the same set which has a finer or coarser scale, respectively.

When you first download a map to your iPhone, Bit Map will automatically split it into small chunks that are easier for the iPhone to handle and will compress each chunk to reduce the amount of storage space used. While viewing the map, each chunk will be seamlessly loaded when it comes into view on screen.

If the map file has correctly formatted navigation information (see user manual), your current location will be displayed on the map. 'Follow' mode can also be enabled which will automatically scroll to your current location (or to the centre of the map, if the current location is not on the map).

While in 'Follow' mode, sleep is disabled (only while connected to a power source) and the map is continually scrolled to centre on your current location.

If you move off the edge of the map while in 'Follow' mode, and another map is available in the same map set which matches your current location, the maps will automatically be switched.

Bit Map can record and store several routes (series of waypoints).  Waypoints can be named, and several routes can be displayed on the map simultaneously.  Routes can also be sent to or received from your desktop computer as KML files which can be read by a variety of other applications, including Google Earth.

Further Information About Bit Map:

Important Notes:

  • No maps are supplied with Bit Map, so you will need to provide your own maps in any of the following file format: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF. Read the user manual in order to understand how to prepare your map image files and load your maps onto your iPhone with Bit Map.
  • Bit Map is primarily a map viewer, not a navigation tool. The navigation features are for convenience only, and should not be depended upon for situations in which inaccuracies could cause danger.
  • Do not use Bit Map while operating a vehicle.
  • By default, Bit Map compresses all maps into 50% quality JPEG files to save storage space. This also reduces image quality a little.

Future Plans

  • Easier preparation and import of map files.
  • Support for more map projections.
  • More!

 

The map artwork used for the Bit Map icon, default screen and the user manual's screenshots are derived from Geoscience Australia’s free maps http://www.ga.gov.au/mapconnect/ © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 used by permission.