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Hikar

Overlays footpaths from OpenStreetMap on the device's camera feed.
New in version 0.3.2
Hikar 0.3.2 (version code 16)
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- added warning if device does not have the required sensors (accelerometer, magnetometer) - fixing issue #4.
Hikar is an augmented reality app for Android (4.2+) which overlays footpaths from OpenStreetMap on the device's camera feed and shows virtual signposts.

Its aim is to help navigation for walkers/hikers (hence the name) and other outdoor users. For example, imagine you are entering a large field and it's not clear where the exit is. Hikar will overlay the course of the footpath on your phone's camera feed helping you to navigate across the field. Or, you're at a junction of paths and it's not clear which is the correct way. Hikar will show a virtual signpost, showing the direction and distance of nearby points of interest such as villages, hills, mountains or pubs. Or, you're having to make your way across a pathless moor. Again, Hikar will help you find the way.

Hikar covers the whole of Europe, plus Turkey. It could potentially work in any area which uses Roman, Greek or Cyrillic characters, but the Hikar server (also FLOSS software: see gitlab.com/nickw1/freemap-api) currently only contains data for the specified areas.
Note that Hikar is a research project and therefore, while perfectly usable for navigation it is not a 'polished' app with a really nice UI and, like many AR apps, can use a lot of battery power.

Please note, that for a currently-unknown reason, Hikar will not run on the Amazon Fire HD 10 (and possibly other Amazon Fire devices).

Many thanks to my colleague Neil Brewis for providing the signpost assets.
  • app screenshot
  • app screenshot
  • app screenshot
  • app screenshot

Versions

Although APK downloads are available below to give you the choice, you should be aware that by installing that way you will not receive update notifications and it's a less secure way to download. We recommend that you install the F-Droid client and use that.

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  • Version 0.3.2 (16) suggested Added on Jul 22, 2021

    This version requires Android 4.2 or newer.

    It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • access precise location only in the foreground
      This app can get your precise location from location services while the app is in use. Location services for your device must be turned on for the app to get location. This may increase battery usage.
    • view network connections
      Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
    • take pictures and videos
      This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera while the app is in use.
    • have full network access
      Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
    • read the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage.
    • modify or delete the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage.

    Download APK 4.8 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

  • Version 0.3.1 (15) - Added on Jun 16, 2021

    This version requires Android 4.2 or newer.

    It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • access precise location only in the foreground
      This app can get your precise location from location services while the app is in use. Location services for your device must be turned on for the app to get location. This may increase battery usage.
    • view network connections
      Allows the app to view information about network connections such as which networks exist and are connected.
    • take pictures and videos
      This app can take pictures and record videos using the camera while the app is in use.
    • have full network access
      Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
    • read the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to read the contents of your shared storage.
    • modify or delete the contents of your shared storage
      Allows the app to write the contents of your shared storage.

    Download APK 4.8 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log