User's Guide

Setting up HiGuide

hiGuide design makes it very versatile, easy to adapt to very different situations. Some of them are defined at the user's level, using two unusual but efficient features: the direct download of contents from our hosts, and the choice of the map system.

Direct download : Choose your contents

Small or big, free or paid, all HiGuides have the capability to expand, reduce or change a part of all of their contents: maps, texts, photos, audio, videos...

This very flexible feature permits fast updates using the same version of the HiGuide. Most new HiGuide titles are now available on the AppStore in a lite version, with a small set of images and maps. These lite versions are free and propose a list of possible other contents, from lite complements to large or full versions.

These complements can be free or paid. When paid, the payments are made using the AppStore system of payment, just as any app in the appstore.

The list of possible titles to download is under the button "Update" located in the main menu. This list is variable and proposes different contents, in addition to the basic content of this HiGuide. All downloaded contents remain in the iPhone unless the HiGuide itself is removed or updated with a new version of the Application. When an update includes existing contents, only the new parts are downloaded.

However, each HiGuide can only play one title at a time. If a new content is downloaded, the previous one is not erased but is not played anymore until it is downloaded again. But this load-again is very fast, because the files are already there: it just takes a few seconds, the time to check and find them.

Dual map system : Choose your set of maps

Among all publishers of Guides for iPhone, some have chosen the option to install local maps, which work even if there is no connexion to the Internet, some others provide unlimited maps provided online by servers on the Internet (such as google maps).

We do both. We have developed a dual map system, using the best of each: our maps installed in the HiGuide Application, usable even when there is no Internet available, and Google satellite images, maps and Hybrid if the Internet is present. Using them, you can zoom-out as you like to see any place in the world, or zoom-in to the most accurate images provided by Google.

All features are usable in each map mode, such as to view the points of interest, to create your own, to add photos, to jump from the map to any other function without losing the context of the visit...

How to use HiGuide

Overview ...

Before you leave, you’re going to read it like an illustrated book. Once you get there, it becomes your guide by showing you everything that’s around you. And always, it lets you enter into its really beautiful pictures…or create your own.

Three different stages for your trips and for HiGuide three different functions:

		• Explore: the points of interest are presented to you on a map. HiGuide knows where you are, and if you ask for this, it can center the map around your position: HiGuide is a GPS driven guide. It can work using its own local maps, even when Internet is unavailable, or Google maps and satellite images if Internet is accessible.
		• Read: each point of interest is presented by a synthetic text illustrated with a few pictures, and you go from one page to another by turning the pages, back and forth, left and right : HiGuide is also a book.
		• View: all the pictures of the place where you’re standing are there. You go from one to another by sliding the picture with your finger : HiGuide is also a carousel displaying slideshows.

Your HiGuide can contain hundreds of points of interest, lots more pictures, and sometimes sound bites or video. The books are organized by chapters, the photos by interest points, the maps and submaps by different scales,

But these three function modes are closely linked: you can always go from one to another. Three buttons at the bottom of the screen allow you to go from “Book” to “Slide Show” to “Map”, and you’re on your way.

For a more rapid access, you push another button and on the lower part of the screen, up comes a little wheel on which you can read all the page numbers of the chapter in book mode, all the pictures in the slide show mode, or all the points of interest in map mode. HiGuide is very dynamic. When you turn the little wheel, the page, group of pictures or map immediately moves to the middle of your screen. By touching the picture, the wheel disappears and you return to the full screen.

There is one other way to quickly find what you’re looking for. The magnifier allows you to research the entirety of the names contained in the titles of the Points of Interest.

The map constitutes a synthetic means of finding an ensemble of points of interest. The points are indicated by red needle dots (). In the local map mode explained below, the more detailed maps appear in the form of watermark rectangles.

Just touch one or the other and a speech bubble appears on the screen: red for the points of interest, and yellow for the maps. With a simple click, you can call the next map or the next page of the book.

You can always go back to the departure menu by pressing the button marked with an arrow-up... ou en secouant l'iPhone.

In all function modes, the picture adapts to the vertical or horizontal position of the screen for the most comfortable reading. You can enlarge or reduce texts and pictures by spreading out two fingers on the screen.

We have presented the general functions of HiGuide: three function modes which complement each other, and 5 buttons at the bottom of the screen to go from one to the other.

... and the details

Each function mode has its particularities, which extend its possibilities:

Book mode opens most often on extensions toward the Internet. Since it is designed to be a trip preparation, it’s probable that an access to the web is easy and rapid, which is not often the case in the other modes.

We also propose a link toward our own web services, for different excursions, and notably for more pictures, more explanations and video loops. This link is always accessible by clicking on the icon at the top of the screen. Besides you can give this a try with these instructions, if you want more details.

Map mode can be either local (when internet cannot be accessed) or online, (maps or satellite images downloaded when needed).

The local map mode makes use of internal geographic capabilities: there is no need for an Internet connection to function, which is fortunate, given the exorbitant pricing by most Internet providers when you leave your own country, but also because the Internet is rarely accessible in the more exotic destinations.

The online map mode replaces the HiGuide local maps by the maps, satellite images or satellite images+names (Hybrid) provided by Google. The online maps are downloaded to your HiGuide when needed. Using them, you can zoom-out as you like to see any place of the world, or zoom-in to the most accurate image provided by Google.

Both map modes propose the same menus and work similarly for everything, even if the maps and map controls are different. However some details are slightly different in behavior or appearance.

• In order to utilize the GPS and other means of positioning of the HiPhone, just accept it the first time you use the map mode. In this case, a blue dot indicates your position on the posted map. If you’re not yet situated on this map, this dot will position itself at the nearest point, within the limits of the map.

When the GPS receives a weak signal, (inside a building for example) the iPhone can find your position by triangulation using cell phone emitters and by Wifi access points. In this case, the precision might work less well and the blue dot has a blue circle around it, estimating the uncertainty of the position.

• If you change maps, the blue dot disappears. In order to recenter the map on your position, click on the icon GPS at the top left of the screen.

In the Map mode, the points of interests are sorted by order of proximity.

• From the other side of the screen, a green symbol marked with a + sign allows you to add your own pictures.

your own HiGuide!

HIGuide is meant to be completed by our services and by our partners...

... And also by you yourself, for your own i-Phone!

To add your own photos, choose the most detailed map: a green symbol marked with a + sign allows you to add a new image, either from your own iPhone photo collection or taken just now.

You can edit this photo, choose another one or accept it as is to add to your guide, at the point which you designate by touching the map with your finger. HiGuide then creates for you a new point of interest, () which it temporarily calls “My 1st point”.

Note: in Online map mode, the points are added in the middle of the map present on your screen, then zoom it and adjust your map before shooting your image, for the best accuracy.

You will see this symbol appear on the map and in the lists. By viewing the page of the book corresponding to the symbol, you can modify this name and add it to the text.

Your points are thus added to the internal database of the HiGuide, and remain visible until the next update of this application. Future versions of HiGuide will propose solutions to conserve your data on our servers.

HiGuide now becomes your own HiGuide!

On the web

@ write to us

Pour nous contacter, Au sujet d'HiGuide, contactez notre service HiGuide, Au sujet de partenariats et de développements personnalisés, contactez notre service commercial.