Good Find TM...EveryTrail

I don't know if TM looked around this site very much, but it is so stinking awesome! If any of you have an iPhone, they have this app that seems really cool. If we could use this, it would be awesome for hiking, and having/making real time maps. It would also be good for us to keep up with the conditions of trails as we go on them. I'm not sure exactly how it all works yet, but I'm going to keep exploring. Normally I'm against taking my iPhone, but with things like this and the iPod on it, it might become the ultimate multi-use item. Now if I can just find a way to keep it charged !

solar panel on the back of your pack??

Haha it would be nice, and there are a few companies working on this. However, there are problems with attaching it to the bag, weight, efficency, etc. That would be the best idea, but something like this charger is probably more practical right now. However, I did just talk to energizer and they said that they would be releasing one that works with the 3g iPhones in a few months.

Wow, I am begging for an Iphone right now. The only thing is that we would have to put the extra insurance on it, and everything else to protect it. I am on my 2nd loaner phone already since November . Ths app is awesome, especially if it will track elevation, speed, direction, etc. what a great idea.

PM,
I have insurance on my iPhone through my private insurance company. Its about $30/yr and no diductable when I claim, and its insured for $439 (I think). I have also bought this case for it. Otter Box has an awesome warranty program. I just call them, and they put the replacement parts in the mail. I get them in a couple of days here in Conway. The case adds a little bulk to the phone, but it completely incloses the phone, and you are not actually touching any part of the phone. Even the screen is covered, but it doesn't sacrifice any sensitivity on the touch screen (getting down off of my soap box). I cannot wait to try this app out this weekend!

Thanks for the post, let us know how it works, I am really excited about this. Amanda gets to upgrade her account next month, and can get an I-phone pretty cheap. A phone, camera, gps, mp3 player, Net browser, even a carpenters level. These phones can do ALMOST everything.

I love the idea that it will track exacty how far and where you have been. Exact for the idea of who else can see you too .

Just FYI, here's an app for a Blackberry also.

Uh.. heck I thought everyone knew about everytrail. About the Iphones and Blackberrys. As far as for trail use... I don't know if you have done much hiking with yours, but when Rodger and I did the BRT back on New Years, and all around the Buffalo for that matter, coverage was 99.99999999% non existant. My Treo will get coverage if I turn the roaming on but when ever I get in the area I just turn the damn thing off lol. His GPSing with the Iphone was next to impossable. Even when he had coverage it was at the BEST, WAY off. If your looking for GPS then go get a cheap one. Even the little eTrex Vista CSX that I traded to him (cause I don't like its accuracy) was more accurate, and had better coverage. I am sure that if your hiking and walking around town then it maybe ok. But I know I would not take it to the woods. lol sorry to burst any bubbles

At least my wife is happy that she doesn't have to hear about it so much.

TM,
Their website made it sound like you could use the app on the iPhone as a regular GPS, and then upload the info when you get home. It didn't seem like you needed coverage other than the normal needed by any GPS. Am I reading this wrong? Is the iPhone GPS that bad?

willky:
The gps in cell phones work off the cell towers, I think. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me, but I'm pretty sure that you have to have cell coverage in order to use the gps function on your cell phone. I did download everytrail to my Blackberry Bold, but haven't had a chance to use it yet.
UL

UL is correct.... it DON"T have the GPS chip. It relies on cell phone towers. No coverage No GPS.

Ha, well that is good to know. I was certainly wrong. Guess this thing isn't as good of a deal as it seemed...surprise, surprise. Guess now my question is, how did the ERL loop get mapped so well? I mean he must have used a "normal" GPS, right?

prob. a Garmin MAPSGPS 60 if I had to guess. Not many better than that.. course thats the one I carry

willky:
Charlie states on his site that he uses a WAAS-enabled GPS unit. Here's a link that describes what a WAAS-enabled GPS unit does. http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/waas.html
UL

Ok.. just googled about the Iphone and GPS. Just wanted to make sure that I was correct. Seems that I am. The Iphone not only does NOT have a GPS chipset but neither will it connect with a bluetooth GPS device. ATT nor Apple, in both of their own words, have no intention of it ever being able to. There seems to be some talk on some of the hack boards that I visit about hacking the Iphones built in GPS, but I can find NO GPS chipset. So what the heck are these bozos suppose to be hacking into. Turns out that its nothing more than cell phone tower trianguations. Thus leave the city, leave the GPS. Sorry guys. Guess you will have to buy a GPS to get a GPS. Imagine that huh. hahaha