Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Gear Questions, Information, Reviews and Competitions => Topic started by: Dowser on October 05, 2010
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I've just entered the world of iPhone, and it will be part of my kit going forward, so I was wondering if anyone can recommend some cool apps that would be appropriate for the great outdoors.
I've already put a few on myself (see below), but I'm sure there must loads that I haven't even considered ::)
Apps I've put on:
myAltitude
SAS Survival Guide - John "Lofty" Wiseman
FirstAid
Compass
TuneIn Radio
Gorillacam
Google Earth
Weather
I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions. I know there a millions of apps available, but try and stick to useful ones for the outdoors.
If your recommending apps that you have to pay for I'd be keen to know how useful/value for money you think they are. The SAS Survival Guide is available free (Lite) but I have the full version and it is great. First Aid was only 0.59p but I think it is invaluable.
P.S. Before anyone panics, I'm not planning on ditching my real compass. I do appreciate the limitations of some iPhone technology that requires 3G, GPS and Wifi connectivity etc ;)
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What Knot by Columbia
Met Office
iGlowstick
Trailhead by The North Face
All good free apps
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Motion-X GPS
There is a "Lite" version which will lets you try the app for free, but I was suitably impressed to stump up the nominal asking price. I've enjoyed playing with this app in the hills, and its been great for logging routes to be imported into Mapyx. Main features are My Position which pinpoints your lat/lon, altitude etc. Then there is the Track Recorder which logs your route and also gives real time info on pace, distance, ascent/descent etc. There is also a digital compass and basic worldwide mapping. Only downside is that its hard on the battery; about four hours from fully charged is the best you can expect. I've been experimenting with a Freeloader Pico to up the battery life, but I'm still undecided on the merits of solar.
Cicerone
Neat little free app that has a Locate Me feature that gives your lat/lon but also pinpoints your location by UK OS Grid Reference. Best feature however is the monthly competition which gets you 30% discount on the online Cicerone store. I used it recently to buy a couple of books and I basically ended up getting one of the books free.
Met Office
The default iPhone weather app is plain useless. It uses Yahoo weather which never seems to get the forecast right. Met Office app is free, and gives much more detailed forecasts. It can be a bit buggy at times, but you cant really complain when you arent paying for them! EDIT: Sorry, just noticed Lenny already pointed this one out!
AroundMe
Its a bit like the Points of Interest feature you would find on a Sat Nav. Handy for finding a local for an apres-walk tipple ;)
RunKeeper
Another GPS logger, which although primarily designed for running works well for walking as well. To be honest Motion X GPS app does the same thing, but I think RunKeeper is easier on the battery as it has far less features. Its handy if you just want to keep an eye on time, distance, pace and elevation.
Last.FM
Extremely good music application which is a bit like Spotify. Its free, works over the mobile data network and is great for when you just have to hear that song which isnt in your iTunes library! Or if you want to cheese off RedLeader by playing some Johnny Cash bootlegs on the trail ;)
Also, make use of web applications. There isnt a BBC Weather app yet, but if you go to the BBC Weather mobile page in Safari you can add a shortcut to your apps list to hop straight to it. Also, if you are looking a few photography apps to play with then try CameraBag, Flickr and PS Express. Should keep you busy for awhile :)
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Thanks Lenny and Suspect'. Some great apps there to get me started. Cheers Guys ;D
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Not an outdoorsy one but if you bored in your bivvy angry birds can be fun and as frustrating
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Not an outdoorsy one but if you bored in your bivvy angry birds can be fun and as frustrating
Angry birds is one of the best iPohne games ever made.
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Not an outdoorsy one but if you bored in your bivvy angry birds can be fun and as frustrating
Just added it to my app collection. It is very cool and very addictive. Will be very useful if I get wet night in a bivvi bag. Hopefully doing a bivvi at the Percy Bysshe Cave this Saturday night so I could be an expert at Angry Birds by sunrise.
I'll post a few details about my bivvi in "Meets, places, trips and reviews" (http://www.ni-wild.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=11.0/) if anyone wants to tag along or meet at the bivvi spot.
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woo hoo another i phone convert. They are great things but beware the apps that rely on GPS really suck the battery, well that is my experience. I would invest in a solar charger if you were using this long term. A power monkey can be had for 30 quid.
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A power monkey can be had for 30 quid.
Matthew, how much charge will a Power Monkey give an iPhone? I got the Freeloader Pico solar charger, but you can also charge the internal battery by USB which means you can use it like a Power Monkey to give your battery a boost. Only downer is the capacity of the internal battery in the Pico means you only get around 50% charge with an iPhone.
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Hey I would like to know about the powermonkey aswell.
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from the web it commwnts that it can give four full charges, in practice i was getting about three charges in total. with a phone fully charged can the monkey charged you will be gleaming. it charges in no time and is one of thise products that works. i dropped mine while away, e mailed the company and a replacement was sent out. i have a voucher in the car for one at a reduced rate. ill see if it is still in date and if so post it online.
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how on earth do you protect an iphone in the wild? surely they break with the slightest knock.
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how on earth do you protect an iphone in the wild? surely they break with the slightest knock.
Do you own a iPhone? They are hard as nails
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Yep, the iPhone is actually a pretty hardy phone. In fact, its probably more robust than any phone I've owned in the past. I also pair mine up with an OverBoard (http://www.over-board.co.uk/catalog//bwaterproof-bags-and-casesb/technology-cases/phone-cases/waterproof-iphone-case.p53.html) waterproof sleeve so I don't need to worry about getting it wet or muddy.
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To keep mine water tight I am using a hot beverage bag from an American MRE. They work really well and the screen still functions through the plastic and you can have a conversation.
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I don't like mine at all. Other than the phone bit, it's totally useless for my needs.
When my contract is due for renewal i'm going back to Nokia.
Alan.
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I don't own one - I'm Nokia all the way, though those HTCs look good.
I've a friend who's wrecked two. he must like them though 'cos he went right back and got a third one.
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Useful thread this one. I'll /bump it with a vote for Pocket Universe. The paid version is great and includes moon phases which is a useful thing to know.
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I can only reccomend Motion-X GPS. I used it on my Mournes walk properly the other day and it was fantastic.
Matthew
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How did the battery last?
I can only reccomend Motion-X GPS. I used it on my Mournes walk properly the other day and it was fantastic.
Matthew
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I can only reccomend Motion-X GPS. I used it on my Mournes walk properly the other day and it was fantastic.
Matthew
When I got the iPhone for the first time, previously being a Nokia guy thru and thru, I absolutely loved it. I have to say I keep forgetting to test out it's capabilities in the hills but where I'm living at the mo (Ballyhalbert) it is next to useless for everything but as a basic phone.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the iPhone when I'm areas of civilisation but, it's got me wondering about how useful it is in the Mournes.
What were you able to do with Motion-X and is reception good enough for it to work like a normal GPS like Garmin?
P.S. Apologies to anyone I've just classed as uncivilised because they live in Ballyhalbert, but it's true. There isn't even mobile broadband or Channel 5 down here!!! ;)
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The battery was ok it did suck the power but I had my power monkey on hand to allow for a recharge.
What was it able to do?
I was really only playing with it, marking waypoints and points of interest and seeing information about speed for example.
Coverage was a bit patch in parts.
The best bit about it was using the pinpoint function, which allowed me to finally see where the campsite was on the main Mourne map. I would not be relying on it in place of a dedicated GPS but I would use it if it came to getting me out of trouble.
Matthew
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Everytrail has worked well for me, plus you can instantly load it to face book and share it.