So A couple months ago i decided to get the Tmobile G1 google phone. It's got GPS on it, integrated with google maps, just like the Iphone. And Just like the Iphone it has apps you can download to suit your lifestyle. I Downloaded this Program Called "My Tracks" and just like the GPS some use for buggy speeds and recording tracks, it also does the same on my phone.

I decided to turn it on for a few min. since the winds were light, just to play around and see if this program really worked well.

Put the kite down and checked the phone and low and behold my tracks were all zig zagged across my local feild. pretty neat and now i don't need to invest in a GPS. From there i have the option to email or SMS it or send to google maps. if you click on END flag it tells you my stats. IT was a light wind day. hence low speeds lol

here's the link. pretty neat
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&...





And any Iphone users i assume you can do same thing since it's google maps :singing:

Thats pretty cool! I would be afraid that I would break the phone flying though! I use a spare cell phone with Bluetooth and my Motorola S9 headphones so if the phone breaks its not a big deal.

thats pretty sweet

The phone GPS is plenty accurate, but it'll kill your phone battery pretty quick. IMHO you're better off getting a cheap GPS if you're going to track sessions over 30m. You can also use http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/ to map you tracks (gpx files) over several different kilds of maps and colorize by any parameter; I find speed and distance useful. Here's an example, I put a distance and speed side by side http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3525102160_08a224e292.jp...

When you're on the site you can zoom and pan. On the distance colorization you can zoom in to check out your turn and tacks, which is fun
:wee:

I've attached a reasonably sized gpx file if anyone wants to play with gps visualizer. This was the sunset beach meetup in 6/20/2009. There's some buggy, landboard, static, and sitting around in this map. Wind was pretty low 8-10 and I was on my 7m blaze so there's nothing too exciting, except a few upwind turns, but it's a good but of data to play with

Attachment: 6-20-2009-SunsetBeachMeetup.gpx (101kB)
This file has been downloaded 385 times

Yeah to solve the battery juice getting beat up. I have a car charger for the trip home. I been testing out the gps with tracks on at work just to see. From 6am to 3pm .so 9hrs and then checked battery life still had 40% left. That's good for another couple hours. :P

Quote:

Originally posted by dgkid78 And any Iphone users i assume you can do same thing since it's google maps :singing:

Yeah, there's an App for that. Several actually.

I use an inexpensive (waterproof) Garmin Etrex Legend. The iPhone stays in the kitebag. I have a habit of driving headlong into the Atlantic for no apparent reason.

tech stuff on the rides ... i have ruined a small mountain of phones and junk.

phones/ ipods...water = instant death.

running around on land riding, wind picks upthen i go straight to the water , with my phone on my pocket esp. when wetsuit season is over. i get back on shore only to deliver one dead phone.

or the biggest tragedy i'm on land totally zoned on the whole thing drop the atb pick up the board hit the water and about 2min later the music stops ...this is painful.

forgetting to switch into the waterproof set is punishing

after a crash riding back to pick up the pieces of phone is kinda sad too.

my camcorder has ALMOST meet the same fate

leave the cool stuff in truck, yields the best results for me

Reading this thread is like reading a horror story for me. I work in the wireless industry (Verizon Wireless) and I can't tell you how many phones have been claimed by water, and sports in general. Yes the GPS feature on most mobile devices is extremely accurate. Yes, its easy to use. Yes, it helps reduce the number of devices you have to carry with you. Gps on mobile is an excellent solution...for an automobile. Keeping your phone on you while kiting in any capacity is begging for trouble though. If you don't have a reliable wireless protection plan on your device and something happens to it, it can easily rack up a bill from 400-600 bucks to relace it. (New kite anyone?) not to mention, most providers have an additional access fee to utilize these features (most, not all) in the long run, it actually pays to purchase an inexpensive garmin or magellan to take with you. Leave the phones in the car and take the gps with you worry free! This could potentially save you a LOT of money, and aggrivation :D

Ill get off my soapbox now hehe

I quite frequently use my iphone gps when I am riding in the buggy. I have taken a couple rides into the drink, but thankfully didnt have my phone on me when I did this. For snowkiting, I normally have my phone in my jacket... somewhere. Havent tried using it there yet. For kitesurfing... yeah.. uh.. I lock my phone into my car, hiding it from myself just so I am not even tempted to take it out...

I have a little of both worlds. Ipod touch (similar to iphone) and my google phone. Both come everytime I fly. Both have hard shell cases. And been fine with all my falls slips and slides. M sure they would of beeen destroyed without there protective cases. As far as water I am on grass feild 20ft above the water, so no concerns as of yet. I feel I need the phone just in case of emergency and its a walk to the car. :bouncy:

otter box,

solid as a rock

Otter boxes are awesome! I have one for my blackberry...does the trick nicely (well than and cell insurance) :D

Do these App's record speeds ? Max , avg. and running speeds ?

Yes BR,,, Check the link on my original post and then click on my END balloon, on the left near map. it wll pop up everything