Review: Pedometer
Pedometer | Published by SpiffyTech | Available for download through installer a semi-complex process detailed below | Free
Overview
From the publisher's site: "This is an experimental iPhone application to measure steps as you walk."Review
So, we've already talked about using the accelerometer in iPhone applications... perhaps the wiser among you wondered: "Hey, can that accelerometer replace sticking a doodad from Nike in my shoe to keep pace while I run? Can I sell my nano I've been keeping just for that purpose? What, you think I'm going to give away the answer to something like that above the fold? Indeed you can. Although, since I couldn't find it through installer, it'll be somewhat of a pain in the behind to get started. So: go download the package from the publisher's site, unpack it, and drag the files from the package to their matching folder on your iPhone (the contents of "Applications" go inside "Applications" on the device, etc.). But you're still not done. You need to launch the program from the command line. Lucky, you're all comfortable with the command line on an iPhone now, right? Good. So, pull up your terminal and enter the following:launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.spiffytech.pedometer-daemon.plistIf you're worried about mistyping it, the text is contained within PACKING NOTES inside the Pedometer package. You can just copy and paste. All done? Not quite. Now you need to relaunch the springboard to get the icon to appear. If you have BossPrefs, this is an option inside Advanced Options. Otherwise, either install something else to get Installer to trigger a relaunch, or turn the device off and back on. See a Monty Python foot icon? Good. NOW you're done. That was a lot of work, right? This must be a pretty awesome program! I mean, after this anticipation, I figure this program must be the most high tech, effective, coolest looking program the iPod has ever seen!
Not quite. Still, don't judge a book by it's cover (anyone catch the Hitchcock reference?). This program does a pretty darn good job at distinguishing a step from another jostle or movement. On a test walk of 50 steps, it said I had 54. That's more accurate than some actual pedometers I've used in the past. It does continue to count when in sleep mode or with the screen off.
My run this afternoon was 3,856 steps, by the way. How many bloggers have gone nearly 4,000 steps for you? And for the record, I would have gone 4,000 more. You know, just to be the blogger who'd jogged 4,000 steps to fall dow...
Ahem.
Pedometer. Yes. Handy program, bit of a pain to install but if you're running it's worth the trouble. I'd like to see this incorporated into a larger running program, perhaps something that allows you to set interval timers while listening to music?
