Go figure

So today I was actually less distracted than usual and actually remembered I had a doctors appointment. Being as my general habit is to not remember until 30 minutes prior to the appointment, I was pretty happy to be on top of things (for today at least). I show up about 30 minutes early with plans to just fiddle with my iphone apps while I wait, and discovered the doctor is running 30 minutes late. (Why can't this happen on the days I am running late? ugh!). No biggie though, more time to play. I sat down and was exploring the GeologyWA/OR app, looking at the geologic map and getting information about the local members (mostly alluvium, landslide/lahar, andesite, till and moraine). I found what I was looking for (an olivine-rich vesicular basalt) and went to find the layers that would expose a route to a good collection site. As I played around, I found a good route and destination that I "thought" would be perfect. Happy and very satisfied with myself, I notice the "terrain" layer and activate it while deactivating the geology layer. I went back to the map and as the picture came up all I see is the Goliath!

Now I should have known this was in that location, but I had been so engrossed in the layers and manipulating the map that I hadn't taken note of the map scale in relation to the members I was looking at. I let out an expletive in my frustration (as I'm not tackling that Mt. in winter, nor the general vicinity). -I looked up to see a poor little old man sitting adjacent to me that I hadn't notice sit down, and he had apparently been watching me play with the map , but my language shocked him and I felt pretty embarrassed.  Luckily it was at that moment the nurse called me back, so with a sheepish grin I made a hasty escape! ;0)

Looks like that sample will definitely be a spring/summer collection. On the flip side though, I discovered that there is interbedded arkosic and basaltic sandstone not too far away. I bet that is stunning! I have to say I love this little app, as the geologic map combined with the layers is awesome. I downloaded a few extra layers that were available, such as public lands and geodetic points. If you don't have this app, I think it's well worth the buy- as I find it one of the more useful apps out there. I'd like to use something similar to it on the PC too- just to search out areas and then upload them into my iphone as far as planned paths/routes I want to take. Hmm.. maybe I'll email the dev. about that and see if it can be in an update.



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Google Earth and Field Reports

As I was archiving old reports and papers, I came across a field report where I implemented Google Earth and an iphone app (MotionX GPS) for the first time. The tracking on MotionX GPS wasn't too bad, but I found it challenging to use at the time because I had downloaded the app the night before and neglected to read the user guide beforehand. As a result, I didn't get optimal results (as I personally would have wished), but the report fulfilled the template required by the professor. I personally did not care for the format that was asked of us, but that is most likely due to the fact that I was used a previous institution's field report format. With that issue aside, the process is pretty much the same. I used Google Earth for the map of the area and the iphone app provided the track taken. Being as I was unfamiliar with the app, I didn't care for the end result, so I doctored it in Adobe Photoshop. (Top right image). The outlined pink area was the hike we took in order to access the Pumpkinvine fm. The original track wasn't as smooth as I would have liked, but it was fairly accurate in terms of location. I didn't think using Google Earth was that big of deal, but on one particular stop (in a different location)  I was able to get an image of the entire outcrop via Google Earth that I was unable to shoot myself due to the aspect that it was along a 4 lane hwy near an overpass. This seemed to surprise the professor, so I'm guessing not many students at that particular school took advantage of what it can do. If color pictures aren't your thing, or you want it to look more unique, an easy process of adding layers and drawing out the map (can be done in Illustrator better with this method) by hand can be done by just tracing the underlying layer. ArcGIS also does this, but unfortunately I no longer have a version of it, as it expired 6 mos. after my GIS class was completed. Therefore I just use Photoshop and Illustrator.

To import images of the stereonets, I did the basic 'PRTSC' technique and pasted it into Photoshop to save as a JPEG. I wasn't sure what the professor was wanting in this section, so I just provided copies of all the stereonets I did- one with just my data points, and one with mine and the groups combined. Then I did a few different formats, explaining them all in the report. I had learned from a rush job I once did in field camp -along with quite a few of my peers- that you never attach a stereonet to your reports without an explanation.(oops). Once I completed all the graphics, I imported them into PPT. I then am able to label them accordingly as I write up my report (which I do in MSword). Since I edit a lot, it is easier to leave the images in PPT and use text blocks. This generally applies only to maps and diagrams. Pictures of a rock, or anything illustrating a procedure, I place within the body of the report itself. However, I keep these at a minimum to avoid making the report unnecessarily bulky.



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Upgrading my iPhone

Today I decided that I needed to look into what the new iphone coming out this summer will look like/feature. I want to upgrade to at least the 3GS (as I only have the 3G currently) and before I did, I figured I would check to see if the 4G was worth putting it off a few months.  I originally bought an iphone because it didn't have keys or parts where dirt can get in and cause issues. My stint in Jordan with all the sand (and mud) was a deciding factor in going with the iphone's sleek design and minimal moving parts. The man at the phone store really tried to push a blackberry on me, but I was really digging the touch screen and button-less keypad of the iphone so his opinion was thrown to the wayside. The design itself was just what I needed. In addition, I loved the big screen. I have never liked using my thumbs to text, so the keyboard was perfect for my "tapping" preferences. The apps were just a bonus at the time- but this was before so many cool ones were developed. Now the apps alone have me hooked.

My issue now with my 3G is that a couple of apps I want/need are not compatible, and I need the GS. I also REALLY want the video camera. I think making a few mini video would be fun, and there are times when impromptu events could be recorded. I don't like to drag a lot of things around with me when I go places, so having the camera on the iphone is really nice. I use it as my primary source for images, mainly because it is what I have on hand when those unexpected moments occur. Another thing I use my iphone for is music. I don't listen to the radio, and I hate having to change CD's in the car, so I just plug in the iphone to a device that feeds through the radio for my music during car rides. I am coming close to having used up the 16GB memory my current iphone has, and deleted a substantial amount of my albums to provide more room for apps. Thus, the 32 GB offered will be nice.

But do I need the 3GS or should I wait for the 4G to be released? I did a quick search on the 4G and found a couple of pages, but you can see one of the main sources of my information I found here.

As I was reading about the new 4g, I was aghast that a removable battery was rumoured to be part of the design. BAD move apple! This would just mean that a seam would be in the design, and hence a chance for dirt to get into it. Not to mention that when you drop it, there is a chance of the part getting loosened and no longer fitting as smoothly into the slot. I just don't like the idea. Granted, if I am listening to music AND running a tracking app, the battery can die fairly quickly. However, if I am planning on a track, I either bring a car charger, or don't run both music and app together. I would rather do the latter than have a removable part in a phone that I bang around a lot. It just will not work for me. I'm fairly abusive to my iphone, and it has held up very well- but if a removable part is introduced I think I will run into a lot of problems.

While the 4g is said to have a front facing camera for ichat/video conferencing, I would never utilize this option. If I was going to video conference, I would use my computer. It may be a nice option if I were traveling a lot and had no access to a computer- but if that were the case, I seriously doubt 4g coverage would be available.

Then there is the OLED screen. What the heck is OLED anyway? Alright, here is what I found out about OLED. Sounds impressive enough, although I didn't have any issues with the original iphone, so this doesn't really bear any weight on my decision to go or not to go with the 4G. However, to be thorough, I did a search to see what the difference between the two screens were (LCD vs OLCD). Low and behold, I found a site talking about the selling point of the OLCD.  The side-by-side image of the two screens is admittedly striking, but when I am out in the field the sun always glares off the screen- so when it really comes down to it, the OLED screen is nice but not a selling factor for me personally. Having said that, the aspect that the OLED takes up less battery life does catch my interest. Therefore, I cannot discount this new screen entirely as part of a weighing factor in my decision.

I have been an AT&T customer for quite some time, and when I first purchased an iphone it was without any discounts (full price). The second iphone was also at the full purchase price because I was not a new user, but rather a returning user. I was upgrading my phone and giving the old one to Husband, but being as it was only 1 year apart and I had renewed our AT&T contract with the first purchase only a year prior, I wasn't eligible for any discounts (contract renewal etc). It was about a year and a half ago that I purchased my 3G, so I don't know if I am eligible for the 299.00 version, or if they will charge me 599.00. I refuse to pay full price again, as it really annoys me to be a loyal customer and yet treated like crap by a company. We had to pay 1000.00 last year for over limit fees due to Grim talking during prime time (he now knows the value of a lan line since he no longer has a cell phone), so that company has taken enough of our money. Don't get me wrong, I like AT&T- it isn't their fault we had a teen talking over limit, although it would have been nice to have recieved some kind of warning regarding our over limit. They send alerts via text for all other reasons- and we had the plan for 3 years prior with no over limits...  heck, even my bank calls me when I have weird and excessive/unusual transactions. But I digress. For the sake of argument, I will just assume we can get the phone at the 299.00 price.

My deciding factor on the new iphone 4G is the design. Granted, all the images on the web to date are "rumors" and none are confirmed, but for the most part the specs on these rumors are generally accurate. This is why I have to say NO to the 4G. That replaceable battery just kills it for me. The image(s) I found leave for a more boxy design, and I prefer the design of the current iphone. It is much better than the 1rst generation in that it fits in my hand much better with its gentle slope/curvature, and while a tab thicker than the first generation the 3G/GS is much more comfortable in my hand. A couple of the images for the 4G portray it to be more like an enlarged ipod with flat edges, losing its sleek design.

There are a few that are a bit more like the 1rst generation in regards to shape (i.e. less boxy than the titanium concept), as shown left, which is a bit more like the 3G/GS (detailed review here), however it does seem to resemble the 1rst generation quite a bit more. As with anytime you upgrade with an iphone, you never know what the summer will bring. (Each summer has a phone upgrade, or at least that is the current trend). Presently, my research regarding the new iphone 4G has really only garnered me a large amount of rumor and a list of specs. Looks like I am apparently in another crap shoot with yet another iphone purchase, as the last time I upgraded it was only a design and memory upgrade - and a few months later the GS came out. Grrr.. Sometime this weekend or next week I'll head out to a AT&T store and see what they offer me. It would be nice to know more about the video capabilities of the iphone- how long, ease of use, etc etc. I suppose I will check into that later on. I would be happy with any type of video ability at this point.

My Fav. iPhone apps

ere is a list of my favorite iphone apps with a short review:

Lambert- Stereonets on your iphone! Yes! And you can transfer it later to your computer! Yes! You heard me !!! I was so happy when I first found this application I cannot tell you how loud I screamed out in joy. I wanted to go out and make a stereoplot right away, but instead I just replotted an old one I had done by hand- works great and I LOVE this app! Sometimes taking tracing paper and a stiff piece of cardboard out to the field is just too cumbersome! Now, I would not use anything but my Brunton Pocket Transit to take measurements, so I personally wouldn't use this to gather data  but for impromptu plotting this is great! It doesn't currently allow you to manually input your own data via the app- but you can download the data you took with iphone and replace it with the data you retrieved via your Brunton once its on your PC. This somewhat defeats the purpose of the app, and I am hoping a future update allows for manual input. I don't think battery life would be an issue either. While some people find it difficult to use the iphone touchpad to type, I am a beast at typing on it, so for me personally, this is a great tool. I have also found my iphone to be very sturdy. I've dropped it quite a few times- the only time I cracked anything was the inner screen when I reached for the phone off the dock it was on in the car (for music) too fast to take a picture of an outcrop we were passing. (oops). But in the rain, a plastic baggie works fine over it and it still works-has for me anyways. 2.99 for the app and well worth it!

MotionX GPS/Motion GPS Sport- this app series is great for creating logs of your tracks. I used it (MotionX GPS) when I was on field trips to log the different stops. You can take pictures at each waypoint (que outcrops) which then translated to easy field reports when all was said and done. Only drawback is that it can be a drain on your iphone if you are not careful. I don't recommend listening to the ipod while using the app- and put it on energy saver yadda yadda.. The newest update integrated the ipod into the app so you can access your music with ease. A compliment to this app is MotionX-GPS SPORT on facebook where you can store your tracks to share with friends and family, keep a detailed log of hikes, runs, bike rides, and just overall track your progress. You can read more about it here.

This next app is a great one for geotagging your images, without the drain on your iphone battery. It is like looking at the world through a brunton/altimeter. Pretty cool! There are many times I have been up on a point and not known my elevation, so it would be nice to know where I was in order to pinpoint it on a map. Even if it were to end up few feet off, just having the general location is a bonus compared to nothing at all. In reading the reviews via the app store, quite a few people are finding it surprisingly accurate. Per the app developer:

Theodolite lets you take camera images directly from the app, with 2X and 4X digital zoom options. You can choose to stamp geographical data directly on the saved image for later reference. View your current position on the built in map view, with standard, satellite, and hybrid modes. On an iPhone 3GS, bearing is updated live on the map with both fixed view and world rotation.

Theodolite 1.1 includes a new A-B Calculator with options to compute height of landmarks, triangulate position, compute distance/heading between points, measure relative angles between observations, and show points on the map. The calculator includes an option to copy results to the clipboard. Theodolite will save observation data for point A if the app is quit before recording data for point B, which is great for long distance measurements. See the Doc/Help/FAQ section for more info on the A-B Calculator.

 As with most of us who want to know exactly where that picture was taken, geotagging is a huge deal. I think this app is the answer to anyone who readily uses their iphone to take images. I for one, don't generally carry a camera because it is just an added piece of equipment that I don't want to deal with. But I almost always have my iphone- and for taking generic outcrop images it is perfect. In fact, the image of the large rock outcrop used on this blog was taken with an iphone while driving/moving to our current destination. I didn't come to a stop either- just had Mandy take pictures as I saw outcrops I liked along our trip. None of which were geotagged, but I can guess from a lot of the rock-types where we were at the time. Not optimal, but... Now, had I had this app, it would have been perfect! I could have sectioned off our trip via file folders and then if I wanted any printed out for a scrapbook (that I always mean to get to but never do) one day I'd have the date and geo info along with it.

Geocaching- I use this app to see if there are any caches nearby and to locate them. While not as good as a GPS, it works very well and gets me to the spot I need. Once I find the cache I can then log that I have found it, take any pictures and upload if required, and move on to the next cache. It's also nice when I am stuck and can't find a cache to see other pictures people have posted to make sure I am in the right spot. Husband is better at spotting things in flora than I am, so I need this little nudge of help. (I know it is cheating but don't tell him.. shhhh...:) Even with the help of images he still generally finds caches hidden in plants over me. I just don't have an eye for things in plants- too used to looking at rocks. (They are prettier anyways).

GeologyTX, GeologyCA, GeologyWa/OR, etc..- this is a fantastic app series! It is comprised of a geologic map of the state (ea. state has separate app) and gives you the rock type of your area with age and description of said rock type. I really love the aspect that you can narrow down areas via the distance tool. I'm anxious to give this one a test run in the field. Not necessarily for just geologists. Families with kids could use this as a fantastic teaching aid, esp. when you relocate a lot. It would be a good way to find rock samples with those boys (or girls-as even Mandy loves getting in the mud from time to time to my amazement) who enjoy rocks.

Gems and Minerals- I really like this app because you can add your own samples into the database. How awesome is that? woot woot! Seriously though, for .99 cents you can't beat that!

Rock and Gems- This app was just released Jan 19th and I found it the other day so I haven't gone through it fully, but it has quality images of specimen samples. I'll add more info later when I have time to sit and play with it a bit. . Only 99 cents so worth the pictures. Pretty rocks are always nice to look at when bored at the doctors office.

Terraphone- I kinda like this app, although it was a bit pricy for an app at 12.99. The rating on it is only 3 stars, but when reading the reviews it is because a lot of the users didn't understand the advanced terminology utilized in the app. Personally I would not have paid 12.99 for an app that did not use the correct terminology, so to me that's a good thing.However after using the app it really isn't overly technical at all. Took me a second to notice the bulls-eye in the opening screen, and you have to move that over to your blue pushpin (on map) if you want to know about your current area- or you can move bulls-eye over another area you desire information on. There are images to rock samples, however there are very limited "map it" options if you want to find a particular outcrop to see examples for yourself. In the end, 12.99 was highly overpriced for this app (IMO). While there were 13 images for aragonite samples in my local area- again if I were to want to see an outcrop or get a small sample, there is no information as to where it would occur. There are a lot of other apps that offer more extensive information at a better price. I think a fair price for this app would be at the most 5.99.

Rocks- This is a cute little app that would be great for someone taking a beginning geology class, or just an enthusiast. A bit rudimentary for those at the advanced levels of geology, but still fun to look through. It sections rocks off into Ig., Met., and Sed.; then breaks each sections down into types of rocks under those categories with descriptions and a sample image. There is a quiz at the end.

Rockhound- Here is a another app that is an asset for anyone wanting to grab some rock samples! You can add sites you have found rx at yourself and submit them to the site to be added to future updates, so this app has the potential to get better as time goes by. I like that you can add pictures/notes yourself to assist in returning to previously visited sites. If you are anything like me, you are all over the place when you are out on a day of rock-finding, so it's a bonus to be able to add notes to recall where you've been and where you found what. It also has a database of rocks, and what tools may be needed to extract the specimens. Another thing I like about the app is that it describes the sites in detail to where if it isn't suitable for younger kids you know not to bring them. I normally do not bring little guy on my first runs when going out on a search, unless I know for sure that it is a safe spot. Even though he is old enough to listen to me and not run off like a toddler, he still lacks judgment as any young child would, and so I only bring him to well known (to me) spots that aren't heavily trafficked or near any roadways. A lot of outcrops I go to are along highways, and I would never bring any child to such a spot. I've seen others do this, and I think it is highly irresponsible. If you are out rockhounding with young children think twice about where you go. It's too easy to get absorbed into what you are doing and not pay attention to what the little ones do- I know personally I am completely like a bug caught in the glare of a light when rocks are concerned, and would easily get too distracted to see what little guy was up to. So just be safe. :)

Earth Science by ExamBusters- This app has questions regarding the topic of earth science, and is formatted to work like flash cards. Kinda fun and while some of the questions are lower level (i.e. How many neutrons in an isotope of hydrogen-1?; State the basic formula to calculate density; what are the mineral sources of bricks; List three basic characteristics of granite; List two basic characteristics of pegmatite; Describe paleomagnetism of basalts..etc etc) It's a fun app that I like to use when ever we have time to kill waiting somewhere (doc office, restaurants etc) to quiz my teens since they should know most of this stuff.

QuakeWatch- gives you the latest news on earthquakes around the world, with links to USGS for detailed information and maps.

Tasa Geology- Kinda neat for the kids to learn about plate tectonics. Hard to believe that in the 1960's this was a huge debate. (Not too long ago when you think about it.) Only drawback is they do not display the movement of the plates as postulated by scientists throughout the time periods. It would have been nice to see that perhaps added in the future update.


Units- gives conversions for an array of things -area, speed, pressure, currency..

Math tasks- coordinate geometry.-Could have used this when digging that trench in Jordan for sure! Not that I can't do geometry by hand, but when it is 120 degree F, your brain just isn't working at full capacity.

ichemistry- has a nice periodic table and balances equations. Also has a mass calculator (reactants/products). This is an okay app, but a bit limited.

ChemiCal- this will calculate stock dilutions and also has a nice periodic table. Also calculates molarity/mass/vol etc. The formula mass calculator section is pretty nice. Another nice aspect of this app is the detailed listing of general information. It offers atomic number, avg. mass, monoisotopic mass, electron config, electrons per shell. Physical properties are also listed : crystal structure, density, melting points. Common isotopes & ionization energies etc. One of the better chemistry apps out there IMO.

The Converter- This is a monster. Does everything from gas consumption/capacity & volume/ mass & weight/currency/clothing (tells you conversion sizes in US, UK, Aus, Eur, Jap, Belgium Spain and France to name a few!)/kitchen (dash, UK teaspoon vs. US -really nice)/angles/ etc etc. This is a great app for those going overseas, or who do any type of conversions.

AppBox Pro- while some of the apps I have are repeated in this handy app of many, this is still a good app to have. Gives batterlife/clinometer/currency/date calc/loan calc/icalendar/sale price/tip calc/units/translator/ruler/price grab/holidays/flashlight/days until/ google books/collapse.. all in ONE app. So for those who like things simple, this is an all in one combo.

MetPetDB- Shows you rock samples of whatever area you may be exploring. This is a new download for me, so haven't used it in the field, but the premise is awesome!


I have a ton more apps, but this will do for now. I'll add to this as I find time. Hope it helps you fellow iphone app lovers out there! ;0)