Q1. “What are the differences between MotionX-GPS Lite and MotionX-GPS?”
A1.
Q2. “Can MotionX-GPS be run on a first generation iPhone™ or iPod® Touch?”
A2. MotionX-GPS relies on the GPS chipset present in the 3G or 3GS iPhone™. First generation iPhone™s and iPod® Touches do not have a GPS chipset and cannot be used to navigate with MotionX-GPS.
Q3. “Is MotionX-GPS performance affected by other applications?”
A3. Occasionally apps that can run in the background, such as Mail, may affect the performance of MotionX-GPS. For example, the user interface may be slow to respond while large emails are being downloaded in the background.
Q4. "What datum does MotionX-GPS use?"
A4. MotionX-GPS uses the WGS 84 datum.
Q5. “What does the spinning earth at the upper right of the screen indicate?”
A5. The spinning earth icon indicates current GPS signal status. Touching the earth icon toggles between online and offline modes.
Q6. “Where can I find out more about upcoming features of MotionX-GPS and other MotionX products?”
A6. The best place to get the latest news on MotionX products, including MotionX-GPS is at news.MotionX.com.
Q7. “I have some great ideas for features I’d like to share with the MotionX team. Where do I send this?”
A7. We’d love to hear about your suggestions. You can share your ideas either through the support form or through the Submit Feedback form accessible from Help on your iPhone™.
Q8. “Can I listen to my iPod® music while I'm using MotionX-GPS?”
A8. Yes. With the release of the iPhone™ 3.0 software, it is now possible to access your playlists directly from within iPhone™ applications. MotionX-GPS version 5.1.1 and later has a dedicated iPod® control page that includes music control, playlist access, and album cover art.
Q9. “I purchased MotionX-GPS and I see there is an update available. How do I upgrade without being charged again?”
A9. Apple® keeps track of all purchases and will not charge you twice for the same application. If you use the Buy Now button to upgrade, you will be told the download is free after you enter your iTunes® username and password. However, we recommend you use the standard update method of launching the App Store icon on your iPhone™, select the Update button at the bottom right and find MotionX-GPS in the list. Alternately you can update from iTunes® under Applications, then sync the update to your iPhone™.
A1. A track is a series of points recorded during your journey.
Q2. “How do I record a track?”
A2. Tracks are recorded while the stopwatch is running. You can save a track to your Logbook by pressing "Save" when the stopwatch is paused.
Q3. “Why are the maps in MotionX-GPS OpenStreetMaps?”
A3. MotionX is supporting OpenStreetMaps (OSM) because OSM is to maps what Wikipedia is to encyclopedias. You'll notice that OSM already has additional features beyond roads such as hiking paths added by users and is getting better by the day. In fact, we noticed recently the addition of ski lifts and there is more coming every day. We are all contributing to making OSM better.
Our team is focused on making MotionX-GPS the best navigation solution and be assured that we are working very hard on bringing you the best possible maps that we can, always improving. It's exciting to be contributing to efforts that will be to Maps what Wikipedia is to encyclopedias.
Q4. “What do the various lines displayed on the MotionX-GPS Maps page indicate?”
A4.
Q5. "How do I clear old tracks from my Maps and/or Track view pages?"
A5. To clear old tracks currently drawn on the MotionX-Maps and MotionX-Track pages, touch and hold the calipers on the Maps or Tracks page and select Clear Tracks. This will erase the track data from these two pages, but does not affect tracks saved to MotionX-Logbook.
Q7. “How do I toggle between North-Up and Course-Up?”
A7. On the Track page touch and hold the calipers and select either North-Up or Course-Up from the menu.
Q8. "Are my tracks limited in length to the 303 waypoint limit in MotionX-GPS?"
A8. The 303 waypoint limit only applies to manually created waypoints (New Wypt or Photo buttons). Tracks can be thousands of location samples each.
Q9. “Can I get verticals climbed in a track?”
A9. In this version of MotionX-GPS, you can see your current Altitude on the MotionX-GPS page. You can get a summary of the track, including the Altitude of the highest and lowest points, when using the Email feature. In addition, your track contains altitude data which can be viewed in Google Earth. Watch MotionX.com for future releases with more functionality.
Q10. “Can I use MotionX-GPS for turn-by-turn driving directions?”
A10. MotionX-GPS is not a turn-by-turn navigation application that will guide you when driving with routing and voice guidance. It is intended primarily for hikers, cyclists, runners, skiers, geocachers, sailors, and any other activity where you want to track your route. We look forward to being able to provide a turn-by-turn solution in the future. Watch news.MotionX.com or follow MotionX on Twitter to learn about future releases.
Q11. "Do I need a network connection to retrieve maps?"
A11. Yes. The maps are streamed over the network. You will need either Edge, 3G or WiFi to access the maps.
Q12. "Can I turn maps off to reduce data usage?"
A12. Yes. From Settings (gear icon), go to Maps and Tracks and turn Map Data off.
Q1. "What is map caching on MotionX-GPS?"
A1. Map caching improves map performance by saving your most recent map views (also known as map tiles) on your phone. This helps especially when you have low cellular signal or no signal at all.
Q2. "How do I use map caching?"
A2. Map caching works automatically in the background. Just use the MotionX-Maps and you will notice better performance especially when your iPhone™ has weak cellular data connection.
Q3. "Why are there different map cache size options?"
A3. There are several options so you can specify how many map tiles are saved in your cache. Go to 'Settings' then 'Maps & Tracks' to adjust the size of the map cache. We know that some iPhone™ users don't have much free space on their phones while others have plenty. The higher the map cache, the better the MotionX-Maps performance will be especially when you have a weak cellular connection.
Q4. "What happens when the map cache size limit I've chosen has been exceeded?"
A4. When the map cache size limit has been exceeded, the oldest map tiles will be removed automatically to make room for new map views. If you are close to your size limit and don't want to lose map tiles you've already cached, turn map caching off to prevent older tiles from being removed.
Q5. "How long do maps remain in cache?"
A5. Maps remain in cache until the size limit has been exceeded. At that time, your oldest map views (tiles) will be removed automatically to make room for new ones. Go to 'Settings' then 'Maps & Tracks' and touch "Clear Cache" to manually empty your cache.
Q6. "If map caching is turned off, are my cached maps deleted?"
A6. If map caching is turned off, the map tiles already in cache are retained.
Q7. "Are maps cached for all zoom levels or only the zoom level I'm currently viewing?"
A7. Map tiles are only cached when they are displayed on the screen. If you’d like to cache multiple zoom levels, please use the Map Storage feature
Q8. "Are my stored maps backed up with iTunes synching?"
A8. Cached and stored maps are backed up when synching with iTunes. Large map tile sets may noticeably increase the iPhone-to-iTunes sync and backup times.
Q1. “How do I export my waypoints and tracks?”
A1. You can export your waypoints and tracks by email. Go to the MotionX-Logbook or MotionX-Waypoints, touch the waypoint or track you wish to export and then touch the "Share Wypt Now" / "Share Track Now" button.
Q2. “What is included in the email when I use the 'Share Now' feature?”
A2. The email contains a link for viewing your track or waypoint in Google Maps on your PC or Mac. In addition, you will find a photo (if you assigned one to this track/waypoint) as well as KMZ and GPX files.
The KMZ file can be imported into Google Maps, Google Earth or any other mapping software which supports KMZ files. The advantage of KMZ over GPX is that it contains an embedded copy of the photo associated with your track.
The GPX (GPS eXchange Format) file is an open standard that can be imported into Google Earth and most mapping applications.
Q3. “I sent myself a Track/Waypoint and I never received it.”
A3. First check to make sure your email address doesn't contain a typo in Settings (gear icon) >> Share. Next check to ensure the receiving email client didn't file the email as spam. If neither of these resolve the problem, use the support form to let us know. Be sure to include the date, time and email address you sent to.
Q4. “I emailed a track to myself so I could view it in Google Maps, but when I click the link, my track is no longer available.”
A4. The link to view tracks in Google Maps on your PC or Mac expires one week after the email was sent. The date of expiration is in the email. You can always use the attached GPX or KML files to display your track again. Once displayed in Google Maps we suggest using "Save to My Maps" to save for future use.
Q5. “Do you have a website for all my tracks and my waypoints?”
A5. If you are a Facebook user all you have to do is go to the following link, install the MotionX-GPS Facebook App and then share your Tracks on Facebook using Share from MotionX-GPS on your iPhone. They will then appear on the "My Logbook" page in the Facebook app.
MotionX-GPS Facebook App: http://apps.facebook.com/motionx-gps/
Q1. “What formats can I use to enter coordinates?”
A1. Coordinates can be entered in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds via wheels. Alternately, you can choose direct entry using the keyboard for greater input accuracy in either degrees with decimal minutes (DM) or decimal degrees (D) or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates (UTM) and Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) coordinates are also supported if chosen as the coordinate display format from Settings > Global Settings. In MotionX-GPS Lite, UTM and MGRS coordinate systems are not available. You can also add a waypoint using TapTap™ technology on the map page or by specifying a range and bearing from your current location.
Q2. “How do I delete a waypoint I’ve added?”
A2. You can delete a user created waypoint in two different ways. Method 1: Tap on the waypoint from the MotionX-Waypoints page, select Edit then Delete. Method 2: In list view, swipe your finger across the waypoint and select the Delete button that appears.
Q3. “What do the various waypoint sign colors indicate?”
A3.
Q4. “How do I display all of the photo waypoints I created along my track at the same time?”
A4. Each photo taken along your track is also saved as a photo waypoint under "My Waypoints". Follow these steps to see them all together on a map using your Mac or PC:
Google Earth:
Google Maps:
Q1. “Can I listen to my iPod® music while I'm using MotionX-GPS?”
A1. Yes. With the release of the iPhone™ 3.0 software, it is now possible to access your playlists directly from within iPhone™ applications. MotionX-GPS version 5.1.1 and later has a dedicated iPod® control page that includes music control, playlist access, and album cover art.
Q2. “Why can't I access my entire iTunes® music library from within MotionX-GPS?”
A2. Only music that is part of a playlist can be accessed from MotionX-GPS. Any music that is not part of a playlist will not be accessible from within the application.
Q3. “Can I repeat a single music track?”
A3. Playlists can be repeated, but single music tracks cannot be repeated unless it is the only track assigned to a playlist.
Q1. “Why does the compass seem to work only when I’m moving?”
A1. For the iPhone 3G, or the 3GS compass in satellite mode, the compass on the MotionX-Navigation page acquires information from “orderly changes in position”. Steady directional motion improves accuracy. A sustained speed of a few mph or km/h is all that is needed to provide an accurate heading. In satellite mode (which is the only option for the iPhone™ 3G), at slow speeds, heading information is unreliable since it does not use a magnetic compass.
Q1. “How do I display Pace instead of Speed in the Track Recorder fields?”
A1. Pace and Speed units can be selected in Settings under Global Settings. When Pace is selected the Track Recorder will display Pace, Avg Pace and Max Pace. When Speed is selected the Track Recorder will display Speed, Avg Speed and Max Speed.
Q2. “When I take a photo with the Track Recorder running, will every photo be associated with the track being recorded at the time?”
A2. Only the most recent photo will be associated with the recorded track but all the photos will be saved to your camera roll. Once you save your track it is easy to change the photo associated with the track using the Logbook.
Q1. “How long can I run MotionX-GPS before I run out of power?”
A1. This depends on what else you have running but typically at least 4 hours. See below for suggestions on extending battery life.
Q2. “How can I increase my battery life while running MotionX-GPS?”
A2. Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use and dimming the screen brightness from within your iPhone's Settings you can reduce power consumption. In addition, turning off Accelerometrics Assisted GPS from Settings>Global Settings will further reduce power consumption.
Q1. “How do I export my waypoints and tracks?”
A1. You can export your waypoints and tracks by email. Go to the MotionX-Logbook, touch the waypoint or track you wish to export and then touch the "Share Now" button.
Q2. “How do I import waypoints and tracks?”
A2. Importing of GPX waypoints and tracks into MotionX-GPS is supported in version 7.1 or later (Full version only). See the Import section above for detailed instructions.
Q3. “What file types can I import into MotionX-GPS?”
A3. The import feature supports waypoints and tracks only in the GPX file format. If you have a waypoint or track in a different file format, use a file converter such as GPSVisualizer or GPS Babel to convert to GPX.
Q4. “When importing, how many GPX files can be attached to the email?”
A4. Each import email can contain up to 12 waypoint GPX files or 1 track GPX file.
Q5. “Are there file size constraints for the GPX files to be imported?”
A5. There currently aren't any hard file size constraints imposed on the imported GPX files, the restriction is the amount of free RAM on your iPhone. For 3G users this is typically 10-20MB, for 3GS users it can be as high as 100MB. Before importing file sizes greater than 2 MB, we strongly recommend that you reboot your iPhone.
Q6. “If importing a GPX file from a photo waypoint, will the photo be imported into MotionX-GPS?”
A6. Not at this time, but look for this functionality in a future update.
Q7. “Why does my converted GPX file import into MotionX-GPS as multiple tracks?”
A7. If a KMZ file is converted to a GPX using gpsvisualizer or another converter, there is a chance the track will be broken up into segments and when it is imported will show up in the Motion-X-Logbook as multiple tracks.
To make sure your track is imported as one track you may manually delete the track segment separators from the GPX file.
Example of the separator: (remove the section in bold to create one continuous track)
Q1. “I downloaded MotionX-GPS but I’m having trouble launching the app...”
A1. If you are unable to launch the app, please see “Troubleshooting applications purchased from the App Store” by Apple®. The "Reinstall the application" section often addresses the issue.
Q2. “Can I visualize my tracks in Google Maps from my computer?”
A2. You can use Google Maps to view your track by emailing the track to yourself, then you can view the track in Google Maps by either clicking the live link embedded in the email, which will be active for 7 days, or by importing the KML file into a new Map created under the "My Maps" link. If you have Google Earth installed, simply drag the GPX file onto the earth to see your track.
Q3. “Does MotionX-GPS require a cellular network?”
A3. The 3G and 3GS iPhone™ uses an A-GPS (Assisted-GPS) chipset which uses cell tower triangulation to speed up GPS signal acquisition. Cellular coverage is not needed to acquire a signal, however the signal acquisition will be much quicker if you have data coverage. Without data services, it can take 15 minutes or longer to acquire a signal. This is simply because it takes longer to determine which satellites to use out of the 31 available around the world. With data services, it typically takes under a minute, but can take up to 5 min. You do need data services or WiFi if you want to share your waypoints/tracks via email or view a waypoint in Google Maps.
Q4. "Can a page be added to show satellite positions and signal strength?"
A4. We would very much like to add a satellite status page with satellite position and signal strength, however the iPhone™ API does not provide this information. The iPhone™ API currently provides a radius of accuracy.
Q5. "Why am I having trouble getting a signal?"
A5. First, make sure you are using an iPhone™ 3G or 3GS. First generation iPhones and the iPod® touch do not have the necessary GPS chipset to acquire an accurate signal.
Ensure your iPhone™ has a clear view of the sky. GPS requires a direct 'line-of-site' to communicate with satellites. Your iPhone™ 3G or 3GS must have a clear view of the sky to locate at least three satellites in order to give accurate position information. If you are located indoors, or in a wooded area or urban canyon (surrounded by buildings), you may be unable to acquire an accurate signal.
If you can't acquire a signal within two minutes, try using "Reset Location Warnings" under the iPhone's settings in General >> Reset.
If you are flying or traveling at speeds above 150 mph/240 km/h, you may wish to switch the Accuracy Filter off under Settings > Global Settings if you are having trouble maintaining a GPS signal. Turning the Accuracy Filter off makes it easier to acquire and maintain a GPS signal when traveling at high speeds.
Alternately, try powering your iPhone™ off, then turn it back on and launch MotionX-GPS. If prompted, allow MotionX-GPS to use Location Services by selecting "Ok".
The 3G and 3GS iPhone™ uses cell towers to speed up acquisition of the GPS signal. While it typically takes between 1-5 minutes to locate a signal, it can take up to 15 minutes in areas where cellular coverage is not available.
The 3G and 3GS iPhone™ also has a service by Skyhook which uses WiFi to help speed up the GPS signal acquisition. If the location data for the WiFi signal you're picking up is incorrect in Skyhook's database, it could be interfering rather than helping to speed up the GPS signal search.
Skyhook has a form you can fill out to correct the location of the WiFi access point. Here is a link to the form. You will need your actual Latitude and Longitude, the MAC address of the WiFi access point and your email address to submit a correction. The form has a link to show you where to find the MAC address if you don't know where to look.
Q6. "Are jail-broken iPhones compatible with MotionX-GPS?"
A6. Yes, our goal is to support all iPhone™ users. However, some jail-broken iPhone™ configurations and applications interfere with other iPhone™ applications such as MotionX-GPS. Some users have experienced trouble getting past the terms and conditions page of MotionX-GPS with jail-broken iPhones. Several users have indicated that removing a particular SMS application specific to jail-broken phones resolved the issue. Other users simply needed to update their iPhones with the latest jailbreak updates.
Q7. “What happens when a phone call comes in?”
A7. Apple® shuts down all third party apps when a call comes in. MotionX-GPS saves your current state, and once the call is finished, you are returned to where you were. Your stopwatch will still be running, and we will include the distance between the last point before the call came in and your current location. However, it will be calculated based on a straight line since the GPS signal is not available during a call.
Q8. “What is the best way to position the iPhone™ 3G or 3GS in my armband while running to get the best possible GPS signal?”
A8. Below is a picture showing where the GPS antenna is in the 3G and 3GS iPhone™. To receive the best possible GPS signal make sure your screen is facing out in your armband. If in the horizontal position, it is best to have the volume buttons facing up.
Q9. “Does MotionX-GPS work when my 3G or 3GS iPhone™ is in airplane mode?”
A9. No. When in airplane mode, the GPS chipset is disabled by the iPhone™. Third party iPhone™ applications cannot override or alter the airplane mode functionality to enable the GPS chipset. If you want to ensure network data is not used while using MotionX-GPS, remove your SIM card (the SIM is located in a slot on top of your iPhone™ -- you will need a narrow pin to pop the card out). The A-GPS (Assisted GPS) chipset in the 3G iPhone™ is designed to use cellular or WiFi data to speed up the acquisition of your GPS signal, so you may need to wait 15 minutes or longer to acquire a signal if your SIM has been removed.
If you are not able to find the answer to your question in the FAQ please feel free to contact the MotionX-GPS Support Team.
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