iPhone App Review: Path Tracker

The GPS functionality of the iPhone was one of the reasons I wanted to get an iPhone 3G in the first place. So naturally I have been testing some of the navigation apps. My favorite right now is Track Paths created by Keaka Jackson. It is well designed and simple to use and offers me just about everything I need in a GPS tracking iPhone 3G app.

Like the name of the app implies Path Tracker simply tracks your movements just like a dedicated GPS device. What makes Path Tracker so fun is the ability to instantly upload your track to the web. Uploading the track allows you to share and link to the tracks very easily. Once uploaded the tracks can be viewed on Google Maps and shared with your friends from the Path Tracks website at http://pathtracks.com/. You can also download a KML file, KML file with absolute altitude, GPX track file or TSV. That is enough download options to keep even the hardcore GPS geeks happy.

Path Tracker is pretty straight forward to use. When you launch the app on your iPhone 3G you are presented with a simple menu page. You have a Start New Path, View Last Path, Real Time Maps On/Off selection and a View Tips button.

To start your tracking just click the Start New Path button. If you have the Real Time Maps turned on then you will get a screen with your current location and the app will start to mark your tracks as you travel. Also displayed are Distance, Time, Average Speed, Lat and Long, and Altitude. These update in real time as you travel. If you do not have Real Time Maps turned off then you will get a black screen with no maps display. To the right is a screen shot of a quick trip around the block with Real Time Maps on. But I prefer to have the Real Time Maps turned off since it saves a little on your battery life.

If you would like to see a much more detailed and longer track here is one of the first ones I tracked. This is a drive to drop off the kids at school. http://pathtracks.com/users/13136/paths/35170. Make sure you look at the very bottom of the track and switch to the sat. view on Google Maps. Zoom in and you can see how I drove into the kids drop off loop. Great accuracy!

After you end your track you are shown a new menu that will allow you to upload your track to the Path Tracks website. You have to register at http://pathtracks.com/ but after that it is a very easy process and free. On the screen screen you can also Pause/Continue your track, switch between Miles/Kilometers, switch between Map/Sat./Hybrid map views.

I have been really surprised at the accuracy of the GPS on the iPhone and Path Tracks makes it very easy to keep your favorite routs. This is great for bike rides or runs as well. If you are looking for an easy to use and accurate iPhone 3G app then give Path Tracks a try. It is currently selling for 99 cents. It may be the best 99 cents iPhone app you can find if you are looking for a way to track your paths and take full advantage of the iPhone 3G GPS technology.

I will be posting a second part to this review that shows how to take full advantage of the GPX files you can download from the Path Tracks website. Look for that soon.