# orecast: Hidden History Maps — WW2 bunkers, lidar & old maps > Geological and fossil discovery map with AI identification and offline capabilities. (iPhone/iPad app by Marcus Gier.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orecast-hidden-history-maps/id6784196045 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Marcus Gier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882698891) - Category: Navigation, Travel - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 65 MB - Languages: German (Germany), American English, French (France), Polish - Released: 2026-07-27 - Data updated: 2026-11-08 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orecast-hidden-history-maps/id6784196045/reviews.md ## What is orecast? There is more under your feet than you think. Ores and minerals, fossils, old adits and spoil heaps from the mining days. orecast shows you on the map what is documented at a place, and tells you where the information comes from. The data comes from official surveys and open databases. NEW: HOLLOWS & CHANNELS A layer from laser data shows where the ground lies lower or higher than its surroundings: old river channels, dips and ditches, even under fields. It shows landforms, not find spots. Without Pro as a preview, with Pro on the whole map. MAP PICKER Under “Maps” you choose the background (map, grey, aerial) and add relief, hollows & channels or “Past” on top: old maps from 1800 and old aerial photos from 1930, including 1944/45, where the German states release them freely. A “Visible” box with a slider per layer shows what you are looking at. Plus records per hex: where a lot is documented, not where you will find something. Old maps, old aerial photos and the hex map are part of orecast Pro. TAKE AN AREA WITH YOU AND THE HEATMAP Save your area to your phone beforehand, and the map, sites and ordnance warnings keep working without signal (one area with an account, several with Pro). The heatmap shows where a lot of mining, ore or fossils is recorded. HOW IT WORKS Tap the map or let GPS find you. The profile shows what is documented within 5 to 50 kilometres. You can share a place. The app starts where you left off. WHAT YOU FIND ON THE MAP • Gold, silver, copper, fluorite and dozens of other raw materials, each with its source • Fossil sites with their geological age • Caves, old mines and show mines • Ore veins in Saxony and coal seams in the Ruhr and the Saar • Castles, battlefields and bunkers, plus ordnance warnings • Relief from official laser scans: ditches, banks, mining pits and spoil heaps, even under woodland • Hollows & channels from laser data: dips and old channels, even under fields • Today's aerial imagery for everyone, old maps from 1800 and old aerial photos from 1930, including 1944/45 (Pro) • The places from the orecast episodes and the place of the week • Notes at low water on the Rhine, Elbe and Danube HONEST, NOT PROMISES orecast separates what is documented from what is merely possible. No invented percentages, no treasure promises. If the data is thin, the app says so. Where ordnance is likely, the map warns you. Adits and shafts are deadly. Never enter them. AI ASSESSMENT AND PHOTO IDENTIFICATION The AI assessment explains the local geology in plain words. Take a photo of a rock or a fossil, and the AI suggests what it might be. Neither comes with a guarantee. With a free account your first three AI uses are free. MY FIND BOOK Your finds with photo, type, date and note, as a PDF if you like, even without signal. The exact spot stays visible only to you; you can share it after a review, coarsened to about 5 kilometres. KNOW BEFORE YOU DIG Collecting and digging are regulated almost everywhere and often need a permit. Respect nature protection, monuments and private land. orecast provides information, not permission. FREE AND PRO Free: the map with sites, mining, fossils, history and warnings, today's aerial imagery, the heatmaps for mining, ores and fossils, relief and hollows & channels around your spot, and one area to take with you (with an account). orecast Pro adds: • Unlimited AI assessments and photo identification • Relief and hollows & channels on the whole map, without Pro as a preview around your spot • Ore veins and coal seams in the full radius (5 kilometres without Pro) • Old maps and old aerial photos to blend, including 1944/45 • The hex map, the geotope layer and the gold heatmap • Several larger areas to take with you, with relief and aerial imagery • GPX export for GPS devices The subscription renews automatically. You can cancel it at any time in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ## Key features - Geological and mineral deposit maps - Fossil site identification - AI-powered rock and fossil analysis - Historical map overlays - Offline map access - Personalized find book - Landform and hollows layer ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | orecast Pro yearly | $59.00 | per year | | Orecast Premium | $7.99 | per month | ## Is orecast safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess orecast. ## Is orecast legit? orecast: Hidden History Maps appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for orecast is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orecast-hidden-history-maps/id6784196045/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Smart and Easy to Use *2026-08-31* Orecast is a clean and user-friendly app with a smooth overall experience. The interface is simple to navigate, making it quick and convenient to explore the interactive geological map. A well-designed app that's easy to use and definitely worth trying! **Developer response:** Thank you so much for the kind words! Keeping the map simple and quick to explore is exactly what we aim for. Happy exploring, and let us know anytime if there is something you'd like to see in orecast. ## Frequently asked questions about orecast ### What geological information does orecas provide? orecast displays documented ores, minerals, and fossil sites on a map, indicating their geological age and source. It also highlights landforms like old river channels and ditches, and historical mining features such as adits and spoil heaps. ### How does the AI assessment feature work in orecas? The AI assessment in orecas explains local geology in simple terms. You can take a photo of a rock or fossil, and the AI will suggest its potential identification. Your first three AI uses are free with a free account. ### Can I use orecas without an internet connection? Yes, you can save an area to your phone beforehand, allowing the map, sites, and ordnance warnings to function without a signal. With a free account, you can save one area, while Pro users can save multiple areas. ### What historical maps are available in orecas? orecas offers historical map overlays including old maps from the 1800s and old aerial photos from 1930, with some from 1944/45 available where released by German states. These historical maps are part of the orecas Pro subscription. ### Does orecas have ads? Yes, orecas contains advertisements. The app is free to download and use, with optional in-app purchases for premium features and subscriptions. ### How often is orecas updated? The latest version of orecas is 1.0.14, which was last updated on October 31, 2026. Updates typically include new features, bug fixes, and data enhancements. ### What are the subscription options for orecas? orecas offers two subscription plans: Orecast Premium at $7.99 per month and orecas Pro yearly at $59.00 per year, providing access to additional features and content. ### Is orecas suitable for children? orecas has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for younger users. However, the app contains warnings about dangerous areas like adits and shafts, advising users never to enter them. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.15 — 2026-11-06 New in orecast 1.0.15: • Aerial photos 1944/45: Allied reconnaissance photos now also for Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg (Pro) • New episode in the app: the spy photo of Hamminkeln • orecast now speaks French and Polish (choose in your account) • Faster to Pro: sign in with Apple or Google right in the paywall • Our own, calmer base map • Bug fixes and polish ### 1.0.14 — 2026-10-31 Neu in 1.0.14: Mulden & Rinnen, Luftbilder von 1944/45 und eine klarere Kartenwahl. Mulden & Rinnen Eine neue Ebene zeigt, wo das Gelände tiefer oder höher liegt als seine Umgebung: alte Flussrinnen, Senken, Gräben und Kanten, auch unter Acker und Wiese. Berechnet aus Laserdaten, dargestellt in Blau und Rot. Ohne Pro als Vorschau rund um die Kartenmitte, mit Pro auf der ganzen Karte. Luftbilder von 1944/45 Unter „Früher“ stehen jetzt Luftbilder vom Kriegsende, dort, wo sie frei verfügbar sind, immer mit dem Hinweis auf Blindgänger. Teil von orecast Pro. Kartenwahl Jede Ebene ist eine Karte mit Symbol, Namen, einer Zeile Erklärung und Schalter. Die Belege je Wabe findest du direkt in der Kartenwahl. Der Knopf „Karten“ zeigt, wie viele Ebenen an sind. Oben auf der Karte zeigt ein Kasten „Sichtbar“, was gerade zu sehen ist, mit einem Regler je Ebene. Außerdem Das Luftbild von heute ist für alle frei. Die Werbung ist abgeschaltet. Der Erststart ist kürzer. Das Pro-Angebot zeigt Jahr und Monat, und die Kaufseite nennt genau, was Pro freischaltet. ### 1.0.13 — 2026-10-29 New in 1.0.13: a tidier map picker and an easier way to Pro. Map picker The left button stack now has a “Map” button. Choose the background (map, grey or aerial), add terrain relief in three strengths, and use “Past” to move along a timeline to old maps and old aerial photos. One slider blends between past and present. Everything sits in one place, leaving more room for the map. Aerial imagery, old maps and old aerial photos are part of orecast Pro. Pro made easier The Pro offer shows the benefits that fit what you are looking at. You can now buy without an account and create one afterwards. Also new • On first start you can also pick “Aerial photos” as an interest. • Links to orecast.app/app open the app directly. ### 1.0.12 — 2026-10-28 New in 1.0.12: maps you can blend, the hex map, and the app on iPad. Maps you can blend Bottom left there is a new button, “Maps”. Lay aerial imagery, terrain relief, old maps and old aerial photos over the map, up to two at once, and blend between them with one slider. See what a place was around 1850 and what stands there today. Old maps and old aerial photos are available where the German states release them freely, for example North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony or Brandenburg. Aerial imagery, old maps and old aerial photos are part of orecast Pro. Hex map In the layers sheet under “Records per hex” the map shows hexagons within 5 km of your point. The stronger the colour, the more fossils, ores or mining are documented there. A coloured edge warns of WWII sites and marks protected sites, battlefields and Roman roads. The hexes show where a lot is recorded, not where you will find something. With orecast Pro. iPad orecast now runs full size on iPad. Also new • The welcome screen explains what the app can do. • Aerial imagery and relief moved from the layers sheet into the maps bar. • If an error occurs, the app shows it instead of quitting silently. ### 1.0.11 — 2026-10-23 Two big new features: take an area with you, and the heatmap. Take an area with you In the woods and in many valleys there is often no signal. Save your area to your phone beforehand, and the map, the sites and the warnings about unexploded ordnance keep working without signal. With a free account you can take one area with you. With orecast Pro you get several larger areas, and the relief scanner and aerial imagery come along too. Heatmap Where was there a lot of mining, where many ore finds, where many fossil sites? The heatmap shows it in colour. The stronger the colour, the more is documented there. It shows where a lot is recorded, not where you will find something. The gold heatmap comes with Pro. Places from the videos For every orecast episode the app shows you the place on the map. You find the episodes at the bottom left under “Videos”. My find book Your finds with type, date and note, as a PDF if you like. You can now record a find without signal too. It uploads as soon as you have signal again. Also new • Place of the week: once a week the app introduces a place when you open it. • Share a place, for example in a message to friends. • Low water note: when the gauge on the Rhine, Elbe or Danube drops below the usual low water level, the app tells you. On the Elbe it also shows the documented hunger stones. • The app starts where you left off. • Without Pro, the app shows ore veins and coal seams within 5 kilometres. A note now tells you when that is the case. • The account button and the zoom slider now have more space from the other buttons. ## Apps similar to orecast | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [TopoRec - Map Viewer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toporec-map-viewer/id6499441232) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Navigation | | [Rockhounding.org](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rockhoundingorg/id6808788112) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Navigation | | [Metal Detecting Hub: Rodek](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metal-detecting-hub-rodek/id6782059824) | — | Free | Navigation | | [Treasure Map Japan: Rockhound](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/treasure-map-japan-rockhound/id6796719484) | — | Free | Navigation | | [Goldmaps AI - Find Treasure](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goldmaps-ai-find-treasure/id6788154573) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Navigation | | [Gold Prospector App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-prospector-app/id6762539171) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Navigation | ## More apps by Marcus Gier - [ChronoCheck](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chronocheck/id6760113295) - [Sprechhilfe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sprechhilfe/id6791940499) All apps by Marcus Gier: https://appshunter.io/developer/1882698891 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-08.*