Mikes Tracker Download

Mikes Tracker plan, exercise, analyse.
Mikes Tracker uses Google maps to show a planned route and reliably record a .gpx file for uploading to Strava/MapMyRide/RideWithGps/Google Earth etc. and do so with the minimum battery use by incorporating a number of user adjustable power saving features.
It can also link to the Zephyr Heart rate Monitor and add the heart rate data to the track file.
In default mode the map is shown in 3D and rotates to your heading. It can also be set to 2D North up or 2D at your heading.
Zoom in by pinch and zoom or using the Google +/- buttons. The map scale is optionally shown as a circle centered on the current location. This works equally well with the 3D display mode. Display units are either miles or km. Distance and average speed are shown on the display.
The screen orientation can be set to either portrait or landscape.
For shorter duration events the screen can be set to stay on while active to keep the map and heart rate visible all the time. This overrides the normal display timeout so there is no need to change the phone settings.
For longer events a timeout can be set to dim the screen and save power. A tap brings the map back into view for a user settable period. This is faster than grappling for the power button after the normal screen timeout. Several hours tracking should be achievable on most phones in this mode. The longest durations are enabled by using the normal screen timeout.
In order to show the intended route (as a black track) create a .gpx file (e.g. on website above) or use a previous file and name it route.gpx and place it in the /MikesTracker folder in your device. This is also where the recorded routes are placed (with file names incorporating the start date and time).
Up to 6 of the most recent tracks can be loaded on startup. These are shown in different colours from orange to violet. This is useful for seeing your recent events.
The current position is shown by a target that changes colour from grey to red when a GPX fix is obtained.
The track being recorded is shown in red.
The GPS is the next biggest power user to the screen. This can be set to run every few seconds rather than every second. A setting of 2 or 3 seconds gives good fidelity of the file recorded. Longer times can be set to generate extra savings. There is also a minimum distance setting to keep the file size reasonable and avoids recording lots of track points at the same location if one has stopped.
With a Zephyr Heart rate Monitor settings can be made for the target min. and max. beats per minute. The bpm display background colour changes to yellow when in this zone. This is great for training - helping to push oneself when there is scope to do so. It also changes to red when above the zone, blue when below and grey if the HxM is not connected.
The excellent reliability of data recording is achieved using a small, high priority background service that will normally keep running when the screen times out and after opening other apps. So you can stop and take a photo or make a call while the tracking continues and afterwards bring MikesTracker back into view. A notification in the task bar shows when the service is running and gives a link to MikesTracker so it can be stopped when desired.
Starting and stopping is performed via the menu button that also links to the settings page.
Latitude and Longitude can be shown (in decimal degrees).
Please take care of the tracks saved to ensure protection of your privacy.

Permissions required

For Google Maps:
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
INTERNET
READ_GSERVICES
Note maps can be cached while on wireless connection (view the planned route on the screen at required scale) and then the tracker can run in Airplane mode to save power and data costs.

For tracking:
ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION (GPS)

To save track files:
WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

To control screen to save power:
WRITE_SETTINGS

For Zephyr HxM:
BLUETOOTH
BLUETOOTH_ADMIN