14 DAY TRIAL // Developed by Berbie, TrailRunner is a route-planning software application for Macintosh users. Updated on a weekly basis, the program can display maps and elevation data from web-based mapping services like USGS topo maps, import GPS recordings from Trails for iPhone, as well as import tracks and workouts from GPS fitness devices like the Garmin ForeRunner or Garmin Edge. “If you ever asked yourself how long your workout routes are and what route you should choose for this evening — then TrailRunner should be your training-partner,” Berbie says on its TrailRunnerX website. “TrailRunner can calculate a route for your desired distance and export directions onto your iPod, giving you a detailed orientation while you are on your way.”
“The goal for the application is to become the very intuitive and easy to use tool for people that want to be motivated as adventurers and do not fear experimenting with new tracks in the surrounding area of their well-known workout routes,” the company adds.
By releasing TrailRunner 2.1 Build 470 last year, Berbie made major improvements to the entire set of routing features. For those using Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, TrailRunner 1.6 Build 209 is still the latest version available, which includes a handful of bug fixes, as well as improvements in key areas of the application. In version 2.1.474, issued just last week, the developer improved error messages with street routing, fixed printing with manually added maps, as well as alignment guides for dragging manually added maps with snap-in checked, and improved the location browser. In this week’s release – TrailRunner 2.1 (Build 475) – Berbie has fixed some map tile load and caching issues.
A note for the readers before downloading TrailRunner – the program is still in the pre-release state. Although downloading and using the app is free, all current releases of TrailRunner will only run for about three months. Users are advised to regularly update to the most current version, as well as review and accept the License Agreement that comes with the application, before using it. TrailRunner versions above 1.6 (including the one available for download today) require Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard to run. The only remaining version supported on Tiger is TrailRunner 1.6. TrailRunner is updated on a weekly basis with very few exceptions.