Smart Phone Apps

While I don't yet have a smart phone, I do see that they can be very useful. Therefore I've had a look around and compiled a list of apps that I feel are useful. If the particular app isn't available for your phone, then visit the relevant app store and you're sure to find a similar, and possibly better, app!

Nature Identification

MyNature Tree Guide
A nicely engineered app that asks the user a series of questions before revealing the tree that you're looking at. Offers illustrations and descriptions.

iBird
This app is available in various versions on iPhone, Android, and iPad. Aims to teach the user to identify birds through a repository of bird songs, descriptions and illustrations. Range maps, photographs, links to wiki pages, and the ability to bookmark birds are just a few of the many features of this software.

Fungi
There's even an app for identifying Fungi - albeit at your own risk. Allows characteristic identification through photos and looks quite informative.

Navigation

3D Sun&Moon Compass
I chose this one because it packs many nativation aids into a single app: compass, sun/moonpath, sunrise calculator. Future dates and times can easy be selected from dropdown menus.

tideApp
A tidy looking app for close to every device. Shows the current tide conditions and daily highs and lows. Along with the ability to future trip planning.

weather
There are many weather apps out there, some cost, some are free - but it's definitely worth getting one.

Google Sky Map
This sky map uses built-in GPS, clock, and compass to display a map of the sky in the direction that the phone is facing. This does work in manual mode if the device doesn't have a compass.

Skills

Knots Guide and Knot Time
I certainly couldn't leave a knot app out. There seem to be many of these available. Even if you have your knots down to a t, you could always learn a few more during camping down time!

SAS Survival Guide
This is an app version of the book by John 'Lofty' Wiseman and covers the same chapters and content as the book.

MyNature Animal Tracks
Assists the user in identifying tracks, scat, and sounds. Additionally all species can be viewed.

Resources

Flashlight
Fills the screen with white light for illumination. Also has customisable effects, including S.O.S - which could be handy.

Anti Mosquito
I'm not sure if this type of app really works, but it's available and could be worth a go if you're bitten as much as I often am!

Geocaching
Being a Geocacher I couldn't leave this on off the list - who knows when you may have a few spare minutes for a quick cache and dash!

Conclusion

Well this has shown me that there are many more apps available for outdoor-type activities than I expected. I realise that I could have been adding apps to this list for days and not covered everything I wanted to! These apps are the ones that I liked the look off (without actually having a smart phone!), but make sure that you do a bit of research so you get the best app available for your device.

Please comment about apps that you use when having fun in the outdoors.