Runmeter GPS iPhone App Review
About.com Rating
The Good
The Bad
Purchase/Download at iTunes
Runmeter GPS ($4.99) is an excellent iPhone running app that tracks your pace and distance. It also has a host of extra features, including Twitter and Facebook integration, customizable voice prompts, and an automatic email program that sends alerts to your friends or family when you're done running.
Read more:Best Running Apps for the iPhone
Easy-to-read interface (even while running)
Runmeter's interface is one of the best I’ve seen on any running app. All the data is displayed in the same large numbers, so you can see everything at a quick glance -- even when your iPhone is strapped to your arm. The app acquires a GPS signal quickly, and the status of the signal is displayed prominently on the bottom.
The Runmeter GPS app has a host of neat features. For one, you can control the app using your earphone remote (if you have one) to stop or start your run. The app has voice alerts, which I usually find annoying, but these can be customized in a number of ways. You can select which data you want to hear, including time, distance, pace, etc., and how often you want to hear it. You can also adjust the volume or specify if you want the announcements to interrupt your iPod or not.
Another neat feature -- each workout is ranked as best, better, median, worse, and worst. While this may annoy some runners, I find it very motivating to try to get above a median ranking.
The app also includes Facebook and Twitter integration. Last but not least, Runmeter has an email program that will automatically email your chosen recipient. You can have an automatic email sent when you complete your run, for example, or when you get to a preset distance.
Plenty of reporting features
Runmeter also has more extensive reporting than other running apps. While RunKeeper Pro and iMapMyRun+ give you access to a free website for workout analysis, Runmeter does a lot of that within the app. You can view your runs on a calendar, list, or graph. Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual totals are also available.
My only complaint about the Runmeter app is that you need to use earphones with a remote to control your iPod playlist. With the Runner app, in comparison, you can control the playlist directly from the homepage. I lost my remote earphones somewhere, so I was out of luck with my regular, remote-less earbuds. If there’s some way to control your iPod without the earphone remote, I have yet to find it.
The Bottom Line
I feel like I’m cheating on RunKeeper Pro, but Runmeter is truly a fantastic app. There are so many extra features packed into this little app, including automatic email alerts, workout rankings, Twitter and Facebook integration, and customized voice alerts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the app was developed by runners, because they really nailed what runners are looking for. I wish the iPod playlist could be controlled from the homepage, but that’s just one small downside to an otherwise excellent app. Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need a GPS-enabled iPhone to use the Runmeter GPS app, including the iPhone 3G, 3GS or 4. The app requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
Purchase/Download at iTunes
The Good
- Advanced reporting features
- Twitter and Facebook integration
- Customized voice alerts
- Excellent interface
The Bad
- iPod integration requires earphone remote
Purchase/Download at iTunes
Runmeter GPS ($4.99) is an excellent iPhone running app that tracks your pace and distance. It also has a host of extra features, including Twitter and Facebook integration, customizable voice prompts, and an automatic email program that sends alerts to your friends or family when you're done running.
Read more:Best Running Apps for the iPhone
Easy-to-read interface (even while running)
Runmeter's interface is one of the best I’ve seen on any running app. All the data is displayed in the same large numbers, so you can see everything at a quick glance -- even when your iPhone is strapped to your arm. The app acquires a GPS signal quickly, and the status of the signal is displayed prominently on the bottom.
The Runmeter GPS app has a host of neat features. For one, you can control the app using your earphone remote (if you have one) to stop or start your run. The app has voice alerts, which I usually find annoying, but these can be customized in a number of ways. You can select which data you want to hear, including time, distance, pace, etc., and how often you want to hear it. You can also adjust the volume or specify if you want the announcements to interrupt your iPod or not.
Another neat feature -- each workout is ranked as best, better, median, worse, and worst. While this may annoy some runners, I find it very motivating to try to get above a median ranking.
The app also includes Facebook and Twitter integration. Last but not least, Runmeter has an email program that will automatically email your chosen recipient. You can have an automatic email sent when you complete your run, for example, or when you get to a preset distance.
Plenty of reporting features
Runmeter also has more extensive reporting than other running apps. While RunKeeper Pro and iMapMyRun+ give you access to a free website for workout analysis, Runmeter does a lot of that within the app. You can view your runs on a calendar, list, or graph. Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual totals are also available.
My only complaint about the Runmeter app is that you need to use earphones with a remote to control your iPod playlist. With the Runner app, in comparison, you can control the playlist directly from the homepage. I lost my remote earphones somewhere, so I was out of luck with my regular, remote-less earbuds. If there’s some way to control your iPod without the earphone remote, I have yet to find it.
The Bottom Line
I feel like I’m cheating on RunKeeper Pro, but Runmeter is truly a fantastic app. There are so many extra features packed into this little app, including automatic email alerts, workout rankings, Twitter and Facebook integration, and customized voice alerts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the app was developed by runners, because they really nailed what runners are looking for. I wish the iPod playlist could be controlled from the homepage, but that’s just one small downside to an otherwise excellent app. Overall rating: 5 stars out of 5.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need a GPS-enabled iPhone to use the Runmeter GPS app, including the iPhone 3G, 3GS or 4. The app requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
Purchase/Download at iTunes
Source...