Smart Phones

[NorthernYeti]

so after 3 years of not owning (my own choice) a phone ive been given one (Android) to help with maps as my gps has finally died of death :mad: so does anyone have any good apps? or ebooks worth having?:confused2:

[bopdude]

There are apps for just about anything you would like to do, I've had smartphones for about 10 years or so and the thing I've found is that you'll download masses of junk to 'play'. I now don't bother much, I do use a few apps but not many, what phone did you get ? and what did you specifically want to do, apart from ebooks ?

[Bernie]

I've got a little app I made in case I forget how to tie certain knots. But making the app made me tie the knots a few times and as they say, the best way to learn something it to teach it. As a result I no longer need the app! :D

I have a great little app to convert your GPS to the OS grid reference. Handy when texting someone your location. Doesn't need a data connection so I like it. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.blerg

For noise level records, I've recently installed and like this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.sound

I also find my compass handy at times. Only as a backup to a real compass of course. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apksoftware.compass

If there's an idea/want/need you have for an app and you can't find it, just ask and if I can't find it either, I might just make it for you. :)

[David_JAFO]

hello,
What are you looking for in e-books? anything specific?
Regards
David

[Bernie]

For books, I installed Amazon's Kindle app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.kindle

Once you've done that, you can copy "mobi" files from various places onto the phone via a USB cable. Put them in the Kindle folder and when you start up Kindle look on the device to find the books. Much simpler IMO than dealing with Amazon.

A good source of free books, and many are available in mobi format, is Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/). I've enjoyed quite a few very old books from Gutenberg. One I recall I thoroughly enjoyed was Snow Shoes and Canoes (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21478) by William Henry Giles Kingston. It's full of adventure, danger, survival and outdoor life.

[rik_uk3]

Bernie is spot on about Guttenberg, also there is http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/meta/search

Let us know what you want and its often easy to email you a book.

I've got a skydrive account (now OneDrive) with a good few books on I'm happy to share, not all bushcraft by any means but all I need is an email address and I can let you share and download what takes your (or other members) fancy.

You'll find a lot of .PDF format books out there if you search on Google which Kindle or your PC/tablet will read.

[Midge_Fodder]

PDFs and apps are available for anything you'd want. I have even got the SAS survival handbook as an app.

[FishyFolk]

The phones are smart....the batteries are not....specially if you turn on the GPS. If you do that you'll have 30-45 minutes of battery life in it...depending on the state of the charge when you did.
So get one of these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20000mAh-External-Solar-Power-Bank-Backup-Battery-Charger-for-GPS-PDA-Cell-Phone-/301121720473

[Bernie]

My GPS is on all the time. The battery lasts more than a day quite easily.

Little known fact: to save battery power on modern phones, call rather than sending a text or email because the screen uses more power than the signal.

[FishyFolk]

My GPS is on all the time. The battery lasts more than a day quite easily.

Little known fact: to save battery power on modern phones, call rather than sending a text or email because the screen uses more power than the signal.

I must have chosen badly then, bcause all the phones I have owned with a GPS....as soon as I switch it on, I can litterally see the battery indicator move towards empty...

Thinking again...I really only use the GPS when I drive...and then I keep the screen on all the time...plus the GPS is really working hard to update my position, speed etc...

[rik_uk3]

PDFs and apps are available for anything you'd want. I have even got the SAS survival handbook as an app.

I think thats a 'cut down' version but if you don't mind pirate downloads the worlds your oyster, pretty much anything you can think of is out there.

Battery wise its easy enough to take a couple of spare batteries with you or on a camp
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50000mAh-Backup-external-Battery-USB-Power-bank-Iphone-ipad-htc-Samsung-nokia-/171248007570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27df2d3992

I've run a ten inch tablet and two smart phones on that for four or five days and never run it flat.

[ADz]

so after 3 years of not owning (my own choice) a phone ive been given one (Android) to help with maps as my gps has finally died of death :mad: so does anyone have any good apps? or ebooks worth having?:confused2:

BackCountry Navigator
Geocaching
MapsWithMe
Show Me Hills
Tapatalk
Wild Edibles
Google Maps
Knots 3D

[rik_uk3]

Have Tapatalk resolved their security issues now?

[ADz]

Have Tapatalk resolved their security issues now?

What security issues?

[jus_young]

I have the Devon Air Ambulance app on my iPhone but is available for android as well. Primarily I downloaded it as it takes a GPS coordinate and changes it to an OS grid reference. Not sure if the conversion is done outside of the Devon area so would be good to know.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rokk.daat&hl=en_GB

[tent peg]

I use komoot... online planning with OS maps, and then offline navigation and pathfinding, allows you to monitor your climb height and distance too. I find it a lot simpler than the other outdoor navigators. Any love for it on NBC?

[jus_young]

I use komoot... online planning with OS maps, and then offline navigation and pathfinding, allows you to monitor your climb height and distance too. I find it a lot simpler than the other outdoor navigators. Any love for it on NBC?

I have started using ViewRanger but taking a while to get my head around it.

[headshot]

you lot are talking double dutch to me..i have a smart phone,just not such a smart owner..kev

[midas]

you lot are talking double dutch to me..i have a smart phone,just not such a smart owner..kev

Ditto,glad I'm not alone,kev.
Can manage E-mails phone calls,txt's.etc,lol.Have a Sat Nav Tho!

[tent peg]

I have started using ViewRanger but taking a while to get my head around it.

Try komoot, viewranger seems good - I just can't use it. I gather you have to pay for the best bits. Komoot, just have to buy map packs for three quid, but you get your first free (I chose Derbyshire!)

[rik_uk3]

What security issues?

There were or are security issues which is one reason some sites won't incorporate it. I'll check with a chum of mine who works in I.T. security as he told me not to use it but that was a year or two ago.

[Midge_Fodder]

There were or are security issues which is one reason some sites won't incorporate it. I'll check with a chum of mine who works in I.T. security as he told me not to use it but that was a year or two ago.

Not so long back I got PMs meant for other people. Problem seems to have gone now, but luckily I'm an honest guy.