TrailRunner 1.8 - View your iPhone GPS Recordings
04.11.08 01:33 Filed in: Features
As developing a decent iPhone application is as much work as developing huge parts of TrailRunner I decided to not write my own iPhone app but to partner with one of the existing ones. This companion application you can buy in the App store is iTrail.
TrailRunner and iTrail require domestic Airport/Wifi network to transfer data from the iPhone onto your Mac.
This is how it works:
Buy iTrail
If you did not already, buy iTrail in the app store and make some route recordings.
> Website
Transfer Routes
Start TrailRunner. You’ll notice a new icon in the toolbar if you are a first time user. Otherwise you can add this icon by control clicking the control bar and adding the new iPhone Icon.
An importer pane will open on the left hand side of the main window. Follow the steps described there.
In the current version of iTrail (shown on the left), TrailRunner and iTrail Desktop are the same. This will change in the future to something like in the right screenshot (taken from a preview build of iTrail 1.7).
It is important to know that TrailRunner can not interpret the proprietary CSV file format of iTrail. The GPX file format is the one you should choose for the transfer.
After the course was received in TrailRunner you’ll see the regular workout import pane you might already know. Choose any of the import options and probably add a diary entry for this recording.
TrailRunner and iTrail require domestic Airport/Wifi network to transfer data from the iPhone onto your Mac.
This is how it works:
Buy iTrail
If you did not already, buy iTrail in the app store and make some route recordings.
> Website
Transfer Routes
An importer pane will open on the left hand side of the main window. Follow the steps described there.
In the current version of iTrail (shown on the left), TrailRunner and iTrail Desktop are the same. This will change in the future to something like in the right screenshot (taken from a preview build of iTrail 1.7).
It is important to know that TrailRunner can not interpret the proprietary CSV file format of iTrail. The GPX file format is the one you should choose for the transfer.
After the course was received in TrailRunner you’ll see the regular workout import pane you might already know. Choose any of the import options and probably add a diary entry for this recording.
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Open Question: Supported Devices
24.09.08 15:12 Filed in: Technology
TrailRunner directly and indirectly supports several workout recording devices. Although I have implemented some import routines for workout data, I am not always sure how you get them. This thread might help me understand and then later document for new users how you are getting your workout data into TrailRunner.
Please share your approaches in the comments:
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Apple Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, Nike+ SportBand
Direct import of workout data when you attach your iPod as a volume. Direct import from a nikeplus.com account (TrailRunner 1.7)
Garmin ForeRunner 201/301/305, Edge 205/305/605/705
Import by using Garmin Training Center as the synchronization helper.
Send courses to the device with the helper application LoadMyTracks.
Garmin ForeRunner 50 and 405
Import of TCX files (TrailRunner 1.7) As far as I know Garmin Training Center for Mac OS X does not support the devices. ANT support for Mac OS X is not here yet.
Options are:
- Upload workouts to Garmin Connect and redownload TCX files.
- UPDATE Use Windows Garmin Training Center. (Tutorial)
Polar RS200, RS200sd, CS200, CS200cad or F6 heart rate monitor
Import by using TrackRecord as the synchronization helper using the Mac's built-in microphone, iSight or an external microphone.
Other Supported GPS Devices
LoadMyTracks can communicatie with many more classical GPS devices.
MacTravelRecorder can export GPX files from GPS mouses like the iBlue.
Please share your approaches in the comments:
27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" id="Player_e2eb8499-c8ee-44c3-bbbc-842d100c3c4b" WIDTH="600px" HEIGHT="200px">
Apple Nike+ iPod Sport Kit, Nike+ SportBand
Direct import of workout data when you attach your iPod as a volume. Direct import from a nikeplus.com account (TrailRunner 1.7)
Garmin ForeRunner 201/301/305, Edge 205/305/605/705
Import by using Garmin Training Center as the synchronization helper.
Send courses to the device with the helper application LoadMyTracks.
Garmin ForeRunner 50 and 405
Import of TCX files (TrailRunner 1.7) As far as I know Garmin Training Center for Mac OS X does not support the devices. ANT support for Mac OS X is not here yet.
Options are:
- Upload workouts to Garmin Connect and redownload TCX files.
- UPDATE Use Windows Garmin Training Center. (Tutorial)
Polar RS200, RS200sd, CS200, CS200cad or F6 heart rate monitor
Import by using TrackRecord as the synchronization helper using the Mac's built-in microphone, iSight or an external microphone.
Other Supported GPS Devices
LoadMyTracks can communicatie with many more classical GPS devices.
MacTravelRecorder can export GPX files from GPS mouses like the iBlue.
Cheap GPS receiver alternatives
28.06.08 19:49 Filed in: Technology
One user named Rolf is using a GPS mouse for recording his course data. This might be an interesting alternative if you would not like to afford an expensive GPS device like the Garmin ForeRunner or Edge. This is how Rolf uses it:
The iBlue is a USB/Bluetooth-GPS-Mouse and can record up to 100'000 data points in any configurable time interval.
You read the recorded data off the device with an application called MacTravelRecorder.
Create a GPX file and open it with TrailRunner.
With MacTravelRecorder I can set the settings of the iBlue747 and also download tracks down to my Mac. Normally I use the settings for GoogleEarth so I can export the tracks directly into GoogleEarth, or also export the tracks into the GPX-file and open this in TrailRunner.
The iBlue 747 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver is ~$65 at amazon.
> Mac TravelRecorder
> Transystem, maker of the iBlue
The iBlue is a USB/Bluetooth-GPS-Mouse and can record up to 100'000 data points in any configurable time interval.
You read the recorded data off the device with an application called MacTravelRecorder.
Create a GPX file and open it with TrailRunner.
With MacTravelRecorder I can set the settings of the iBlue747 and also download tracks down to my Mac. Normally I use the settings for GoogleEarth so I can export the tracks directly into GoogleEarth, or also export the tracks into the GPX-file and open this in TrailRunner.
The iBlue 747 Bluetooth Data Logger GPS Receiver is ~$65 at amazon.
> Mac TravelRecorder
> Transystem, maker of the iBlue
TrailRunner 1.6 - Community and tracks nearby
20.01.08 02:05 Filed in: Features
You still might know GPSies from one of my previous posts. GPSies is a site that stores and visualizes running courses or Mountain Bike Tracks users have uploaded to share. TrailRunner now integrates with GPSies in two ways:
Display weblog tracks
Every weblog entry now has a new link that displays the attached route at GPSies. This makes it convenient for your visitors to quickly investigate the route and not just download the GPX or KML files.
Find Tracks Nearby
For the current location in your document, TrailRunner opens a new browser window and displays what GPSies has to offer for this region. To do this, use File > Show nearby tracks
When GPSies has opened, you'll find a search pane on the right that will show you routes nearby. If you have found a route that is of any interest to you, download the route. Drag the downloaded file onto the TrailRunner application icon in your dock and you can merge the new route into your main document.
I have the strong feeling I don't have to tell you how cool this is.
> http://www.gpsies.com
TrailRunner 1.6 - Export and Retrace
09.01.08 01:17 Filed in: Features
The next major release step will bring a highly requested and an intuitive new feature.
The former is a new route export pane. It will appear on Send To GPS and Save as GPX, will let you select more than one route to be exported and has the following options:
Boundary route: The idea behind this is to get all crossings exported without exporting the whole track network. As a track network is not part of the conceptual background in GPX files, this "pseudo" route will act as a hull around the selected route. Unfortunately my Garmin ForeRunner is not able to display more than one course at a time but it might be useful in other cases.
Compression: If you export more than one route into a GPX file the amount of data might overrun your devices memory limits. Compression might help to reduce the amount. A visual preview of the selected track depicts what the compressed track looks like.
The latter new feature are track animations and a route slider. If you previously selected a checkpoint in the left hand table and used the arrow-down key to browse through the course of your route (what I do to memorize the course before I go out, even though you have electronical cheat sheets like NanoMaps and Send To GPS) TrailRunner will now retrace the course of the track segment up to the next checkpoint. Additionally, the new route slider at the bottom of the map lets you browse through the course of the route much the same way as coverflow in Leopard does with files.
If you are a thrill seeker or would like to be a cheer leader, download a nightly build here:
> Download
Enjoy!
At this point I'd like to thank everybody who gave me feedback and motivation for the TrailRunner project in the past year. The project still satisfies me very much and we'll see many more updates in the future. All the best to everybody for 2008…
Boundary route: The idea behind this is to get all crossings exported without exporting the whole track network. As a track network is not part of the conceptual background in GPX files, this "pseudo" route will act as a hull around the selected route. Unfortunately my Garmin ForeRunner is not able to display more than one course at a time but it might be useful in other cases.
Compression: If you export more than one route into a GPX file the amount of data might overrun your devices memory limits. Compression might help to reduce the amount. A visual preview of the selected track depicts what the compressed track looks like.
The latter new feature are track animations and a route slider. If you previously selected a checkpoint in the left hand table and used the arrow-down key to browse through the course of your route (what I do to memorize the course before I go out, even though you have electronical cheat sheets like NanoMaps and Send To GPS) TrailRunner will now retrace the course of the track segment up to the next checkpoint. Additionally, the new route slider at the bottom of the map lets you browse through the course of the route much the same way as coverflow in Leopard does with files.
If you are a thrill seeker or would like to be a cheer leader, download a nightly build here:
> Download
Enjoy!
At this point I'd like to thank everybody who gave me feedback and motivation for the TrailRunner project in the past year. The project still satisfies me very much and we'll see many more updates in the future. All the best to everybody for 2008…