iPhone5

[bmak]

I haven't encountered anymore errors in the areas I've used the new maps than I had before.
Satellite images are actually better at home apart from being black and white.

I do miss street view as used that a bit

[happywanderer]

Best phone I've had for outdoor is my Motorola Defy. It's small, dust-proof, water-resistant (1m for 30mins), impact-resistant etc, scratch-resistant (IP67-rated). Motorola only supported Android 2.3 officially, but I'm running Android 4.1.2 on it (courtesy of CyanogenMod ROM).

It's 2 years old now and there hasn't been anything on the market to compare since. BUT, this is due out imminently: http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/xperia-v/

I'd get that over an iPhone any day. FAR better hardware specifications and has all the simple sensible stuff like a REMOVABLE battery (it's rated for up to 400hrs on stand-by too).

Biggest problem I find with Android is that different manufacturers all try to customise them with extra stuff you don't need. The first thing I do is unlock the phone, and replace the manufacturer's versions of Android with a much better open source one: http://www.cyanogenmod.com/ You can see it running on other Xperia's here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xperia+cm10 and the Community discussion is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1904380 ).

You can easily set up control buttons to save power by turning on/off 2G3G, mobile data only, data sync, GPS, etc. You can tweak the brightness levels easily (screens always drain the most power), etc. etc. etc.

Something you've got to love a community built open source phone. It's the best you can do to avoid funding patent wars (yes Google and Apple spent more on patent litigation than R&D last year!). You also get security fixes within days, instead of months or years like the commercial ones.

If you're a bit of a phone "hacker" too, there's heaps you can do to improve battery life (e.g. see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1909996). My phone use to last a day or two max with charge (and quite a few apps), now I can put it in a "bush" profile that will last a week.

[Kinsayder]

I'm not sure if this is a stupid question or not but can you use the iPhone 5 as a substitute for a Garmin/Magellan GPS for hiking? I'm currently stuck with an Android (horrible, horrible things) until August next year but am hoping to replace it with an iPhone 5 (or 6) next year. Is there an app that is suitable for use as a hiking map and does the GPS still work when out of standard signal range? I'm hoping to couple it with a Spot Connect too.

[Son of a Beach]

It makes for a very good mapping GPS with the right app(s). However the battery life is such that you wouldn't want to have to depend on it. It is also not as rugged or water resistant as dedicated GPS devices. So it depends on your requirements whether it would be suitable.

With earlier iPhones, I found you could drain the battery in 4 hours flat if tracking location continuously. With very careful and sporadic use just checking location I've got it to last about a week (leaving it completely powered off most of the time).

Don't rely on it as your sole or primary navigation tool though. 1 drop of water in the wrong place, one drop of phone on a rock or run out of batteries and your stuffed. But for interest use or if you have other tools with which you're competent, it's really handy. I keep mine in a zip lock bag when walking.

No, you do not need to be within phone or network range to use the GPS features. They rely on GPS satellite signals which are entirely independent of phone or wifi networks. (If a cell phone network is in range, the iPhone will use it to get a location more quickly than using GPS alone).

[wildernesswanderer]

This is the first thing you should get for your iPhone if using it outdoors

http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=2705

And the second thing is this for recharging your iPhone around 4 extra times

http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.p ... uctId=3022

[photohiker]

Just a usage report for the new phone: It seems to get GPS satellite lock a lot faster than my 4. It was not slow before, but in the open, it is now never more than a few seconds from getting lock when starting Runkeeper. Also locks into the car blutooth a lot faster.

I've heard but not tested (yet) than the 5 is more resistant to minor water accidents than the older models. Hope not to test this though.

[Kinsayder]

Great advice guys, thanks! Now I just need to get out of my contract with my useless Android Xperia...

Any recommendations on apps?

[LandSailor]

Here's another option for external battery pack for your Iphone:-

Tekkeon MP1580

What I like about it is its flexibility...it takes 4 x AA batteries so youve got the option of using the unit to recharge your phone or USB device, or take out the AA batteries and use them in your other gadgets such as GPS, Spot or headtorch for example.
It also takes rechargeable AA batteries and acts as a recharging unit via USB. So you can recharge the unit at home or in your car on the way somewhere.

[Son of a Beach]

Great advice guys, thanks! Now I just need to get out of my contract with my useless Android Xperia...

Any recommendations on apps?

These apps are both developed entirely by myself, so I'm very biased (I built them mainly to serve my own needs). They are specifically for using any arbitrary map images you need to navigate by (eg scanned paper maps or map images purchased from your state mapping agency) and therefore don't require network access to use. However the newer app can also use online maps.

1. Bit Map ( http://nixanz.com/bitmap ) is the older and more limited app. But it is available now.

2. Maps n Tracks ( http://nixanz.com/maps ) is a LOT better but was only uploaded to the App Store last week. It should be available in a week or so. There is a recent topic about this in the adverts forum.

There are many others and there are some recent topics comparing them. Worth doing a search.

[bmak]

For awhile now ive used mud maps and GPS kit. Both paid and work well but there are so many other map apps both free and paid that do a great jib.

[Nuts]

I'm not sure if this is a stupid question or not but can you use the iPhone 5 as a substitute for a Garmin/Magellan GPS for hiking? I'm currently stuck with an Android (horrible, horrible things) until August next year but am hoping to replace it with an iPhone 5 (or 6) next year. Is there an app that is suitable for use as a hiking map and does the GPS still work when out of standard signal range? I'm hoping to couple it with a Spot Connect too.

I have the 4s in the LP case mentioned. Iv'e used it with Spot and a battery pack. Only used it for nav here and there but it would be fine for most walks. I only get co-ordinates from it though to check against a map. You would at least need a compass (going on the 4S) in heavy scrub.