The openness of Google’s My Tracks strikes me as a clear differentiator. This new tool allows you to track your outdoor activities with the GPS capabilities of a Google Android-powered phone, and to use the track for live statistics or to share with others via Google’s free Map and Docs programs. There have been previous services in this space, but all with some cumbersome and time consuming steps to download GPS data, and upload and build maps in a piece of software. This new app makes tracking and mapping a seamless activity, without any subscription costs.
Living in Colorado, I particularly like the program’s ability to track speed and elevation. This will come in handy for skiing and mountain biking. The emphasis here is on training, with the spreadsheet function allowing you to see your training progress over time. I’m guessing that a number of interesting sharing sites will develop in order to create communities of like-minded athletes.
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the s/w is all well & good (iPhone has something similar) but i don’t see the h/w up to it yet:
- doesn’t seem very rugged: can i ride thru a monsoon w/it? will it survive dumping the bike?
- most phone screens can’t be read in direct sunlight, are any of the android ones readable outdoors?
- GPS usually eats batteries like candies (my PDA will use up almost 30% of the battery charge just starting up & locating itself).
i think we’re still a generation or so away from phones replacing purpose built bike/whatever GPS. hat said, i do use google maps on my PDA if i’m not sure of a route. that & my forerunner are a pretty useful combo.