Umbra Sphere vs HexStep

Umbra Sphere is a proof-of-concept app, we use a geospatial technology called "S²Geometry" to store the locations you've visited, identify which country or region they belong to and present them on a map as cleared shadows (umbra). S²Geometry is a geocoding system that divides the Earth's surface into "cells" ranging from 85 million square kilometers to 0.5 square centimeters. These cells are converted into 64-bit integers using the Hilbert curve. Compared with traditional latitude-longitude coordinate system and map projections, S²Geometry is less intuitive, but it avoids significant distortion, delivers globally consistent accuracy, and offers extraordinary indexing and querying performance. With these advantages, Umbra Sphere converts traces into a series integers and stores them in database with appropriate indexes to generate umbra fast in real-time for displaying. It also provides statistical features, presenting the areas of countries or regions you've visited on "visa" cards. Additionally, Umbra Sphere also features a simple S²Geometry visualization tool, allowing you to view S²Geometry cells and their corresponding integer IDs directly on the map. ● Umbra Sphere supports importing these file types: • GPX and KML trace files • Sync files and snapshot files from Fog of World • Backup CSV files from StepLife ● Privacy We respect privacy, and simply do not collect any of your data. All your data are stored in your device. Umbra Sphere does not provide sync feature, you can manually export and import your data.

Every step you take paints the map. HexStep tracks where you go in the background and turns your real-world movement into a hexagonal map that grows with you. No check-ins, no photo tagging. Just move, and your map fills itself. HOW IT WORKS The world is divided into an H3 hexagonal grid. Walk, bike, or drive through a hex, and that cell stays on your map. • Background GPS with smart battery optimization • Drill down from countries → provinces → districts → neighborhoods • See completion percentages for Gangnam, Tokyo, New York, or anywhere in the world LEVEL UP Earn points for every new hex. Climb five tiers, one at a time. Wanderer → Regular → Local → Explorer → Human GPS SHARE YOUR MAP Create story-ready share cards of your hex map. Share them on Instagram, iMessage, or anywhere else. HEXSTEP PLUS (PREMIUM FEATURES) See how your map grew over time and where you keep coming back. • Replay how your map filled in and save it as a video • See when you first claimed each hex and how many days you’ve been there • Frequently visited hexes appear more vivid on the map • All future Plus features included One-time purchase, no subscription. PRIVACY Your location stays on your device and in your personal cloud. Works in every country. Offline-capable. Syncs across devices. Start exploring. Your map is waiting.