Recently in the Software Category

We’ve seen a couple of different mashups that use the Google API to measure distance traveled by foot or wheel, but so far the Gmaps Pedometer is the most useful and user-friendly. As the Gmaps Pedometer site says, “This is a little hack that uses Google’s superb mapping application to help record distances traveled during a running or walking workout. Why? As a runner training for a marathon for the first time, I found myself wishing I had an easy way to know the exact distance a certain course is. Looking at Google Maps, and knowing there was a vibrant community of geeks hacking it, I knew there had to be a way.”

The tool has a couple of very cool features: in addition to automatically following road curves and corners, it marks every one mile distance, allows you to save your route to a unique URL, and even calculates your calories burned based on personal weight.

Back in the old days, Peterson and Golden printed field guides were the top choice for helping identify birds, and they are still the best companions for on-the-trail use. But software is fast surpassing what print can do, especially when it comes to video and audio match-ups. Thayer's Guide to Birds of North America is pretty dazzling in its depth, giving users the ability to identify birds based on color, markings, size, habitat, location or song description. Videos and song sound files can help confirm your ID as you attempt to narrow the choice from among 925 birds seen in the continental U.S. or Canada.  And you can even use the software to keep your bird notes and start a life list. Check out their sample page for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak for a taste of the depth of information.