In September of 2009 I had the opportunity to try out what was at the time, a relatively new application from Intermap Technologies on my iPhone 3G. My wife, a couple of friends and I had planned a week-long camping and hiking trip in Wyoming. During this trip we spent time in Teton National Forest, as well as Yellowstone, and were looking forward to some easy-to-moderate day-hikes.
I have had a handheld GPS unit for simple location, and navigation for years, but nothing that could really be updated with new maps. We had our GPS in the car, but what we really needed was something that could leverage the power of the iPhone with its integrated GPS, and data capabilities. That’s when I found AccuTerra.
At the time AccuTerra only came in one flavor, you get the app, then you purchase in-app map packs. You could get medium-resolution state/regions, or you could get HD versions of major National Parks, and a few other popular locations. Now, with their newest 4.0 version, AccuTerra comes in two versions – free, that sets you up with a basic map, and the ability to purchase map segments on the fly to fill-in an area you need coverage for; and a paid version, AccuTerra – Unlimited, currently on sale for $2.99 through the end of July 2010. The Unlimited version represents an amazing deal as it provides free on-deman access to all the maps, regular and HD. Even better, in the few months since initially discovering AccuTerra, Intermap has expanded their HD offerings to cover most of the United States.
At the time we went on our trip, AccuTerra had our destination covered in HD, so I decided to give it a try, and see if the iPhone could become my new camping GPS. What I found was an application that just blew me, and my camp-mates away. We were able to plan our hikes on the map, which showed all the major trails in the parks, as well as access roads, trailheads, and virtually every major point of interest we would want to know about. We were able to keep track of our distance, take pictures that were geo-tagged to their location, and share our tracks via Facebook with family back home. The maps were perfect for hike planning, and even helped us driving around the parks when looking for the trailheads.
AccuTerra is extremely easy to use, and the newest version only improves on my earlier experience by making navigation simpler, menus more straight-forward, adding the ability to download map grids on demand for a broad overview, and the ability to purchase (or aquire for free with the Unlimited version) higher resolution maps and HD maps. It seems like Intermap is trying to get everyone to switch to the AccuTerra-Unlimited because at the sale price of $2.99 you get full access to all the HD coverage maps and general maps, that would typically cost $0.99 to $1.99 depending on the map. Purchasing Unlimited would pay for itself in just a few map downloads.
New maps are fast and easy to download right to the iPhone, but you do need to be careful as they are not small. A general resolution map covering the 63,000 square miles of the state of Georgia, with a four-mile screen view weighs in at more than 500 MB. You could quickly fill up your iPhone if you start to download everything. The good news is that AccuTerra makes it easy to uninstall maps to free up space, so you can get more maps. Also, be aware, that the larger maps have to be downloaded over wifi, so plan ahead for your trips, and make sure you have the maps you need.
AccuTerra has a lot going for it. In the On-Demand map mode, you can get 50 square miles at a time, or choose from more than 350 pre-defined recreation areas. You can save an unlimited number of tracks, so you can review your trips later. You are only limited by your iPhone’s storage space for your geo-located images. AccuTerra tracks real-time elevations, and can even use a Google Maps layer for a different set of information, when you have a data connection. You can even share your tracks and geo-tagged photos through a Facebook or email link.
For all that’s good about the app, there are a few downsides. Currently, the app does not track while in the background. I am sure this will be fixed in a future update, but it is a limitation you should be aware of. Also, because its constantly using the GPS for location services, you will see a little higher hit on your battery life.
I was already a huge fan of their previous versions, and now with AccuTerra Unlimited, available for $2.99 through July, I am even more excited for my next hike.
Guest post by: E. Lee Cunningham, MBA, is a business technology consultant specializing in helping new businesses develop their online and traditional media marketing and business strategies, through his company ELC Innovations. (ELCInnovations.com)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Availability: App Store
Price: $2.99
