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Developer: RunKeeper
Cost: Free or $9.95 for Pro
Take your fitness seriously? Utilise your iPhone 3G’s GPS capabilities with a running app to track how far you run, walk or ride.
Those who haven’t use running applications in the past will have to suspend their judgements until they give RunKeeper or Nike+ a go on the iPhone. It is hard to believe that your phone can help you be a better runner, but RunKeeper actually is as good as it can get outside of a personal trainer or a stint on the Biggest Loser.
RunKeeper comes in two different versions, free or Pro, both can be downloaded from the iTunes store. Here’s what you can expect:
- Track the distance and how far you run, ride or walk
- Track your pace, speed and elevation
- Record and map your routes using the iPhone’s GPS and Google Maps
- Share your fitness activities and progress with your friends
- View the number of calories burned
If you’re keen to take advantage of your iPhone’s personal trainer-like qualities, the Pro version of RunKeeper is even more valuable. You can program a route and then get an automated voice in your headphones to remind you of how far you’ve travelled, your pace, and the time elapsed every kilometre or every 5 minutes. A personal trainer won’t do much more than that, and at $9.95, everyone can afford it.
When you’re using the regular version of Safari that runs on your Macintosh (or Windows-based PC), setting a particular site as your home page is as simple as going to the General tab in System Preferences and typing in an address. You can’t do that on the iPhone, but you can use this work-around: Add your would-be home page to your bookmarks list, and then move it to the top of the list. Yes, it requires an extra tap — first on the Bookmarks icon and then on the bookmark itself — but it will get you to your favorite Web page with a minimum of fuss.