Ruggesdized iPhone

[carbore]

As there are a few tech lovers out there.

I have had an iPhone for the last two weeks and am very happy with it. The reason for the post here is I also have an otterbox case for it see http://www.otterbox.com/iphone-cases/iphone-3g-defender-case/

Its very good as its got a hard plastic case surrounded by a rubber case that makes it highly protected, event the speaker and earphone holes have fabric covers to keep grit out. The built in screen guard is good and allt the ports are bunged up with rubber too. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and yesterday I dropped my iPhone off a wall 5ft igh ont the rough concrete floor of my barn and it escaped unscathed. The screen cover has a few scratches on now but nothing too bad and it was at the beach.

I got mine from Expansys http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=173418  not cheap but worth it if you use a phone outdoors etc.

and before we get too many "my phones a phone" comments free OS sat nav on the iphone, loads of GPS trackers and even an inclinometer.

(I still have a samsung solid as well mind, for when I get really filthy!)

[Gordo]

I'm tempted to get the JCB phone for when I'm out on the bikes / LR or digging in the bottom of a canal.

Can't really justify the cost of an iPhone, because I'm a billy no-mates and have nobody to have long phone calls with... 

[TechnoTurkey]

iPhone is perfect for billy no mates as you can spend all day surfing the web and playing with your apps.  The fact that it is a phone is kinda secondary for me!

[Gordo]

iPhone is perfect for billy no mates as you can spend all day surfing the web and playing with your apps. 

I do have an iPod Touch...  ;)

[Drift]

My 02 orbit2 is kinda morphing into an iphone with all the free apps Ive been banging on it  :lol:

[TwoSheds]

So is there any topographical mapping available for the iPhone that is loaded and doesn't require 3G etc - ie would work in the wilds (or just over the back here where there is a black-spot) - that would make it really useful...

[carbore]

So is there any topographical mapping available for the iPhone that is loaded and doesn't require 3G etc - ie would work in the wilds (or just over the back here where there is a black-spot) - that would make it really useful...

Possibly? I was playing wiht Motion X GPS lite   See http://gps.motionx.com/video/ or the Apple app store

The lite one uses OpenCycleMap (Which shows terrain) and OpenStreetMaps and you can cache up to 50mb of maps so could download what you need before you go. This may do what you want but im not really an expert on mapping so cant review it properly. The Full version may do even more.

There are quite a lot of other things as well but I have not had time to look.

[Gordo]

Most applications that work on the iPhone will work on the iPod Touch, although there is a distinction between the original iPT and the second (current) version.

My v1 iPod won't work with any of the mapping tools I've tried from the App Store. And unless you've got internet access the functionality is very limited. Probably better taking a laptop and dongle with you instead.

[TwoSheds]

Probably better taking a laptop and dongle with you instead.

That's my plan for the RRC, but I do some walking/cylcing/running as well and it would be very useful if the phone could show stored maps too. A Memory Map app would be nice..

I have downloaded MotionX and am very impresed. The ability to view your track after a trip on Google Earth is great, and it also shows your current position (long/lat) so that if you have a real map (which I usually do) then you always know exactly where you are. And, as has been already said, the paid-for version looks to be even better..

[TechnoTurkey]

Try everytrail for gps logging, automatically uploads tracks to their website and you can export them in various formats.