Igo

I've been recording my hikes and rides since GPS came on the scene but now I can carry a video camera, still camera, gps, maps and tunes (if I see fit) in a 5 inch 5 ounce package if I bring the phone instead of the GPS. But I have questions as this is my first smart phone.
I ride where there are no cell towers and I have yet (haven't really looked in to it yet) to determine if this thing actually has GPS capabilities or if GPS functions are relayed off of cell towers. I've been using a Garmin GPSMap60 CSx and it does a fantastic job of collecting anything a cyclist would want other than cadence and monitoring. But I've never uploaded anything because the system is self contained with the maps being local on my PC hard drive.
What I need to know is will I be using my data plan to run the app/track satellites or is there minimal real time GPS capabilities on board this rather elaborate cell phone? And if I am able to use Map My Ride, how power hungry does the app make my phone. Again, I don't know what the phone is doing and what the app is using to record these rides and I will be out of tower range almost always.
Thanks much in advance

LansingWes

I use Mapmyride from my Droid Incredible. The GPS is stand alone, but the signal may be weak. Cellular signal reception only boosts your GPS.

c_bake

I use my HTC EVO to record hikes and sometimes rides. I have used MMR but now use Strava. I can get an 8 hours using my phone GPS running the strava app in the background. Since the GPS is stand alone and the app runs off GPS and not internet/data I put my phone on Airplane mode that way the phone does not use any battery searching for cell signals.

One other thing to be aware of..Google Maps now has the off-line map option where you can download the map of the area you will be hiking or riding, before hand. This feature is very useful if you frequent areas that has no cell reception because you can still use the GPS to determine your location on google maps since it is in cache. I live in Colorado and this feature is very useful to me when hiking in the backcountry.

UGASkiDawg

It's a Samsung...you'll get 4-5 hours battery life max stay with your Garmin.

Igo

Terrific information and much appreciated. I know GPS but I don't know the phones. The place I ride is called The River Mountain Trail. About half of it is outside of cell tower reach. You can't get lost but I like to pit this weeks ride against last week's ride. I can always do that with my GPS but am not sure if the phone will keep track of my where-abouts for the duration. I'm really looking forward to checking it out. I still have to find a handlebar mount for it though.

Igo

LOL. Well, I've gotten much more out of it than the 3 hours I need but I only need the 3 hours.

Igo

Oh, I just downloaded the Strava app. I love mapping and GPS but I am unfamiliar with any of the phone apps. I'll have about 10 weeks to learn the software before I can put it to any real use. The first thing I learned to do was this.....

Not getting in much riding at 110+ temperatures. 113 on my ride home Tuesday. Cool screen shot though.

bianchi10

I'm loving my S3!

Here is my screen shot...

Igo

At 111 degrees I've had plenty time to mess with it.

c_bake

Next month I'm eligible for an upgrade so I'm going to use it on the S3 32g. I haven't heard a single negative thing about the phone.

Igo

Lots of fun. I did this one with a shot I got on the 4th at a local fireworks display.

Igo

I got the 16gb but I just put a class 6 64gb sdxc card in it. I hope I shoot a lot of video while out riding.

Igo

OK. I don't have a bike mount yet so I threw on some cargo shorts and took the hybrid out. I did as I was told as much as I could anyway. I set the S3 to "Airport" mode then went to MapMyRide but could not remember my log in so I open a folder I created called "GPS and Navigation" and oped a file called "My Tracks". I don't know if I downloaded the app or if it came on the phone but I wwas able to go straight to the application from there. I hit the record button then stuck the phone in my pocket and hoped for the best. I have never seen this program open so I had no idea what to expect.
I got to my breakfast place, sat down, then looked to see what it was I had recorded. Low and behold, even in airport mode and stuck down in a deep pocket the phone recorded my route with precision. When I opened it by route spilled out onto Google Earth and moved, with pauses, in accelerated time as if a helicopter camera overhead was playing back in fast forward. Wonderful. Then when I got back on WiFi, all the Google Earth imagines updated to Hi Def. Now I have to find a way to save the tracks to a Garmin file extension so I can transfer the route to my Garmin GPS. I had no idea these phones have real GPS on board. I always thought there was some kind of satellite/repeater/cell tower arrangement. I am blown away by this phone's capabilities.

Biscayne05

I use my Nexus on my 4 hours rides and I still have about 60-70% left after w/ GPS and Data on.

Just learn on how to put roms on. The devs put battery life as one of the top priorities when making one.

Igo

What?