Trimble offers Android Outdoors application

[talkbackdroid]

Trimble is known for its outdoor adventure gear including GPS devices to help campers, hunters, and hikers plan their routes. The Trimble Outdoors application is now available for the Android-powered G1 smartphone from T-Mobile.



The application provides complete outdoor trip planning, navigation, and geotaggin... Read more

[kizer]

Kinda confusing app. I created a few maps online via their website and imported into my phone. However its rather confusing and I haven't tried track from my phone, but I will in a few hours.

So far if I was to rate this app from my download to putting info on the phone I'd rate it a 4 out of 10.

Its not super user friendly

[Tyrell]

Doesn't Tremble Outdoors require a $5.99/mo subscription fee? Also, I read that it can generate tracks but cannot download them. Seems like this app duplicates many of the features that are already free on the Google G-1 and adds only route navigation. Might be useful on non-Google Android phones, though.

[kgibbs51]

Does any other map ap allow you to make waypoints? If not then this is pretty interesting. I'm administering a national field study and we are using GPS to collect data. We also use cameras to collect advertising information and that needs to be georeferenced. A GPS that does this would cost $500+

I suggested iPhone but am more comfortable with Android. We'd need about 20 of them but my point is that it's better to have 1 device that acts as a data collection tool and communication tool. Plus field staff would be away from the office for months so the ability to use 3/2G would be pretty big.

Waypoints are a big issue when expanding mapping tools in this capacity.

[Tyrell]

Originally Posted by kgibbs51

Does any other map ap allow you to make waypoints? If not then this is pretty interesting. I'm administering a national field study and we are using GPS to collect data. We also use cameras to collect advertising information and that needs to be georeferenced. A GPS that does this would cost $500+

I suggested iPhone but am more comfortable with Android. We'd need about 20 of them but my point is that it's better to have 1 device that acts as a data collection tool and communication tool. Plus field staff would be away from the office for months so the ability to use 3/2G would be pretty big.

Waypoints are a big issue when expanding mapping tools in this capacity.

Many apps can mark waypoints, including all the geocaching ones. The G1's camera and GPS receiver quality are only fair at best, though, and limited battery life with all the radios running is a killer for field work. A handheld GPS receiver with camera buys a better receiver and other features. If photo quality is a priority, there are several cameras with built-in GPS receivers. Depends on exactly what you are doing.

[kizer]

It was rather confusing and decided to uninstall it rather than tinker with it dazed and confused.

I have a $4,000 trimble at work that we use out in the feild now and then so I'm rather hip on the hand held trimbles, but honestly I had hi hopes for this app and I might try it again later when I have more time to really field test it.

[kgibbs51]

Originally Posted by Tyrell

Many apps can mark waypoints, including all the geocaching ones. The G1's camera and GPS receiver quality are only fair at best, though, and limited battery life with all the radios running is a killer for field work. A handheld GPS receiver with camera buys a better receiver and other features. If photo quality is a priority, there are several cameras with built-in GPS receivers. Depends on exactly what you are doing.

Really? What aps are those that allow waypoints? I can't make them in the Google Maps ap for Android. I'm sure there is some ap that will allow this but I'm unaware of it.

I also have a Trimble submeter XT but it doesn't allow all the functionality that the G1 may offer. I'm not worried about battery life since field work is done out of the car and we can supply chargers. I'm not concerned as much about the camera as we don't need hi-res images. We're only counting cigarette billboards and other bigger window dressing ads.

Sure a handheld GPS would be more accurate and there are plenty of GPS cameras but they all cost $400+. So then we'd need to give field staff a cell phone, a GPS, a camera (or post process images to georeferencing), and a laptop.

I'm hoping we can give them a smart phone that can do all this to keep costs down. Data entry forms will be sized to fit the touchscreen. All airline and travel will be completed at the back office but we'd want them to check flight status, rental car reservations, and of course email.

Plus we'd be able to use Latitude to track their progress. If we can download tracks and waypoints from them remotely then we'll have immediate data access from the waypoint locations and we might be able to use tracks to validate their work.

[kgibbs51]

Originally Posted by kizer

It was rather confusing and decided to uninstall it rather than tinker with it dazed and confused.

I have a $4,000 trimble at work that we use out in the feild now and then so I'm rather hip on the hand held trimbles, but honestly I had hi hopes for this app and I might try it again later when I have more time to really field test it.

My experience is you pay for the Trimble name. That being said, their resellers did provide me with excellent support which you won't get for free. Also, Trimble makes so many options within their software that it tends to get overly complex. But that's a price you pay for being precise and offering functionality.