Geographical search...

[Gurvan]

Hello there,

I have a suggestion for an enhancement to Marvin which I find could be useful... :roll eyes:

You have a wonderful lookup feature inside Marvin that allows you to search a word in Wiktionary, Google or do other trick with a word (or more...) that has been highlighted. Why not extend that trick to a geographical search using Google Maps or Apple Plans ?

The idea being that when I read a book that contains the name of a place, (Say the Eiffel Tower in Paris...), I would be able to get to a map of that place using one of the aforementioned services (As I am still using an old iPad 1 under iOS 5, Google Maps is my favorite...) and see where it is physically in the world...

I was reading a book from Pico Iyer : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ng_Off_the_Map when I thought about that one...

for reading that one and an even greater thanks if it can be implemented in a backward compatible fashion with my old version...

[kguil]

You can do this. Just create a custom command with the URL pointing to some mapping service. For instance to use Google maps to search for a place: http://maps.google.com/?q=Eiffel+Tower

More generically: http://maps.google.com/?q={text}

This will replace the {text} placeholder with whatever text you have selected. Actually, there's a preset built into Marvin's command editor for Google Maps.

To use iOS' own maps app use http://maps.apple.com/?q={text}. Don't be fooled by the "http://" prefix. iOS will still launch the built in maps app.

More info here: http://blog.marvinapp.com/post/74510508547

[Gurvan]

Ok... That means that what I requested is actually possible ? Well... Back to the manual for me, I guess ! :-D

Honestly, a built-in command would be nice for "non-power users" like me, but if it is possible as is, I will give it a try !

Thank you !

[kguil]

Yeah. It is totally possible and there is a built in command for Google Maps...

Marvin home screen > Settings > Pick any "Customise" button > Choose Google Maps

[Gurvan]

Great ! Simply outstanding !! Thank you...

[kguil]

You're very welcome!

[Gurvan]

:-o

Just one more question...

Do you know if there is a command line option to launch that Google Maps window in satellite mode ?

Don't loose anytime on that question if you don't know the answer right now, I certainly won't loose any sleep over it... ;-)

Thank you again for that nice App !

[kguil]

I've been trying switching to satellite mode and observing url changes. I can't find something that obviously works. Sorry.

[Gurvan]

Never mind, I had tried the same... It seems to keep the change once done on a computer but there are no obvious changes in the URL...

Well never mind and thank you...

[Mtnguy]

I use the Menu to utilize Google Maps. When highlighting a city in the book and selecting MAPS it used to go to the map and then I could select Book to go back to book. Now when I do the same it goes to the map page in Marvin but then continues to go to the Google Maps app. I've deleted Maps from the Menu and reapplied it but still it takes me through to Marvin maps and continues to Google Maps. Help ...

[kguil]

@Mtnguy - Unfortunately, there's very little I can do about that. It looks like Google are intercepting opening the maps web page and redirecting to the app themselves.

[Mtnguy]

Its weird because my iPhone 6 and iPad mini both go to Google Maps but my iPad Air doesn't and keeps me in the book. I'll keep looking for any differences.