iBike Coach App

The new iBike Coach App (designed to work exclusively with the iBike Dash CC), includes a new user interface, more extensive use of video instruction tutorials, a simpler product setup, easier screen navigation, and one button access to music controls.

John Hamann, CEO of Velocomp, said, “iBike Coach introduces the core of our next generation app. With sharper and more colorful screens, simpler setup procedures, and fun features, such as music control, we think the iBike Coach will make bicycling more enjoyable for iBike Dash CC owners.” Hamann added, “We will rapidly introduce even more features to the iBike Coach App, extending its features to our iBike Dash CC Deluxe and iBike Dash + Power models.”

iBike App and iBike Dash “Always On” Update

The iBike app update that goes live today introduces a new “Always On” feature, which allows for the continuation of data gathering and recording — even with the iBike App is not running — using the iBike Dash electronics.  Then when the iBike App is restarted, the app and electronics talk to each other, figure out where the data gaps are and seamlessly weave the lost data back into the app. Critical cycling information, both on-screen and in the ride file, is always complete and accurate.

According to Hamann, “Cyclists naturally expect that their cycling computer information will always be correct and accurate. And iPhone and iPod touch users naturally expect to have full access to all of their apps, whenever they want.  With our new ‘Always On’ technology, both of these critical expectations are met.  Implementing the ‘Always On’ feature requires complex interactions between the app, electronics, and firmware. We are pleased to implement seamless background data recording and recovery technologies in an iOS cycling computer and to provide this important feature to our customers.”

Pricing & Availability

The iBike Coach App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. This app works only with the iBike Dash CC, sold separately.

UPDATE:  the app is now $0.99 in the store and there are two new features.

* Includes walking/jogging mode

* A Visual alert

The app is called Mayday Light developed by Meidad Pariente. The basic premise of this app is to monitor the phone GPS and accelerometers to detect non standard moment. For example, if you are doing 30mph, then suddenly drop to near 0 mph in a non linear manner, it would alert you for 1 min and if you do not respond, it will send out 5 emails with your position.  You can check out the video at the end of this post for a demo.

If the algorithms are set up correctly on this app the odds of a false alarm are pretty unlikely, however for a motorcycle rider, it may be a bit harder to detect.  If you are riding, and say slide out from a turn or wet payment, 1 of two things will happen; you will slide to a stop, or you will tumble to a stop. If you tumble I’m guessing the app will detect this.  If you slide, then this could look like a quick stop as far as the phone is concerned.  Video at the end of post. I have no intentions of testing this.   More from the creator….

When “MayDay Light” is activated on the user’s iPhone, it samples the onboard GPS and accelerometers to monitor the velocity and acceleration of the vehicle it is driving in via a simple but effective algorithm, and which can detect the characteristic indications of an accident with little chance of a false alarm.

As soon as “Mayday Light” detects that that an event has occurred which could be an accident, it sets off an alarm which will operate for 1 minute, during which time the automatic reporting can be reset thus preventing unnecessary nuisance accident emails.  After the minute has elapsed, the email messages with the pre-prepared text will be sent to the email addresses which have been prepared in advance by the user

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwJ76ts4sCY

The really exciting part is taking this whole biking thing from a peaceful getting-in-touch-with-nature-and-yourself sort of thing to a competitive online exercise tracking arena. I get more pumped from the idea that I’m going to compete with others when doing anything, whether it be power-walking, fiction writing, or making a coffee in the morning. The nature of the website is that you can either upload the results from your GPS device, or you can enter a ride in manually, if you didn’t have your device with you on your last ride.

The website has a variance of useful features, including a comprehensive analysis of your ride statistics and heart rate among other things. You can get the ease of the internet working for your biking plan by staying in touch with your cycling community online with a twitter-like interface. There’s even a way that you can track the mileage of your bike’s equipment, so as to keep your bike in top condition. Additionally, you can program future rides to stop short of a radius of a place you would like to avoid.

There is a basic plan which is free, and of course, their premium plan called the Velo Plan. I’ve gotta say Velo shapes up to be a much better plan from the looks of it, and at a measly $6/mo or $59/year package should be easily affordable to anyone. Rather than limiting yourself to a total of five rides and only going to public clubs and events, you have access to private clubs and events, too.

Good news for apple fans, too, Strava is working on an app for iPhone to make this process quick and easy for those that want it all in one simple little package. Visit http://www.strava.com/ to take a tour.

Now, if I can just remember what the heck I was talking to Jacob about for so long.

Setting up runKeeper is pretty easy, go to setting provide your email and create a password.  If you do not have an account, it will create one on the fly for you.  This is the first GPS logger app I’ve seen that does that.  I cannot understand why the rest make you go to a website to create an account. The other feature I like; is keeping a history of past runs.  Another feature I would like to see on other apps. Stopping and starting is simple enough.  Large start, stop and pause button.

This is a pretty straight forward little app that does a good job of GPS read filtering, which in English just means it throws out data that does not make sense for someone who is running.  You can change how aggressive this filter is working via the settings.

The site is also pretty basic and straight forward, nothing surprising, but its also clean and well done. The adverts do not get in the way and I really like the flash speed/elevation graph at the bottom. Again, nothing we have not seen before, but just well done.  Which sums up my thoughts on RunKeeper..  Well done.

MotionX is more useful for motorcycling or driving in my opinion then biking unless you are on a long or particularly complicated ride. The cool feature here is setting way points.  You do not get turn by turn, but you could set those up ahead of time.  I downloaded and played with the lite version and thus could not create my own way points, but I can see the power of the app someday.

What I really like about this app, and why I write a review, is the UI.  Mmmm.. Cool stuff.  All you other GPS apps out there, have a look at how these guys designed their interface and take notes. Ok, enough chat, on to the screen shots.

xWave also has a new release of xGPS software tagged 1.0.1-4.  Although its rough and takes a few steps, its the light at the end of the tunnel.  More here…

It’s still early as far as other applications getting on board, but at least you can get maps working with xGPS (story here).  I have been emailing the nice folks at xWave and hopefully after they have caught up with the main mapping application they are working on, we can get something going for us bikers, runners and hikers.  I sent them an example GPX file a bit ago, so if they can at least write that local to the phone with a start/stop, I said I would polish up my PHP script that takes GPS and spits out sleep, elevation change, a graph and a csv file.

As always, keep ye’all posted.

There seems to be a pattern here, I cannot seem to get enough GPS loggers.

This is the 5th GPS logger I’ve checked out, and with one exception, which I will cover in a second, I’m not really seeing anything significantly new here.

iMapMyRide is a free GPS logger with a companion web site like TrailGuru or Path Tracker. Like these apps, the application takes GPS samples and logs them on the iPhone.  After the ride (or run) you can upload these points to a website which will map the information as well as calculate speed and elevation change. They also have a calorie calculator like Fitnio.

A must have for any program in this space is the ability to remove points. I have yet to see a site that does this well.  IMapMyRide does not do it all yet (although they say its coming). As you can see in this screenshot, it’s needed.  When I clicked on ‘view route’ it did not come up the first time and clicking on ‘view your training’ gives a not loaded URL error.

Whats new..

New is the idea of gaining points as you log more rides. “perivision, you have 10 MapMyPoints. These are incentive points that will be redeemable for gift cards, partner discounts, and much more for our Premium Users.”

This site is still young, a few bugs here and there, but personally I do not care for it all that much.  Too many adverts.  I do not mind a few ads here and there, but too many gets in the way.  Also, the calorie calculator did not work. Odd. It asks me for the ‘Time Taken’.  How should I know?  That should be prefilled.

I will wait for one more GPS logger then I will go back over all the apps I’ve reviews so far and put a chart together comparing important functions.  If there is a free (or .99 cent) app you want me to include, let me know. I will most likely put this together this week.

Sneak peak, I prefer PathTracks. I’ll explain why in my next post.

Information on the hardware from orange gadgets can be found here.

Included with the GPS module is a 6ft USB-A to micro USB-B cable for on-the-go or at home charging. With this cable you will be able to charge your iPhone or iPod touch while the module is plugged into your handheld device. A suitable USB car charger, USB wall charger or USB desktop/laptop port is required for this functionality (not included).
The price of the module will be $75.00 + shipping and this price includes the USB cable.
We are currently gearing up for full-scale production of the module. You can sign up for one on our pre-order list here.

Information on the xGPS software can be found here.

I’m not a runner and I’ve stopped my regular runs a few years ago. But a reader pointed out Fitnio to me, so I thought I would give it a shot on a run instead of biking as normal.

Fitnio is like most other free GPS loggers out there I have used; but what is nice is it take your BMI into account by asking your height and weight. So with that information the program will calculate the amount of calories you burned during your run or ride.

Now there are issues with the app. For whatever reasons, it does not seem to play nice with the apple OS input widgets. I’m gussing it may be because its trying to update data in real time to the site. I’m sure it will get fixed sooner or later. Also missing, the ability to download raw data.