Alfred Labs has introduced Backtrack Live 1.0.1, their live position tracking and recording app for iPhone and iPod touch. At launch the app displays the user's location on a world map, and they need only touch Start Tracking Live to have their position periodically recorded and uploaded. Users can tap the Share button to show their friends and family where they've been using email, Twitter, Facebook, or a number of other social sites. Once the journey is over, one tap of the Finish button resets the app to begin another track. All tracks are stored securely online at the Backtrack Live website where users can review or share their past treks anytime in a web browser. The app also takes advantage of iOS 4 multitasking functionality, allowing it to run in the background while choosing a playlist or looking up a website.
Once the live track has started all the details are stored on the Backtrack site, and may only be accessed or shared by the user (all tracking data is kept confidential). During a trip, anyone the user shares a track with can simply open the unique and private link associated with each track in a browser on their mobile device or computer. There, they can review on a user-scalable Google Map the entire route of the track, plus the following additional details: the start date and time, total duration of the track, total distance covered, and the average speed.
Unlike many other tracking apps, Backtrack Live works in the background, allowing simultaneous use of other functions such as music playback or web browsing. The app also includes a Pause function to permit tracking over days or weeks. Sharing a track is easily done from either the app or the website. In addition to email, the app provides automatic connectivity with Twitter, Facebook, de.licio.us, Google Reader, Instapaper, Pinboard, Read It Later, and Tumblr. And for those users who are interested in accessing the raw latitude and longitude data, tracks may be downloaded in KML, GPX, or CSV formats.
Feature Highlights:
* Start sharing your location with a single click
* Maintain full functionality of the device - Backtrack Live works in the background
* Backtrack Live employs an accompanying web interface that lets the user easily store and manage all their tracks
* The live tracking feature uploads the user's position periodically
* Tracks may be easily reviewed, shared, or downloaded
"Share your roadtrips, bike-rides, and shopping sprees online using Backtrack Live", stated Co-Founder Wilfried Schobeiri. "You will still have full functionality of your device, because Backtrack Live works in the background."
Pricing and Availability:
Backtrack Live 1.0 is only $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Navigation category. Review copies are available upon request.
