WikiLoc's blog

Wikiloc in Polish!

2009-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Grzegorz and Zbigniew Ilków wikiloc is fully translated to Рolish (Polski). As always, any help to bring down language barriers is highly appreciated, if you wish to volunteer translating to your language just drop me an e-mail at jordi A T wikiloc.com. Thanks a lot!

Please visit the about Wikiloc page for the complete list of volunteers.

New features

2009-10-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to bring you two new features recently added to Wikiloc.com:

While drawing a trail on a map, you can now work with a maximized map that covers most of your screen and also you may choose between Google Maps or third party maps like USGS topo, ICC topo, etc.. I'm working in several additional maps that you've recently suggested. Having a choice to switch between maps is useful when you know that there is a trail that is not visible in the satellite view, perhaps covered by trees. In those cases, a topographic map could be of help:

There has been some not so visual work behind the scenes too, like correcting the elevation profile graphs for all trails (that's +100.000) that now display elevation-distance (instead of elevation-time as before). Additionally elevation data has been automatically calculated to all trails with lack of height value on their coordinates. Thanks to all of you who have contacted me directly or in the forum raising the need to fix it. Now all trails in Wikiloc should have elevation data (if you discover one that do not, please tell me..)

Oh! and try to move the mouse over the elevation profile graph! hope you find it useful :-)

[UPDATE]

Another small improvement that will surely make it easier to maintain your trails. Aside from editing from "your trails" page, you may also start editing from the trail page itself. The icon is right below the trail's name, above the map:

Jordi

Wikiloc winner of the Geotourism Challenge!

2009-09-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to bring you this news. A recognition from Ashoka Changemaker's and National Geographic to Wikiloc as a community, to all of us who share beautiful outdoor trails and photos in wikiloc.com.

My sincere thanks to all of you that have voted for Wikiloc and made this huge achievement possible. The number of votes has been really high as well as the emails of support I've got from you.

Aside from a better hardware infrastructure, I hope that this will also accelerate several improvements on the site that are in the pipe.

Many thanks!

--Jordi

Tiny gadget for your blog

2009-08-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Do you have a blog and would like to show off your latest outdoor trails? you may do it easily: access your profile by clicking on your username at the upper-right section of Wikiloc, grab the HTML code under "Blog Widget" and paste it to your blog.

Here's mine:

That was a Sunday morning hack so if you detect some issue please tell me at jordi -AT- wikiloc.com and I'll fix it ASAP :-) I appreciate your feedback

Hope you like it!

--Jordi

Wikiloc finalist of the Geoturism Challenge!

2009-07-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that Wikiloc is a finalist of the Geotourism challenge organized by Ashoka's Changemakers and National Geographic.

Geotourism, "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place -its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents" is in the heart of the Wikiloc's community and we're proud to be part of it.

I would like to encourage you to enter and vote for the 3 projects that you find more interesting (you should vote for 3 projects, marking 3 checkboxes for your vote to have effect), and needless to say that if Wikiloc is amongst your prefered ones, the better! :)

Wikiloc finalista del concurso de Geoturismo!

2009-07-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

Me alegro de poder anunciar que Wikiloc ha sido seleccionado como uno de los 10 proyectos finalistas en el concurso de Geoturismo organizado por Ashoka’s Changemakers y National Geographic.

El Geoturismo, "el turismo que sustenta o realza el carácter geográfico de un lugar - su medio ambiente, la cultura, la estética, el patrimonio y el bienestar de sus residentes" es la base de la comunidad de Wikiloc y por la que estamos orgullosos de formar parte.

Os animo a que entréis y voteis por los 3 proyectos que encontreis mas interesantes (debes votar por 3 proyectos marcando 3 casillas para que el voto tenga efecto), y si Wikiloc es uno de ellos mucho mejor! :)

Wikiloc in Russian!

2009-06-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

маршруты и путевые точки по всему миру!

Thanks to Herurg wikiloc is fully translated to Русский (Russian). Any help with new translations is highly appreciated, if you wish to volunteer translating to your language just drop me an e-mail at jordi A T wikiloc.com. Many thanks in advance!

Please visit the about Wikiloc page for the complete list of volunteers.

Draw your trails by hand

2009-05-11T02:51:00.000-07:00

Whether you are planning a new trail for your next trip or willing to share a cool route you know by heart but haven't in your GPS receiver, you may find interesting a new feature of wikiloc that allows you to draw tracks manually on a map:

The link to access the tool is on the right side of the upload page

You may also add up to 25 waypoints along the route. And the elevation data and graph will be also calculated automatically for you.

Hope this will be an useful addition to your trail mapping toolbox! :)

Best,
Jordi

Wikiloc now a "preview layer" of Google Earth!

2009-03-09T04:06:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to write about this new milestone that will surely make it easier to explore and discover great outdoor trails with Google Earth.

From now on several trails from Wikiloc will be shown automatically just after opening Google Earth:

That makes the layer easily discoverable since it may be activated by clicking on the "Show this layer" button on the balloon:

You may also choose to turn it on/off from Google Earth's Gallery section as before (see former post)

Enjoy and happy trails!

--Jordi

Wikiloc in Serbian!

2009-02-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Alex Milanovic we have Wikiloc in Serbian (Srpski (BiH))

With Serbian Wikiloc is already available in 13 languages, but needless to say that more translations are very welcome. If you wish to help in bringing language barriers down, just drop me an e-mail at jordi A T wikiloc.com

You can visit the 'about Wikiloc' page for a complete list of collaborators.

50000 trails from around the World

2009-02-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

Today we have reached another magic number in Wikiloc. This time not related to traffic but to the number of trails all of us have shared so far in Wikiloc: 50.000

I hope that this will help you find trails in your favourite areas but also discover amazing outdoor spots like mountain bike trails in Rapa Nui, tracks in the Hawaii's Volcanoes N.P., snorkeling spots in Mozambique or mountaineering routes in Patagonia. We have a beautiful World to explore!

And that's just another step in the long trail we have in front of us. I'm working hard improving the site with your suggestions and hope to continue getting you on board. Stay tuned, more news are coming.

Enjoy and happy trails!
Jordi

New logo!

2008-11-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

As you may have already realized, wikiloc has a brand new logo. The former logo was gimp'd by me in the early days of wikiloc and was, simply put, quite 'plain' :)

Luckily Toño García, a happy wikiloc user that works as a motion graphic designer and partner at www.shakingbox.com and collaborates with web design in www.biotive.com offered to upgrade the old logo into a better one.

After several tweaks, adjustments and fixer-uppers (thanks Toño for your patience!) in the 3D sphere:

we were almost convinced in showing the ball on the left side of the name, like:

but finally, after some deep thinking and a few beers we agreed in the final version:

and yep, we're proud of it

Hope you like it :)

New office

2008-11-10T00:40:00.000-08:00

Wikiloc has moved to the Scientific Parc in Girona. I'm excited to be in this location with plenty of space, nice views and all kind of IT facilities.

The mountains on the background are one of our favourite spots for hiking and mountain biking with many options to ride after work :)

If you're in the area drop me an email!

Oh! and the carpets on the floor with the Wikiloc logo are hand made by Montse. Thanks Montse! :)

Stay tuned, more news are coming!

--Jordi

Wikiloc uses Geonames

2008-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

I could say many things about the Geonames.org web services and all good.

If you are doing something 'geo' I highly recommend you to take a look at what Marc Wick offers you in geonames.org

The only thing that could be improved in the free web services is the response time. Wikiloc relies heavily in geonames so it was time to switch to the commercial version, speed up wikiloc and at the same time collaborate in keeping the initiative lead by Marc in good health.

So from now on when you look for a place name in Wikiloc.com, you'll get results much faster.

Enjoy!

1 million page views

2008-10-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

Last month Wikiloc reached the magic number of 1 million page views per month.

I am very honoured by all of you that visit Wikiloc and contribute to the community uploading your tracks.

Thanks guys!

Wikiloc trails now in Google Earth!

2008-08-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

The trails from Wikiloc have been added to Google Earth! See post in official Google Blog

Now the millions of users of Google Earth can watch your trails just by clicking on the Wikiloc icon in the Gallery on the left menu (picture below). You can also use Google Earth to explore the more than 110.000 trails from Wikiloc.

Fig. Google Earth's screenshot showing how to activate Wikiloc layer (click for a larger view)

If you still don't have Google Earth, you may download it for free here

BTW: Please expect a delay of a week or so until the trails you upload in Wikiloc's website appear in Google Earth

Enjoy!

Wikiloc in Deutsch, Greek, Ukrainian...

2008-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to André, Arion and Larry Wikiloc is available in Deutsch, Greek and Ukrainian! and more translations are coming soon.

Btw:please apologize to those of you that didn't get the sign up confirmation email during the last few days. I'm working with the ISP to ensure that this won't occur again.

Thanks!

View your trails in 3D within the browser

2008-06-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've just released a new feature in Wikiloc that allows you to visualize trails in 3D without leaving the browser. The following screenshot speaks by itself:

Obviously the great news is that it is a 3D view of a GPS trail within the browser

If you want to give it a try you may do so by clicking on the "Earth" button (red circle at the top of the screenshot) while viewing a GPS route and GE will appear embedded in the map window. For me it's a dream come true.

Btw: if you use Linux or simply prefer to visualize the GPS tracks with Google Earth, you still have the handy link "View in Google Earth" (red circle on the right side of the screenshot) to get the KML file.

Enjoy! :)

Wikiloc featured in Natural de Aragon magazine

2008-05-16T01:38:00.000-07:00

It's an honour for Wikiloc to appear featured in this Spring's edition of "Natural de Aragon" magazine (edited by the Spanish Environment Department of Gobierno de Aragon).

Aragon is a beautiful region of Spain near the highest mountains in the Pirinees with many good options to do outdoor activities in the region surrounded of gorgeous landscapes.

Wikiloc available in Dutch!

2008-04-11T00:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Chris Boogmans wikiloc is already translated to Dutch. More translations are very welcome, from the beginning of wikiloc I've always tried to bring down language barriers and any help in doing that is highly appreciated, just drop me an e-mail at jordi A T wikiloc.com.

You can visit the about Wikiloc page for a complete list of collaborators.

New server upgrade

2008-03-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Tonight I've been busy migrating wikiloc to a faster box. After almost 2 years of good service, it was already time to give a break to the former server. From now on looking for our next GPS trail or just browsing photos and maps will be much faster :)

Enjoy!

Btw: if you're getting the 'plumber' page, pages not found or other issues, please be patient since DNS refreshes may span several hours

YouTube™ videos of your routes

2008-02-08T02:25:00.000-08:00

Seeing photos of a trail it's a great way to get an idea of how the surrounding and landscapes of the route look like, you may even see which terrain you'll find. And since more and more authors are adding nice photos of the routes (almost 10.000 photos already) I'm glad to announce that we may additionally add YouTube™ videos of our GPS tracks. This is a new feature that we may use to better describe our routes.

Here you have one of Tom's kayac trips in Norway:

You may watch the video by clicking on the video thumbnail above.

New updates

2008-02-01T23:47:00.001-08:00

Well... frankly this time I don't know where to start. Recently we've released a major redesign of Wikiloc with so many improvements that I think the best way for you to see them is by doing a tour by yourself :)

You may find specially interesting new features like:

- New map page: improved browsing experience to discover new tracks
- A revamped upload process: now it is easier and faster to upload tracks
- A new KML feed to explore and easily discover routes with Google Earth
- Almost 9.000 tracks uploaded until now, 9000 photos and we're already a growing community of nearly 10000 members.

So thanks to you all that make possible wikiloc. So far we've received many great suggestions that are the basis for upcoming improvements, so feel free to contact me at jordi ,at, wikiloc.com or in the forum

and... stay tunned, more changes are coming :)

Jordi

New map layer available

2007-12-07T09:44:00.002-08:00

Recently Google added a new Terrain (Physical) map layer to Google Maps and I immediately received a request from a user (thanks Potxoki!) in the wikiloc's forum to add it to Wikiloc. It's ready and you may activate it by clicking on the "Terrain" button in the top-right area of the map.

And of course you may choose to show this layer as default in your embedded mini-maps (aka: miniwikiloc) Read here to see how easy it is to embed and customize your trail maps on your website or weblog:

Enjoy!
--Jordi

Wikiloc available in French

2007-09-17T01:10:00.001-07:00

Thank you to Eric Klinger for his effort reviewing the French translation of wikiloc's UI and also for translating wikiloc's help page to French.

More translations are very welcome, just drop me an e-mail at jordi A T wikiloc.com.

You can visit the 'about Wikiloc' page for a complete list of collaborators.