The Android app turns a smartphone into a portable and live GPS tracker, which plots your progress and keeps track of data such as distance, average speed, elevation and calories burnt.
Live tracking is at the heart of what Map My Tracks do and they have made sure that OutFront for Android can easily be used to broadcast a rider’s progress in sportives or simply to keep friends and family updated on progress. For riders that don’t want to broadcast live, the app records each activity to the phone, which can be shared on Map My Tracks, Twitter or Facebook.
“Our aim has been to make it super simple to get started and use the app,” said Nick Tatt, founder of Map My Tracks. “A lot of effort has been put into making sure that users of the app can quickly get to the features they need, as we know riders have very little time right before setting off on a ride. It just takes two taps to get started and the app does the rest.”
The Android app includes support for certain Bluetooth heart rate monitors while the iPhone app supports a range of ANT+ devices to monitor heart rate, cadence and power sensors, allowing for further analysis after your ride. The app and online community allows users to follow their friends as well as explore routes by other Map My Tracks users, so you never run out of ideas of places to cycle.
With the addition of Map My Tracks for Android to the existing suite of apps it makes Map My Tracks the only viable live tracking solution for mass participation events.
First launched in 2007, Map My Tracks has pioneered the use of mobile phones to record and stream live performance telemetry for sports like cycling and running. Map My Tracks has users streaming activities live from over 190 countries and provides event organisers with live GPS tracking solutions for cycle races, sailing regattas and running events.
The free version of the Map My Tracks for Android is available to download from Google Play, and allows one activity to be stored on the phone at a time, meaning activities need to be synced to your online account after each ride. For just 69p, Map My Tracks OutFront Pro allows hundreds of rides to be stored.
