I just got a smart phone and have thought about carrying it on my hikes now. Normally I don't but since I have misplaced my camera I will be using it as my camera now. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy 3III

I’m wondering what other apps would be useful to install on the phone? Any thoughts?

Oh BTW I do not want to turn this into a discussion about whether electronics are good or bad on the trail.

Just the Apps ma'am, just the Apps

thanks

Eddy

Got a smart phone this summer after nothing but dumb phones, so am still trying to learn the thing (Android). GPS receives everywhere whereas the phone is out of service most places I hike; so, to use Google maps you need to download and save the basemap for your intended hike while still in civilization. Otherwise your location is just a dot on a murky field of nothing. With the preloaded map, you have your location and a decently detailed basemap. I'm sure USGS topo downloads are available somewhere, but I've not figured that bit out, yet. I also don't know how to field-recharge, but with my phone a micro-USB external charger or auxiliary battery should do the trick.

I'll add that my phone's AMOLED display is vastly better and larger than any of my GPS displays, so I think this form factor indicates the future of electronic navigation.

Cheers,

Yep--this is very definitely on my list for my next phone. And it seems like a really good solution.

This has come up before, at least on other forums. One example, at least, is this BPL thread.

Google Sky Map is really cool, so be sure to get it.

I like "Swiss Army Knife", it has a compass and a flashlight and a couple other cool tools.

I made an app you can play with. It's a "Web App" so you need an internet connection to use it. It shows the latest NOAA radar map images for the area you select, and it will put an icon on your location on the map. You can also get the latest weather forecast with it.

It also has a "SPOT" like feature that will let you send an email that either says "I'm OK" or send "Send Help". You can enter you own message too and the email will include your Lat/Long as provided by your phone.

You can find it at www.navigraphic.com

You're welcome to play with it all you want. It's not very polished, and I haven't messed with it for awhile, and NOAA has recently updated their mobile weather app and it's pretty nice now, so be sure to take a look at it too. You can get it at their site.

When using a "Web App", like mine or the NOAA app, you use your web browser. After you've loaded the mobile site select your "Add Bookmark" option and bookmark the website.

On an iPhone or iPad you then select the "Add to Home Screen" option.

On an Android device you then go to your Bookmarks screen and long press the bookmark and select "Add to Home Screen".

After that, you can just tap the App's icon on your home screen and you'll be taken directly to the web app.

where do I go to get the basecamp you mentioned so I can download it?

In Google Map, go to your desired location and zoom in or out until the needed area is on screen. From the menu, select "Make Available Offline." A selection square is displayed and once you have everything you need inside the square, save the map.

You can then load the map any time, regardless of whether you have a cell signal, and the phone's GPS will show your location. I've not fiddled with offline navigation, but assume that's possible too. (Still a noob.)

Cheers,

I use backcountry navigator! For topo and gps uses its avail in Google's play store! You can make topo available offline! Pro addition is $9.99USD if I remember correctly!

On trips I want to journal I use Catch Notes! Which was free and will tag the location of your entries which is nice with photo notes!

I use Google maps usually to make it to the trailhead!

The kindle app and free books for restless night entertainment!

I always use my phone as a camera! ,

The flashlight app comes in handy all to often! Uses the led ment for camera flash!

Saving maps in Google maps works real good, but I found you can only save 6 map tiles.

For local hikes (with cell service), I'm real happy with an app called My Tracks. Gives you pretty decent stats when your done, you can upload the hike to Google and view it in other apps. Easy to put that link on Facebook as well.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.maps.mytracks&hl=en

But...

If you dont have cell service, you really don't know where you are.

I found another app called Trimble Outdoors navagator, that has no limit on the map tiles you can save. I'm still playing with it, and haven't had the oppertunity to use it out of cell range, but if I put the phone in airplane mode, it seems to pull up the saved maps nicely. It does not have the stats that My Tracks does, but it does have the off-line maps deal figured out.

http://get.it/trimbleoutdoors/8p1x#


Still learning...

I also use backcountry nav. It is a great app for downloading topo maps for use offline (read: no cell service). I use it mark up the maps with waypoints for neat things I find. I usually don't even turn on the gps to do it, I just center the map on my location and mark it and leave myself a note.