FAQ

If I change my phone, or phone number, do I need to pay for the app again?

In general, No.

If you are just changing the phone number, using the same phone, then this does not affect the apps that are installed.

If you are changing to a new phone, regardless of whether you use the same phone number (SIM card) or have a new one, then all you need to do is log in to the app store with the same account details and you will be able to install all of your existing apps without having to pay for anything again. Note that this isn’t always seamless and it can take time and/or some phone restarts for your existing apps to show as available again on the new phone. It is generally also possible to have the app installed on multiple phones / tablets at the same time, if they are all connected to the same user account.

The only exception to reinstalling the app is if you are changing from an Apple to an Android phone, or vice versa. When you buy an app from either Apple or Google you are buying the right to use that app on their particular operating system. If you change from one to the other then you will need to purchase an additional copy of the app for the system that you are switching to.

How do I save/share/restore/transfer my tracks

All of your recorded tracks, saved routes, and waypoints are stored locally on your device. To keep a backup copy that can be recovered in the event you lose or change your phone the recommended approach is to use the ‘Automatic Backup’ option on the settings page and choose a cloud storage drive as the backup location. Another approach is to periodically create your own backup file using the ‘Share’ options.

To save or share your tracks use the Search page in the app (in older app versions there is a ‘export all’ option in the settings page). To save all of your tracks make sure no grouping or search filtering options are set, and then tap the three dots in the table header to bring up the share option. The options you have will depend on your phone setup, but will likely include options to share with contacts through different channels, options to save to a file or send a file via email, or to load the file into other compatible apps. If you have a new phone you want to transfer data to then you may be able to directly select it from the share menu.

To load data from an old phone, or data that someone has shared with you, you may be able to select the file and choose the NZTopo50 app to open it, which will begin the import process. Alternatively, start the NZTopo50 app and select the import option from the Settings page. Locate the shared file and select it.

See also the information on importing/exporting here.

I’ve accidentally deleted my waypoints/ lost my phone, what can I do?

To restore your waypoints/tracks after deleting them, or after uninstalling the app or losing your phone, then you will need to have a backup copy available. There are several possibles sources:

1. If you have set up the automatic backup option in the NZTopo50 app, then you will be able to locate the most recent backup in the location that you chose – unless you chose to store the backups on your phone and the phone is no longer available/functional. Once you have the file use the import options in the app to reinstall your data.
2. If you have manually saved some or all of your waypoints to a file and/or shared them with someone else, for example using the ‘export/share all’ option in the app. If you have access to such a file then you will be able to import it using the import options in the app.
3. If you have used your phones integrated backup options to create a backup, then you will be able to use the restore options to reinstate your phone to the state it was when the backup was done.

Will the app affect battery life?

Actively using GPS to track your location will put a significant load on your battery. This is true of any navigation app that uses GPS. You can manage this to some extent in the NZTopo50 app by choosing when the GPS system is actually running. By default the app does not switch on GPS unless you choose to activate it, or it is needed for track recording – so for example if you are just browsing the map itself then there is no need to have the GPS system running. If you want to see you current location on the map, then simply tap the satellite button on the bottom of the screen to toggle GPS on/off.

How long will the battery last?

If you are continuously logging your location on a trip, then you should still be able to get at least a full day’s activity recorded on a new phone with a healthy battery. Some phones will give several days of full track recording on a single charge.

If you are only periodically using the phone to check your location or check the map or take a few photos, then it is possible for some phones to last for a week or more on a single charge.

The best thing you can do to improve battery life is to put your phone into flight mode, and to make sure wifi and bluetooth are disabled.

Some people make a habit of always force-closing apps instead of letting them sit in the background. This is generally detrimental to battery life – it increases battery use and makes it slower when these apps are relaunched because additional data, including many shared libraries, need to be reloaded from permanent storage into the phones memory. Many apps will sit completely passively in the background and don’t need to be fully shut down (NZTopo50 is one of these, except when you choose to record tracks in the background). It may be beneficial in some circumstances to force-close selected apps, for example social media or email apps that periodically poll for updates. Shutting these down may improve battery life when off-line.

There is an error on the map or it is out of date

The NZTopo50 app contains information from a range of other sources, and is not created or managed by us. If there are differences between the data displayed in the app and the original data source then let us know. Allow up to 12 months for information that has changed recently to be updated in the app, but if there is a persistent difference in the content then let us know and we’ll correct it.

If the error is in the original data source then feel free to let us know, as we are interested in the general accuracy of the data and in any experiences you have with using the app, but for an actual change in the data you will need to contact the original content provider. For example, the background topographical map is produced by Land Information New Zealand. You can check their current version of the map from their website, along with details of any updates they have done recently. Other data is sourced from the Department of Conservation, including details for DOC tracks, huts, and hunting permit boundaries.