Improve UX of trip planning across undownloaded maps

[oleg-rswll]

Use Case Planning a Road Trip The US is quite large, and each state has multiple maps. So a road trip to a neighboring state requires manually searching or zooming into areas and selecting to download maps. On even a fairly short trip, this can mean downloading 10-20 maps. This is quite tedious and not a great experience.

Searching for a city that doesn't have a map downloaded: 1) Select city in search results 2) Maps zooms out, flies over to the city; this takes a few seconds. 3) Need to press download button to Download city 4) Repeat process for neighboring map.

Option 1 Have maps available online, with offline being the default, but online can be enabled.

Option 2 Improve UX of map downloads.

On the prompt that asks about downloading new maps, add a checkmark called "Start Download Automatically", which will not be enabled by default. This option would also be available in Setting to Enable/Disable.

[RedAuburn]

Starting download should never be automatic, unless the user explicitly chooses it. Adding a popup that explains that internet access is needed to properly build the route would be good though 👍

[biodranik]

There are cases when WiFi is connected to a hotspot with limited traffic, for example. There is already a setting in OM for internet usage that we can leverage or update and use for these cases.

[oleg-rswll]

The user experience of having to choose downloads several times just to plan a road trip, is not great, at least in the US, where there are so many states and so many maps to download. When doing this with competing products like Google Maps or Apple maps, the user doesn't need to answer additional questions in case they need to take a different route.

Maybe there is another possible solution to addressing this. Maybe where the download button is pressed, there is a checkmark they can select called something like "Remember this selection", and that flips the toggle in the Settings which automatically downloads.

Or there can be another solution.

[biodranik]

We can build routes using online services (that should be implemented and supported). It can be optional and enabled after explicit user confirmation. Although developing and supporting it is a big task.

[oleg-rswll]

It can be simple, on the download popu-up, add a checkbox that gives the user an option to automatically download, they can select it, or not, it's their choice.

[biodranik]

The "Download Automatically" or "Auto download maps" (now in settings) text should be more specific. Download automatically always, even without user actions, even on cellular data? Or only on WiFi with user actions? Or something else? Some users have already complained that it is not clear.

[oleg-rswll]

I can think of 3 reasons why a user would not want to automatically download:

• Data caps: while on a cell signal, people may have data plans with limits and a user may not want to use the data.
• Storage limits: a user may not want to limit how much space Organic Maps takes up on their phone.
• Download time: it may take too long to down and install the maps, and user doesn't want to wait.

To design an optimal solution, it would be helpful understand which of these are the main problems for the people.

A simple solution would be to have two separate options in Settings: 1) Automatic Download on Wifi 2) Automatic Download on Cell Signal

And these options would be displayed on the download screen, but hidden under am "Options" fold-down, so it doesn't look too cluttered.

The question we need to answer: should we try to solve the wifi/cell download request as part of this issue, or keep this one simple and solve that issue separately.

[biodranik]

They are related, so let's keep them here.

"Automatic Download" still sounds confusing because it does not clarify when it happens. On zoom in? On app start? In the background? In the Download dialog?

How do you propose users select the right option on the download screen? In settings in this case we'll have:

• Always (wifi + cellular + cable)
• WiFi only (no cellular)
• Never

Is the "Ask" option relevant here?

[oleg-rswll]

Is downloading maps the only download in the app or are there other things?

The same 'Automatic Download' option which is in the Settings can also be on the Download screen, with the default as "Never", but the user can change it to whatever works for them. The vast majority of users will not go into settings to see if there is a download option, but in the context of downloading, it will be useful to have. The option will always be displayed on the download screen so they can change it, and users can always go back into Settings and make changes if they need.

[pastk]

How is it supposed to work with an existing "Mobile Internet" setting (Always Ask / Use Always / Never Use)?

Also in future we're likely to have

• regular checks for app updates (for Github builds) and maybe auto updates even
• regular checks for maps updates and maybe auto updates even

We need to review our internet usage settings approach with that in mind.

[oleg-rswll]

The requirements and use cases still need to be written in more detail for this issue, and UI needs to be designed.

[pastk]

So a road trip to a neighboring state requires manually searching or zooming into areas and selecting to download maps. On even a fairly short trip, this can mean downloading 10-20 maps.

But this case is automated already? The app suggests which regions to download.

[oleg-rswll]

It suggests only one route along which to download maps, and while on a road trip, there is usually a desire to take scenic routes, or stop by areas which are off the path. Plus, it appears that the prediction for which maps to download is suboptimal, it seems to suggest routes which are slower, and more maps need to be downloaded manually to get the optimal routes.

[oleg-rswll]

Also, test the experience of creating a trip plan for two cities which you are not in, for example Boston to Philadelphia, and making a few stops, it's quite a poor experience.

[oleg-rswll]

Another observations: why is the "Start" button active if the route is between locations where the person is not located? And then it gives a poorly worded message about navigation not being available. In this situation, it should not display a Start button in the first place, and a message would not be necessary.