GeoHashing (iOS, Windows Phone)
GeoHashing was invented by the popular
webcomic XKCD and involves using a randomized algorithm to generate a set of
coordinates for each 1° by 1° latitude/longitude zone, with a new set generated
every 24 hours. Players must then attempt to reach the coordinates before the
day is up. It's essentially geocaching without the caches. Instead, the idea is
to document your attempt to reach the coordinates and share them on XKCD's
GeoHashing forum.
The GeoHashing app will automatically use
the GeoHashing algorithm to inform you of today's coordinates using the
built-in maps service, as well as linking you to popular GeoHashing sites and
helping you share your expedition as you go. You can also use it to help plot a
route to the day's coordinates and even plan where you might stop to eat along
the way. It's not as extensive as the Geocaching app, but the tighter community
and emphasis on enjoying the attempt as much as the goal makes for a very
different experience. And hey, if you don't know what to do with yourself on
any given day but feel like getting out of the house, at least there's only one
choice of where to go!
(Alternative GeoHashing apps are available
for Android, such as the popular GeoHashDroid.)
225 Kid Outdoor Games (iOS)
While most of these apps use GPS or
augmented reality to make being outdoors a requirement, this one does things
the old fashioned way. 225 Kid Outdoor Games (we'll let the slightly odd name
slide on the grounds that the developer probably isn't a native English
speaker) does things old school - almost literally, in some cases. It's
essentially a textbook with instructions for playing over 200 outdoor games
from across the globe.
Games can be browsed by country of origin
and you can search for a game based on details of target age, number of
players, duration and more. Beautifully drawn instructions allow you to easily
show even young children how to play a game and you can bookmark and rate games
for future reference. Shaking the phone allows you to select a random one and
you can even add your own! It's currently available in both English and Spanish
language versions and updates promise to add even more games to it. Not a bad
way to spend 69 pence, especially if you find yourself with a picnic or
birthday party to curate!
iFootpath (iOS, Android)
If you buy them in book form, a simple
walking guide can cost loads - so that makes this app a particularly great
purchase. The iFootpath app links in with the website of the same name to help
users discover a variety of walks and rambles whatever their location. The
walks are crowd-sourced, so you can add your own, and if you submit 10 miles of
walks worth publishing, it'll give you a $16 voucher in return!
Each guide includes GPS data, reference
guides, illustrations, images and comments to help you decide whether you want
to go on it and keep you on the right track once you've set off. Designed
specifically for the UK, there's no doubt that you'll be able to find something
suitable regardless of where you are in the country, which makes it great for
use at home or on holiday. There's even a built-in weather forecasting function
to help keep you updated with the, er, changeable conditions of the UK's
climate. A fantastic little app for keen hikers and amateur wanderers alike.
iBird (iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Regardless of whether you're going to
specifically do some bird watching or if you're simply out and about and
wondering what it is you can hear, the iBird app is great for identifying avian
life of all kinds. With illustrations, identification guides, a database of
bird calls and location and behavioral information, there's as much information
in this app as you'll find in any book. You can even search by color!
As you might expect, there are plenty of
other bird watching apps available for smartphones and tablets, but few come
close to being as comprehensive and simple to use as iBird is - especially
since there's a dedicated UK version available! The
only thing that could reasonably put you
off is the price, and the good news there is that it's currently on sale for
the incredibly reasonable amount of only £1.99 - but only until June 1st, so if
you're at all interested, now's definitely the time to buy!
Bike Maps by Maplets (iOS)
Although aimed at commuters, Bike Maps by
Maplets is a fantastic app for anyone who wants to traverse a city on two
wheels instead of four (or none), even if you're just visiting. There's
comprehensive cover for all major US and UK cities, as well as access to rural
rides and mountain bike trails. You're able to manually sketch a route or
annotate existing maps and the maps themselves are high definition and stored
locally, meaning you don't risk getting cut off mid-ride.
There are hundreds of maps built-in and
it's even possible to request additional ones if the city or town you want
isn't covered. It's designed more for route-planning than active navigation,
but with information about the types of roads that are available and what sort
of traffic they allow, it has everything a cyclists needs to plot their journey
as well as hundreds of pre-defined routes. Another must-buy - it's just a shame
it's iOS only!
Endomondo Pro (iOS, Android, Windows
Phone)
Running trackers are ten-a-penny on
smartphones, but Endomondo is one of the few to add an extra dimension by
putting a social layer on top, helping you share your runs with friends, see
how and where they've been training and compete against their personal bests.
Although designed for running, it's also
capable of handling cycling, skating, walking or any other distance-based
activity.
The Pro version adds tons of excellent
features, including lap time, speed and even altitude graphs. A 'beat yourself'
mode tracks old runs and lets you see if you've improved. A custom 'audio
coach' lets you set what information you're given through the earphones and how
often it's given out. It's everything an exercise nerd could want!
All the data collected by the app is stored
on your Endomondo profile, which helps to keep you honest and engaged. If
you're the sort of person who needs the disapproving gaze of your friends to
keep you moving, Endomondo could be exactly what you're looking for!
