After a long long wait Apple finally approved RaceBunny 1.0 for the app store. RaceBunny will let you send and receive tracks to and from your iPhone.
RaceBunny uses the new iPhone 3.0 build in maps and can record tracks. You can even send route courses to RaceBunny from within TrailRunner and follow the carrot symbol as it moves before your nose. Before you send a route course to RaceBunny, you can set a target speed.

Other than that, RaceBunny does not do much and but is free. Currently RaceBunny is the only application you can use to send GPS courses to your iPhone and follow them. So it might be an interesting use case to study for all other developers with great GPS solutions for the iPhone (hint, hint)

RaceBunny works best with the iPhone 3G and requires TrailRunner 2.1
To exchange data between TrailRunner and RaceBunny a domestic WiFi connection is being required.
RaceBunny uses the Build in iPhone OS 3.0 Maps requiring an internet connection to update the background map.

To use RaceBunny, follow these steps in a recent build of TrailRunner 2.1:
Go to Preferences > Synchronize and set RaceBunny as the iPhone partner application.
In the main document window, press the iPhone icon and select the send tab in the left pane. Start RaceBunny on the iPhone and press the send button in TrailRunner. The selected route should now be available in the list of routes within RaceBunny.
To receive tracks from RaceBunny, switch the iPhone tab in TrailRunner to Import.
Send a selected route in RaceBunny and TrailRunner should display it.

Download RaceBunny for free from the app store:

Tags: iPhone, import, export, NanoMaps, directions

The new iPod models (nano and touch) have new screen resolutions. So I updated the Library for the new models. To change the export screen dimensions, go to Preferences > iPod and enter the values for your model there. BTW, one feature downgrade requested and build into TrailRunner 1.5 can also be set here: Disable the rotate NanoMap into direction of heading.

About NanoMaps
NanoMaps describe a route in a very compact and portable way to stay on track – without using an expensive GPS-Unit. NanoMaps depict every waypoint on your route with a snap-shot of the map-area around it. Additionally the map is rotated in a way that the direction you are coming from is always at the lower edge of the screen. The orange arrow then shows you the direction you should turn to. The biggest benefit is, that even if you did not put every possible track into your map you can still see that there are other tracks at a crossing.
Because it is not possible to have subfolders in the nano Photo-Library, green squares with a readable route-code in the overview mode help you to find the route you are looking for.

Tags: iPod Nano, NanoMaps

As you might already know, the NanoMaps feature is available not only for the iPod nano but also for any kind of mobile device with a color-screen – especially for cellphones. To set the appropriate image-size the preferences for export allow you to set the width and height for the NanoMaps.

Images sizes for different displays
For all who do not know the resolution of their device I started a collection for common devices like the T610 on the left. You can find the list in the Library. If you did successfully export your directions onto any device that is not listed there, please leave me a note what device you are using and the resolution that fits best on its screen.



Image formats
TrailRunner exports the images as jpegs. Unfortunately not all cellphones can display them (like the K610i). Therefore you first need to convert the images to the png format. Heiko noted this and has sent screenshots of his Automator Action to easily convert the images :

- Select Files from Finder
- Change Image Format to PNG
- Change Finder Object Names


Image Transfer
In general I expect you to transfer the NanoMaps onto your cellphone using the Bluetooth File Exchange Application. Browse your device and drag the images into its pictures directory.

Tags: NanoMaps, directions, cellphone