Touring - iPhone app for bike touring - TrackMyTour v2 released

Hi all!

I'm pleased to announce the release of TrackMyTour version 2, which is an iPhone app for bike touring. Well, it's not specific to touring, but it was my love of touring that encouraged me to develop this.

The app lets you create an online map to which you can add waypoints (with photo & text) from the road. Friends and family can follow along online to see your progress and leave comments. It's sort of like micro blogging, but with an emphasis on location. Here's a sample map (http://trackmytour.com/555#3500) from my 2009 tour.

You can find the app on the App Store (http://itunes.com/apps/TrackMyTour). The free version lets you create two maps. I hope you find it useful. Enjoy!

How about an Android version?

How about an Android version?

I'd love to build for other mobile devices, but TrackMyTour is a hobby and I just don't have the resources. Besides, I have an iPhone. ;)

Hi Chris, two questions....

1. Your site states that the app requires a gps-enabled iPhone. I have a 3GS iPhone, but I don't subscribe to AT&T's gps service. Is it really necessary to have the subscribed gps service to properly use this app? I do own a handheld GPS device, and the iPhone does have the ability to locate your location on a map (and the user can always drop a pin, anyhow).

2. What does the $1.99 buy?

Thanks

Thanks for updating this app. I see it will work on an ipod also good news. I'll check it out.

Now if you can figure out how to keep an ipod/iphone from turning to garbage in the rain you'll have a winner. This is why I use a Garmin Edge for a cycle computer. Weather proof.

I like the app and job well done but... Don't like the delivery vehicle.

Hi Chris, two questions....

1. Your site states that the app requires a gps-enabled iPhone. I have a 3GS iPhone, but I don't subscribe to AT&T's gps service. Is it really necessary to have the subscribed gps service to properly use this app? I do own a handheld GPS device, and the iPhone does have the ability to locate your location on a map (and the user can always drop a pin, anyhow).

2. What does the $1.99 buy?

The app works best with a GPS-enabled phone, but it's not required. The iPod touch and older iPhone models can determine your location based on the triangulation of cell towers and surrounding WiFi signals. However, it's only the iPhone 3G & 3GS that work with satellite GPS. In remote areas without a carrier or WiFi signal it becomes the only means of determining your location.

I'm not familiar with AT&T or their opt-in for GPS services. If your iPhone can locate you in the maps app (with the blue dot), then it should work with TrackMyTour.

The app is free to download and use, but users are limited to creating two maps. This restriction can be removed by purchasing an upgrade. The purchase will also help offset some of the hosting and licensing fees.

Let me know how it goes! chris

Now if you can figure out how to keep an ipod/iphone from turning to garbage in the rain you'll have a winner. This is why I use a Garmin Edge for a cycle computer. Weather proof.

I like the app and job well done but... Don't like the delivery vehicle.

Thank you. Keep in mind that TrackMyTour isn't a cycling computer or real-time tracker, and therefore doesn't need to be mounted on the handlebars. I keep my phone protected in the handlebar bag and take it out whenever I wish to add a waypoint to my map.

Now if you can figure out how to keep an ipod/iphone from turning to garbage in the rain you'll have a winner. This is why I use a Garmin Edge for a cycle computer. Weather proof.

I like the app and job well done but... Don't like the delivery vehicle.

Big +1! If you so much spit on a Iphone, its toast! I'm on my 2nd 3GS cause it couldn't handle a little humidity. I'm going to another app phone once this one dies....which will probably be soon:mad:

Well Done Chris!

I'll be purchasing this app before me tour this summer! Looks very cool!

Chris, will the app still function if you are only operiodicaly enabling the Location Service? Leaving the GPS on is a real battery drain. When riding long routes, I usually disable Location Service, Wifi, and 3G until needed, then turn them back off after use.

Chris, will the app still function if you are only operiodicaly enabling the Location Service? Leaving the GPS on is a real battery drain. When riding long routes, I usually disable Location Service, Wifi, and 3G until needed, then turn them back off after use.

That won't be a problem. You only need to have Location Services enabled at the moment you add a new waypoint. Waypoints can also be saved offline (as a "Draft") without a network connection and submitted later when you've enabled 3G or have a WiFi connection. You can also edit existing waypoints without location services, 3G, or WiFi enabled.

That won't be a problem. You only need to have Location Services enabled at the moment you add a new waypoint. Waypoints can also be saved offline (as a "Draft") without a network connection and submitted later when you've enabled 3G or have a WiFi connection. You can also edit existing waypoints without location services, 3G, or WiFi enabled.

Great! One more then- any way you can add switches for turning on/off wifi and location services from the app? Drives me nuts having apps tell me I need to turn on location, then makes me exit to do it. (well, not really nuts, it's a minor inconvenience...)

What do the symbols in the text block on the right mean, just a way to categorize photo's?

Can you include video clips? I just downloaded ivideo to my iphone 3g and it works well.

Nice job, I will be using this for my next tour!

Well Done Chris!

I'll be purchasing this app before me tour this summer! Looks very cool!

Thanks!


Great! One more then- any way you can add switches for turning on/off wifi and location services from the app? Drives me nuts having apps tell me I need to turn on location, then makes me exit to do it. (well, not really nuts, it's a minor inconvenience...)

I regret not. This is restricted by Apple and can only be changed in the settings.


What do the symbols in the text block on the right mean, just a way to categorize photo's?

Can you include video clips? I just downloaded ivideo to my iphone 3g and it works well.

Nice job, I will be using this for my next tour!

Great! The icons give a little context to the tour and waypoint. It tells you the type of tour (bike, hike, road trip, sailing, etc.), the type of waypoint (generic waypoint, coffee, dinner, scenic, swim, camp, etc.) and the weather. I'm still finalizing the design of where those icons will go, so they may end up in a different place than where you saw them.

The app doesn't support video, but I might look into it if there is enough demand.

Last week I released the latest version of the TrackMyTour iPhone app (v3) for bike touring, which is a big step up from the release last year. This new version has a bunch of great new features:


iPhone 4 retina display and iPad support
new and improved user interface
follow the tours of other travellers from directly within the app


You can grab the latest version at http://bit.ly/8i8nV3. It's free to download and get started, and you can upgrade from within the app to unlock additional features and help support some of the costs.

Here are two active tours to see what it looks like: Give A Bike 50 State Tour (http://trackmytour.com/3774) and Bike Piligrimage (http://trackmytour.com/1372). Enjoy!