For Android developers seeking a hands-on reference for implementing location-based features, an open-source sample project has received notable upgrades. Originally forked from Pavannamepalli's Sample-Location repository, the project maintained by ornatwork now incorporates three key functionalities beyond basic GPS positioning: current altitude, compass direction, and local weather conditions.

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The core purpose remains educational: providing a functional codebase demonstrating how to utilize Android's LocationManager and related APIs. The new features significantly expand its scope:

  1. Altitude Tracking: Demonstrates accessing elevation data alongside latitude and longitude, crucial for hiking, aviation, or navigation apps.
  2. Compass Integration: Shows how to retrieve and display device orientation using the magnetometer sensor, essential for augmented reality or directional navigation.
  3. Weather Conditions: Illustrates integrating a weather API (specific service not detailed in the repo) to fetch and display local weather based on the device's current coordinates, a common requirement for travel or outdoor apps.

Developers can inspect the code on GitHub to understand the implementation details of:
* Requesting and handling fine location permissions.
* Acquiring location updates via LocationManager.
* Accessing and processing sensor data for compass heading.
* Making network calls to external APIs (presumably for weather) and parsing responses.

The project includes a pre-built APK for immediate testing on an Android device, allowing developers to experience the features firsthand before delving into the code.

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Screenshot: The updated My Location app interface showing coordinates, altitude, compass, and weather.

While not a production-ready application, this fork serves as a valuable, consolidated learning resource. It tackles several common but non-trivial tasks faced when building location-centric Android apps, moving beyond simple coordinate retrieval. The evolution from its original fork also highlights how foundational samples can be extended to cover more complex real-world scenarios. For developers building apps requiring rich location context – from fitness trackers to field service tools – dissecting this updated sample offers practical insights into combining device sensors and web services effectively.

Source: Code and APK available via the ornatwork/Sample-Location GitHub repository. Original fork based on pavannamepalli/Sample-Location.