Michal Marek At the end of August, a new Czech tracking application appeared in the App Store. So if you like to record the routes and statistics of your running performance, bike or car rides or even just walking your dog around, you should pay attention. The software product that will be discussed in the article is a simple but very functional application called Routie, which has a relatively decent chance of muddying the settled waters of this segment. The entire ambitious project is the responsibility of the Czech studio Glimsoft, which is supported by the young developer Lukáš Petr.
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The first time you open the application, you are immediately greeted with a title screen with a map. The first thing the user will notice is the fact that Routie uses Apple's map background. They are not as detailed as Google's competing solutions, but they seem to be quite suitable for this purpose and maybe even cleaner and clearer. Currently, work is already underway on an update where it will be possible to use alternative map sources - OpenStreetMap and OpenCycleMap. Above the map are data about your route - speed, altitude and distance traveled. In the lower right corner of the map, we find the classic symbol for locating yourself and next to it a gear wheel with which we can switch between standard, satellite and hybrid maps.
In the lower left corner there is a radar icon, which lights up red or green depending on whether the phone has already determined your location accurately. When you click on it, a dialog box will appear, which will express the accuracy or inaccuracy of the aim in numbers. Between these icons is a large button labeled Start to start the measurement. And finally, at the bottom of the display (below the map) we can switch between three sections of the application, the first of which is the just described screen with the map and current route data called Tracking. Under the second choice My Routes hides the list of our saved routes. The last section is About, in which, in addition to classic information about the application and license conditions, the settings are also located quite illogically.
The actual measurement and recording of the route is very simple. After turning on the application, it is advisable to wait for the exact localization (greening of the radar in the lower left corner) and then simply press the prominent Start button below the map. After that, we don't have to worry about anything. In the upper part, we can monitor the previously mentioned route data in real time. On the far left we find the speed and by scrolling we can choose between displaying the current, average and maximum values. In the middle is information about the current, but also the maximum and minimum altitude. On the right, we can find the distance covered in kilometers, or the time since the beginning of the measurement. A very interesting and unprecedented feature of Routie is adding notes and photos directly to the route.
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When we end our route by pressing the Stop button, options to save the route appear. We can enter the name of the route, its type (e.g. running, walking, cycling, ...) and also a note. Furthermore, on this screen there is the option of sharing via Facebook and Twitter. This is where I miss email sharing. Of course, not everyone has the need to brag about their performance publicly on social networks, but many would welcome the possibility to send the route privately to, for example, a friend or a personal trainer. When sharing via Facebook or Twitter, a link to a website with a track record and all the necessary information about it is generated. From this page, the entire route summary can then be conveniently downloaded and exported to GPX, KML and/or KMZ (sample <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1932/8043/files/200721_ODSTOUPENI_BEZ_UDANI_DUVODU__EN.pdf?v=1595428404" data-gt-href-en="https://en.notsofunnyany.com/">here</a>). The downloaded or exported file can of course be sent later by e-mail, but this is not exactly an elegant and straightforward solution. It would certainly be better to add an e-mail option as a third item to Facebook and Twitter, so that even here one quick touch of the finger is enough.
After saving, the route will appear in the list My Routes. Here we can click on it and see it drawn on the map. In the lower part of the screen, we can call up graphs about the development of speed and altitude, or a table with summary data. Even from there we have the possibility to share the route. It is the innovative design of the mentioned charts that is very successful and distinguishes Routie from the competition. The graphs are interactive. When we slide our finger over the graph, a pointer appears on the map that assigns a specific location to the data from the graph. It is also possible to use two fingers and examine a certain interval in the same way instead of one point. We simply change the range of the interval by spreading our fingers on the chart.
In the settings, we have the option to choose between metric and imperial units and configure the sharing options. It is also possible to enable or disable the automatic import and export of photos. This means that photos taken during the route can be set to be automatically saved to the map, and vice versa that photos taken in the Routie application are automatically displayed in the system Camera Roll. Below is an option to allow the app to automatically fill in the start and end address in the route note. It is also possible to use an automatic pause, which pauses the measurement in case of prolonged inactivity. A very useful feature is the battery monitor. We can set a certain percentage of the remaining energy in the battery at which the measurement stops to save the rest of the battery for other uses. The last option is to set a badge on the application icon. We can display a number on the icon, which indicates its operation, current speed or distance covered.
The nice thing about Routie is that it is a one-size-fits-all app for everyone. It's not just for cyclists or just for runners, and it's not even just for athletes. Its use is not imposed in any way on the icon or in the name, and one can easily use Routie for a marathon, a cycling trip or even for a Sunday walk. The user interface is very clean, simple and modern. The experience of using Routie is not spoiled by any redundant functions or data, but at the same time, nothing essential is missing. I consider the use of a badge on an icon to be a very interesting idea. During testing (since the beta phase), I didn't feel any drastic effect on battery life, which is definitely a positive for the life of an iPhone these days.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the Czech localization is currently missing and the application can currently only be used in English. As of version 2.0, the application is fully optimized for iOS 7 and looks and functions completely in the new operating system. Now Routie is already in version 2.1 and the last update brought some useful changes and news. Among the new functions is, for example, the excellent full-screen mode, thanks to which it is possible to display the current data about the recording on the entire display (instead of the map). You can then seamlessly switch between the two display modes using an interactive transition. Currently, Routie can be purchased in the App Store for an introductory price of 1,79 euros. You can learn more about the application on its official website routieapp.com. [app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/id687568871?mt=8″]
