[pct-l] iPhone for the Trail?

[Patrick Beggan]

I have one and am bringing it. I used it on the CDT to great effect.  
It's handy in towns, especially, for locating services via the  
internet and google maps. Also serves as an entertainment device  
(video and music). You have to be smart about turning various  
unnecessary functions off and turning the brightness down so the  
battery lasts long enough to be worthwhile but you can get some good  
use out of it.

Also, you can attach photos to e-mails, which means if you're updating  
your journal via e-mail you can include up-to-date photos.

However, it pretty much hinges on how the wifi or cell service is in  
trail towns or along the trail. You can compose e-mail journal entries  
and save them for later sending, when there's a signal, but if there's  
no cell signal nor wifi even in town, you may go long periods between  
updates.

I guess it just depends on exactly what you want the device to do. I  
can't speak for the reliability of cell service or wifi along the  
trail so I couldn't say if it would be equally useful as a pocketmail,  
which can send over landline... I guess I'll know after this year. :P


On Jan 25, 2008, at 2:34 PM, Jim Keener wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> I have been away from the list for awhile and might have missed a
> discussion which involved the iPhone for journaling, etc. on the
> trail. Anyway, I'm considering carrying one. Thoughts?
>
> Jim Keener ( J J )
> http://oldmanwalking.net
>
>
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