Which smartphone for cycling?

Staffy_Mick

Hi

As far as I can see there hasnt been a thread on this since May so please excuse me

My phone has had it and needs changing
The shortlist is HTC Hero, Nokia N97 and the iPhone
I dont have allegiance to any network and Im not fussed about plans or contracts at this stage

I want the phone to do the usual things

Which of the above have the best cycling apps?
Better still share your best CYCLING ONLY apps with me

Ive seen Nokias Sports tracker which looks superb - but the others must do similar mustnt they?

Ahh and would a phones battery last a safe 4-5h with GPS turned on and still have enough juice for any possible emergency calls after the ride?

I use a Mac at home but have no preference for the iPhone

Im off to look at some shops at the weekend but would like to spend some time online researching before I speak to a commission driven mobile phone salesman!!!!!

Cheers

fungus_the_muffin_man

Have you thought about the google G2? It's just come out with T mobile. I have the G1 and the My Tracks application which is free through Android marketplace Is an excellent bit of kit. I use it on all my rides and it gives me all the stats I need from total time, actual moving time, Avg and fastest speed, Min, max and total elevation. As well as logging all your rides and info onto google maps if you want it to.
I go out with my phone fully charged and on getting home after a 3 hour ride I still had about 3/4 battery power left.

gazza_d1

Nokia phone and Sportstracker works very very well for me.. Google maps and latitude are also installable

redddraggon

I really really really like my iPhone, it's actually the first phone I've that when it dies I'll replace with the then current model if you get my drift, previously I've always got bored of phones I've had.

However it'd be crap for any sort of use on a bike GPS wise.

FSR_XC

redddraggon wrote:

I really really really like my iPhone, it's actually the first phone I've that when it dies I'll replace with the then current model if you get my drift, previously I've always got bored of phones I've had.

However it'd be crap for any sort of use on a bike GPS wise.

Why?

There are a few apps available & mine locks onto gps quicker than my garmin

redddraggon

battery life isn't good enough to continuously run gps.

maps won't download when there's no signal, and when there is signal it takes an age to download, especially in the hills.

I'd rather keep the phone in my pocket rather risk any damage on the bars.

Apps don't work unless they are "maximised", so no data recording.

Anonymous

I like to ride to get away from mobileness.........

redddraggon

dmclite wrote:

I like to ride to get away from mobileness.........

Same

sicknote

I think something like the N82 would be right up your street
I use Sports tracker myself on my N96

gkerr4

like red I also really really like my iphone - and I have an old first gen one!

I am also a mac user and the integration with iLife is worth bearing in mind,

Not sure how it would be for cycling and actually my experience with a nokia E71 work phone running sports tracker is probably more relevant to cycling so perhaps the Nokia would be best (I think HTCs are garbage by the way!)

for personal use, I can't see me using anything but an iPhone for some time!

ednwireland

nokia e66 and sportstracker for me does everything i need it to do records 6+ hour rides with plenty of battery life left (prob go for an n97 if i had the money