v1.2 Archives - Gaia GPS

Anna, Tim, and I are pretty excited about the 1.2 version of Gaia GPS. This release really tightens up the code, particularly on 3G phones, and includes a bunch of user-requested features. As a small company, we have very limited resources when it comes to testing pre-release, but now that Gaia GPS is out in the wild, we’re really been able to hone the feature-set and stability of the app to meet the needs of our users.

We now have a really active group of beta testers who are giving us constant feedback and using the app for everything from hiking and trail running, to hunting and horse-back riding. This version is in review by Apple now, and we are hoping it comes out some time next week. Here’s what’s new in 1.2:

New Features

pause/resume, last track remembered at start-up, resume any old track
guide to waypoint
use Decimal, DMS, and UTM coordinates
type in coordinates to make map bookmarks manually, in any format
OpenCycle maps
help button for first screen
full-screen map button
“me-marker” is now an arrow that shows your bearing (or heading on 3GS phones)
app continues recording while locked

Improvements and Bug Fixes

more settings are remembered (lock contrast, waypoints, labels)
export full-resolution photos, and photos are now truly geo-tagged
much faster and more stable on 3G phones
fixed various UI inconsistencies reported by users
sounds no longer turn off iPod

This week (and weekend) we are preparing our v1.2 release. This release will include some bug fixes, internationalization, different kinds of coordinates, OpenCycle maps, a map Lock button, and several other improvements users have requested.

Probably the biggest feature for v1.2 is the ability to Pause/Resume tracks. We have this mostly up and running, and we distributed it to a couple of beta testers to play with and give us feedback. For the rest of you, here is a sneak peek at the revised Trip Screen that includes the Pause/Resume functionality and a new Help button.

With the new Pause/Resume functionality, you can stop and start the current track, as well as reload an old track to continue recording. The app also remembers the last track you were working on, and loads it up when you start the app. In the screenshot above, you press the Plus button to start a new track, and you press the Record/Pause button underneath to start and stop recording. This is all explained by the new Help button.

We’re planning to push v1.2 to the store on Sunday, so it should be ready in a couple of weeks. We have made the decision to not include GPX imports for this release, so that we can get Pause/Resume out the door. But, we’ll finish that in the intervening two weeks and hopefully get it out to users by the end of October. I like Apple products and the App Store ecosystem, but it does bug me that we have to wait two weeks to get new features and bug fixes out.