Did anyone hear of any new apps in the marketplace that utilizes the GPS for tracking your running (Similar to the Nike + iPod http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/ )?
Got a tip for us?
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3g iPhone and Nike
- Thread starter philskillz
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that would be very cool if they integrated the GPS into a running app, to track distance, time and the route taken
Wow! I hadn't even thought of that - as a big fan of Nike+ this would be great, and presumably fairly easy to program a bit of tracking software.
It just confirms the often stated opinion that the App Store will be the real killer feature of the iPhone.
It just confirms the often stated opinion that the App Store will be the real killer feature of the iPhone.
Yeah I briefly thought about this and it's interesting to not need the accessory to be able to do this anymore. I bet Nike will make the program that will track you or another company seeing as you won't need the Nike gear to do it.
It wouldn't be accurate enough. Remember this isn't GPS from a satellite receiver in the phone. It's a triangulated cell signal. Not nearly accurate enough for running. You'll get wildly inaccurate readings.
If you want something for running look at the Garmin forerunner 205, 305 or 405.
The nike system works via an accelerometer.
iPhone 3G goes a step further, using a unique approach to find the closest satellites and more quickly identify your position. That gives you a faster fix on your location than with regular GPS.
In addition to A-GPS, iPhone 3G uses signals from GPS satellites, Wi-Fi hot spots, and cellular towers to get the most accurate location fast. If GPS is available, iPhone displays a blue GPS indicator. But if youre inside without a clear line of sight to a GPS satellite iPhone finds you via Wi-Fi. If youre not in range of a Wi-Fi hot spot, iPhone finds you using cellular towers.
from apple.com/iphone/features/gps.html
Yes, it is.
(Sorry, soberbrain. I know your post says the same thing, but I figuered it needs to be said in a simple way too since in-depth explinations aren't read by everyone around here.)
I thought the a-gps first looks for gps, then wi-fi, and lastly cell tower as indicated here. Gps would lock in pretty accurately for a runner.
Aye. We don't yet know the exact type of A-GPS chip it is for sure, and how it's being used, as not all A-GPS are alike.
If anyone is doubting the chip - it was shown as tracking someone on in SF in the keynote. APple's going to do what Nokia and Sony are trying to.
I think that there's a good chance of Nike + integration, this is from a while ago http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/11/nike-going-wifi-and-3g-headed-to-iphone/.
Admittedly you'd expect an app like this to be previewed but the GPS integration would hav stolen the thunder of the later announcement. In time I hope that Nike create a bluetooth heart rate monitor and then this could be a really competitive system. Plus with GPS use it on a bike too, although obviously you'd have to tell it that you were cycling and not just running bloody fast!
Admittedly you'd expect an app like this to be previewed but the GPS integration would hav stolen the thunder of the later announcement. In time I hope that Nike create a bluetooth heart rate monitor and then this could be a really competitive system. Plus with GPS use it on a bike too, although obviously you'd have to tell it that you were cycling and not just running bloody fast!
From Apples website:
How it works.
GPS (Global Positioning System) technology uses information from earth-orbiting satellites to find locations. A receiver estimates the distance to GPS satellites based on the time it takes for signals to reach it, then uses that information to calculate locations. But the A-GPS (Assisted GPS) system on iPhone goes one step further, using information from mobile networks to find the closest satellites more quickly. That gives you a faster fix on your location than with regular GPS.
How it works.
GPS (Global Positioning System) technology uses information from earth-orbiting satellites to find locations. A receiver estimates the distance to GPS satellites based on the time it takes for signals to reach it, then uses that information to calculate locations. But the A-GPS (Assisted GPS) system on iPhone goes one step further, using information from mobile networks to find the closest satellites more quickly. That gives you a faster fix on your location than with regular GPS.
Sorry for the shameless plug, but my company, RunKeeper.com has done just that. You can check us out at www.runkeeper.com for more info.
Jason
Hey, when you've got a product as good as that looks, I'll forgive the plug
When do you expect to have it released?
Looks tempting, for sure. I'm actually quite surprised that it's allowed, given Apple's tie-in with Nike, and a little surprised that there isn't a Nike/Apple equivalent - although it would presumably not help drive Nike shoe sales.
It will certainly be interesting to see how it works in practice (and whether there is any potential for interfacing with other logging sites, not least Nike+ itself).
It will certainly be interesting to see how it works in practice (and whether there is any potential for interfacing with other logging sites, not least Nike+ itself).
AFAIK, Apple aren't trying to protect any markets with the App Store - as long as it complies with the SDK rules, they won't stop it going into the App Store
I'd be concerned about this type of app mainly because of battery life.
The thing would have to keep your phone on continuously, continuously connected to GPS. That would KILL your battery with a quickness. People talk about battery gains from turning location services off, all that does is keep it from accessing GPS on a pretty infrequent basis when an app needs GPS info. Continuous use of GPS rips through the battery, if you've ever kept maps open and tracked yourself for a little while, you know what I am talking about.
I also believe that its currently impossible for an app to disable auto-lock, so you'd have to change those settings each time you run to turn auto lock off, or the phone will just go into sleep mode, which turns GPS off and any apps being used stop running. (I could be wrong about this).
Also, the screen would be lit up the entire time, because the app is running the whole time, again destroying battery life.
So, adding that all up, I don't see where this would work for anything more than a 45 minute run, which isn't really worth it for most runners I know. I've continuously used GPS for around an hour and my battery went from 100% to 10% during that time. I'm assuming you'd also want to play your ipod on your phone, which would get it to around 45 minutes, I would think.
The thing would have to keep your phone on continuously, continuously connected to GPS. That would KILL your battery with a quickness. People talk about battery gains from turning location services off, all that does is keep it from accessing GPS on a pretty infrequent basis when an app needs GPS info. Continuous use of GPS rips through the battery, if you've ever kept maps open and tracked yourself for a little while, you know what I am talking about.
I also believe that its currently impossible for an app to disable auto-lock, so you'd have to change those settings each time you run to turn auto lock off, or the phone will just go into sleep mode, which turns GPS off and any apps being used stop running. (I could be wrong about this).
Also, the screen would be lit up the entire time, because the app is running the whole time, again destroying battery life.
So, adding that all up, I don't see where this would work for anything more than a 45 minute run, which isn't really worth it for most runners I know. I've continuously used GPS for around an hour and my battery went from 100% to 10% during that time. I'm assuming you'd also want to play your ipod on your phone, which would get it to around 45 minutes, I would think.
I'll be interested to see how this gets implemented with regards to battery life, ect. Looking forward to it Jason.
cool app but as long as I have my shuffle ipod theres no way I'm putting anything on my arm. But damn I wish I never got a shuffle because I would use this app for sure! Also don't know how the phone would hold up with 15-20 miles worth of running every week.
Hi everyone, and thanks for your tolerance of my shameless plug. How else would you have known about RunKeeper
Let me address a few issues mentioned above:
Availability - We submitted to Apple yesterday for approval, so while it is out of our hands, it has been taking 2-3 weeks on average for the apps I have been following to go from submission to approval, so we hope ours will be similar.
Functionality - We wanted to start with the core bones (duration, distance, pace, speed) and then let the users drive where we go next. Certain functions will be no-brainers like elevation, split times, and data import/export, but much of the functionality will be prioritized through customer feedback.
Disabling auto-lock - You are correct that when the iPhone auto-lock kicks in, the GPS stops tracking so you do need to disable that feature. And yes, this does mean the screen needs to stay on (at least for now until Apple addresses this). But even with the screen on and with the iPod playing in the background, we have been getting 2.5+ hours of continuous fitness tracking (closer to 3 if you dismiss the low battery indicator once or twice when it comes on), which is more than enough for most (but not all) runners. We are testing tweaks to screen brightness and other settings to see if we can extend that even further.
Durability - All of my runs have been using the Marware Sportsuit Convertible case, which you wear on your arm, enables easy access to the buttons, and provides protection from perspiration and weather conditions.
2.1 release - We also heard this release will have improvements to the GPS, which is nothing but good news for RunKeeper.
Our goal was to have as good a first showing as we can, and then grow with the device over time. We are proud of our version 1 RunKeeper release, and we are excited for you to try it out!
Jason
Let me address a few issues mentioned above:
Availability - We submitted to Apple yesterday for approval, so while it is out of our hands, it has been taking 2-3 weeks on average for the apps I have been following to go from submission to approval, so we hope ours will be similar.
Functionality - We wanted to start with the core bones (duration, distance, pace, speed) and then let the users drive where we go next. Certain functions will be no-brainers like elevation, split times, and data import/export, but much of the functionality will be prioritized through customer feedback.
Disabling auto-lock - You are correct that when the iPhone auto-lock kicks in, the GPS stops tracking so you do need to disable that feature. And yes, this does mean the screen needs to stay on (at least for now until Apple addresses this). But even with the screen on and with the iPod playing in the background, we have been getting 2.5+ hours of continuous fitness tracking (closer to 3 if you dismiss the low battery indicator once or twice when it comes on), which is more than enough for most (but not all) runners. We are testing tweaks to screen brightness and other settings to see if we can extend that even further.
Durability - All of my runs have been using the Marware Sportsuit Convertible case, which you wear on your arm, enables easy access to the buttons, and provides protection from perspiration and weather conditions.
2.1 release - We also heard this release will have improvements to the GPS, which is nothing but good news for RunKeeper.
Our goal was to have as good a first showing as we can, and then grow with the device over time. We are proud of our version 1 RunKeeper release, and we are excited for you to try it out!
Jason
Looks great! I was wondering when I would see something like this finally released for the iPhone.
Quick question: does the iPhone have to be strapped to your arm? Can it be on your waist or held in your hand?
It's apps like this that will push me to upgrade to the 3G.....
Quick question: does the iPhone have to be strapped to your arm? Can it be on your waist or held in your hand?
It's apps like this that will push me to upgrade to the 3G.....