T-Mobile Android G1

[magnatom]

I've been trying out a few GPS tracker widgets and I think I've found a good one, called InstaMapper. It tracks you and allows you to save gpx files etc, but it does this by sending the GPS info via the mobile network to the Instamapper server.

This could be a problem in areas of poor reception, however, it has a buffer (up to 100 points) so it should work ok. It will use a reasonable amount of data, but nothing that should cause a problem as long as you have a data package (which you have to have with the HTC Magic)

What this allows you to do (along with most of the normal things you can do with GPX files) is to allow people to track you live, i.e. if I go out for a training run, I can give my wife the web address and she can check where I am, and work out, when I'll get back. Cool!

More interestingly when I do the Trossachs Ton (on the 21st) I will be able to put a link up and anyone who is interested could follow my progress!

At the weekend I hope to test it with one of my training rides. I'll post the link on CC and see if it works!

 

[magnatom]

Oh forgot to add, it will use up the battery. Just as well I bought a U2O iWALK power pack!

 

[Fnaar]

Let us know how it works!

 

[Fnaar]

Another top app folks... got it t'other day, works a treat is Google Voice Search... you speak your search criteria and (usually) bingo!
Careful though, or you might find yourself on the bus saying "Tour de France" into your phone while your fellow passengers think "Why does the nutter always sit near me?"

Oh, and try "Metal Detector" too... it works great! Just used it to confirm where some water pipes run up the wall behind some plasterboard...

And Google Translate is very good too!

And the Beeb player now has live radio too...

Can you tell I like this phone?

 

[fossyant]

Right then--I'll be playing.....

Metal detector - how the hell does that work.......?

 

[simonali]

New model does Flash rather well.

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/articles/htchero.html

 

[magnatom]

New model does Flash rather well.

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/devices/articles/htchero.html

Surely if Flash works on one android phone it should work on others?

 

[fossyant]

Flash will work if the G1 owners go to cupcake, which is on the G2 (new os which includes the screen keyboard, which the G2 needs.....)

PS the metal detector does work .....FFS...mad.........

 

[Piemaster]

Just got a G1 today . A few reviews and this thread helping me make up my mind. Gmail integration being a massive plus for me.
WOW! Intuitive & effortless. Got it connected up to my wifi and, well that was effortless too.
Now to go get myself some apps!

Magnatom - I've missed it if you've posted about it. How well did the live mapping of your ride go? And does the charger thing do the job or would a spare battery be a better idea? Did consider a freeloader for my old phone but they don't seem well liked. Says he sat in gloomy Hull.

 

[fossyant]

Used it a fair bit this weekend mapping walks with scouts - worked a treat.... even survived someone spilling a glass of beer on top of it.......

Mucked about with it all weekend - really hammered the battery, but it survived a day before recharge.

 

[Fnaar]

Found a free app called Taskiller... turns off apps you've recently had open (they normally run in the background when you leave them, thus taking up battery juice)... been using it a week, makes a bit of difference if you remember to use it. Alternatively, turn off and then on again.

 

[Dan B]

Does anyone have a handlebar/stem/bike mount of any kind for one of these things? How do you find it? Especially with GPS tracking and suchlike, it'd be good to be able to see the screen while on the move

 

[Fnaar]

Does anyone have a handlebar/stem/bike mount of any kind for one of these things? How do you find it? Especially with GPS tracking and suchlike, it'd be good to be able to see the screen while on the move

Saw some on amazon when I looked a while ago. Personally I'd be paranoid about it falling off, over a pothole etc... when I've used the gps I've just shoved it in my jersey pocket, in a placcy bag in case of rain... not too worried about following on the map as I go, but like to save the route map for later reference...

 

[Dan B]

Saw some on amazon when I looked a while ago. Personally I'd be paranoid about it falling off, over a pothole etc...

Yes, this is what's bothering me

 

[magnatom]

Sportypal is good, but I am sticking with My Tracks at the moment (HTC magic).

There was a problem with very large tracks (i.e. my 100 mile ride) but that has been solved now.

What I have come across which is brilliant, once you have your GPX file off the phone, is ActiveGPX software. It is a route player, that allows you to do some analysis as well. You can overlay your track on google and actually play it, i.e. watch you progress all along the map! If you pay a small fee(£9 I think), you can also play multiple tracks, so if you do the same route twice, you can play the two routes at the same time and watch real time (or accelerated) where you have gone faster/slower on each ride. Now that is cool. You could even compare tracks with other people.

I am tempted to pay for this.

I ave attached a screenshot of me going very slowly up Dukes pass on my 100 mile ride! (I should point out that the gradient was definitely not 0 at this point!)