14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to going out, the best advice is to leave your phone at home, or just keep it stashed in your backpack to use it in an emergency. However, there are quite a few apps that will not only help you with day-to-day tasks, but enhance your adventures.
The AppStore editors have created a new selection called "Apps for the Great Outdoors," and you will be amazed of how many great choices you have to make your getaway more productive or interesting. The selection is divided into three categories: The Sky Above, The Earth Below, and More Outdoor Apps.
Look up!
Starting with the top-most app, Sky Guide is the app that the editors feature as the most interesting one. There are quite a few out there that will give you a similar experience, so make sure to pick your favorite. You can have this one, or choose between Redshift, Star Walk, or Solar Walk.
Sky Guide has beautiful graphics and an interface that makes it easy to use and helpful. These are some of the reasons behind Apple's decision to name this app the Design Award Winner of 2014. It costs $1.99 (€1.54) and you can buy a Satellites package for the same amount of money via in-app purchases.
When you open the app, you are going to be asked to point to the sky. Make sure it's dark outside so you can see the stars and you will be amazed by how interesting the night sky can get. Just point your phone to a star and instantly see what it’s named. Look at a constellation and you will find out everything about it.
Places to go to
If you're looking for nice places to see on earth, your first choice would be the free National Parks app by National Geographic. You will be able to find Park Secrets and get beautiful high-res photos and interactive guides.
This selection does not miss the maps apps. These are for the places your Apple Maps or Google Maps will not even cover. Maplets, Gaia GPS, Footpath Route, or Topo Maps+ are just a few of the choices you've got. Make sure you compare all of them to get the one that covers your area and you will not get lost on a mountain from now on.
Check out all the apps in this selection and don't forget about the default apps that come with iOS and are really useful outdoors, like Compass, Weather, Maps, and the Camera app. You have to show and tell everyone about your adventures when you get home.
