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I often loose time when meeting my friend in new places, because it is hard to pinpoint a particular meeting place:

I am at the bus stop!
Me too!
But I can't see you!?
etc for 5 minutes

Is there an app that both of us could run when we want to find each other?
It could probably use the GPS and possibly some other tricks.

Requirements:

  • Android
  • Open source (I don't trust proprietary apps with my location)
  • Shows me the distance that separates me from my friend, and the direction
  • My friend also sees the same thing towards me

Bonus:

  • Show both our positions on a map in real time, ideally using local OsmAnd maps rather than downloading maps via the network
  • Insert bookmarks, for instance "Tomorrow's picnic: we will sit here"
  • Share a bookmark or your location with several friends
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  • 1
    Hi Nicolas, did you miss Phone locator app for android – or how's your question different? ;)
    – Izzy ♦
    Sep 2, 2014 at 10:37
  • 1
    @Izzy: Two main differences: 1) I need open source 2) That asker wants a map, but for me it is only a bonus.
    – Nicolas Raoul ♦
    Sep 3, 2014 at 6:42
  • It's going to be very approximate, especially if you are indoors & have to rely on location by cell tower, when you don't have a clear line of sight to overhead GPS satellites. Not much better than "I'm at the bus station", alas. See stackoverflow.com/questions/3052517/…
    – Mawg says reinstate Monica
    Feb 9, 2015 at 14:47

2 Answers 2

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It seems too obvious, but did you look at OsmAnd Maps & Navigation ?

It's Android, It's Open Street maps, it's free, and its many features include "Share your location so that your friends can find you".

The missing feature is sharing a bookmark (perhaps this can be done with Point Of Interest?). It does say "Save your most important places as Favorites", but I am unsure if you can share them (perhaps suggest it as a feature to the author?).

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1
  • Unfortunately, OsmAnd's share feature are not as convenient as having a real time map showing both of our position.
    – Nicolas Raoul ♦
    Feb 12, 2015 at 2:34
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There's an app for both Android and iOS called Approach Me. What does is it displays the distance and direction of the person you're looking for. It uses a radar interface instead of a map so it's also good for places like parking lots or parks. I'm not sure it's open source, though.

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2
  • This looks like what the OP wants ("The Radar is optimized for use outdoors", but then by the nature of Geo-location, everything is). "ApproachMe® is a live, Self-Guiding Radar™ (SGR) app that makes it easy, private and fun to find family & friends in crowds such as in shopping malls, festivals, concerts, sporting events, parking lots, amusement parks, or wherever maps are impractical or nonexistent." "You can send a request to a family member or a friend. Once they accept, you will be able to use the live, Self-Guiding Radar to find each other even if everyone is moving." This looks good
    – Mawg says reinstate Monica
    Feb 10, 2015 at 8:12
  • oops, I was sure that this is match & wanted to recommend it be accepted as the answer, BUT, it doesn't seem to meet "Show both our positions on a map, ideally using local OsmAnd maps rather than downloading maps via the network". Otoh, that was only a bonus feature, so this might still be acceptable. Welcome abroad, @MoeHoward and thanks for the good input.
    – Mawg says reinstate Monica
    Feb 10, 2015 at 8:15

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