iPhone Apps Hit the Trail

On your next trek, forget the compass—there's an app for that

If we had to bet on the world's next emerging superpower, we'd put all our money on Apple—and we'd probably place the bet with the help of an iPhone application. In their quest to control the (technological?) world, Apple is rolling out a slew of new apps geared towards the techno savvy outdoor enthusiast.

In a new 30-second spot, the familiar hands demonstrate apps to replace a compass, identify bird species, and spot poison ivy. Add those apps to the already impressive list including the Google Earth and GPS systems and you've got a handheld, do-just-about-anything, outdoor genius machine. They've definitely proved their point: There's an app for just about anything.

We're divided—while the apps are pretty darn cool, we can't help but think that carrying around an iPhone in the backcountry makes it, well, not really backcountry anymore. Tell us if you're heading straight to the app store after watching the ad or if you'll be sticking to more primitive instruments like a compass and stick.

—Morgan Keys

Series of new iPhone commercials highlight more handy apps (Ars Technica)

Apple iPhone 3G - Itchy (YouTube)

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READERS COMMENTS

Sep 15, 2010

Does this app work on the itouch or ipad?

PrimevilKneivel

Dec 02, 2009

I first scoffed when I saw a friend bring a hand held video game on a camping trip. But after telling me to #$%@ off and worry about my own gear I thought about it a little and frankly I can see nothing wrong with it. It's a personal choice for sure but providing you've got headphones how does it bother anyone else?

that same trip we needed to take a rest day to fix a broken canoe and I have to say that game passed the time nicely.

I've since upgraded my iPod to the touch precisely to bring camping. I like the star maps and bird guides and yes, even the odd game of Geo Defense.

FerrariV12

Apr 15, 2009

The iPhone DOES HAVE a "true" GPS receiver and works very well. The triangulation is an assist to GPS to enhance quicker location. My iPhone 3G GPS generally locates me within ten feet of my true location.

FerrariV12

Apr 15, 2009

Brian Lang

Apr 14, 2009

The iPhone's vaunted GPS capabilities are useless if you're not in range of multiple cell phone towers. It doesn't use true GPS, but rather it triangulates your position based on the signals it receives from cell towers. So, if you have one tower in range, you are shown on the Maps application to be AT THAT TOWER. If you have two, accuracy improves, but is still not perfect. If you have three, your position is pretty accurate. If you have no tower in range, you cannot be located on the map.

J_B

Apr 09, 2009

I think the apps are great reference tools, but I'd prefer to orient the map and shoot an azimuth with a real compass. Magnetic forces have been pointing us towards to poles for centuries, I don't know if I want to turn that over to ones and zeros, and if you do, then get a GPS. My only question is, how accurate is it without the 3G network?