For my next trip I’ll be trying out a new app called Polarsteps. This app automatically tracks where I am and where I’ve been using triangulation (via the cellular network) instead of GPS. It’s a little less accurate but it means it doesn’t drain my battery. It will also allow me to add photos and videos live even when I’m not connected to the internet.
While it’s an app, your profile can be viewed on a PC browser too. So those at home don’t have to download the app to see what you’re doing.
I’m curious to see how this works out. It is even possible to add past trips. I added my trip through Europe to test this feature and so far it turned out nicely. Showing me how far I’ve travelled, how many countries I visited and how many days.
Since it is all still in Beta stages, there is no option for others to comment on a trip or a specific entry. People can “love” an entry kind of the way you like a Facebook page though. Commenting options are something for the (near?) feature and would probably be a great addition to it. Especially for those people who want to use the app so family and friends can follow them without having to make a special website for it.
Similar to Social Media websites you can create your own account and follow other travellers. But if you don’t want any strangers to follow your travel antics there are 3 privacy settings.
- Only you; Only you can see your trip details
- Followers; Only your followers can see it, with the extra note that you can share the specific link for the trip with whoever you want to share it with.
- Everyone; This is the public setting so everyone can see your trip details, whether they are followers or not. You can also share the specific link for the trip with anyone you want.
So visit my Polarsteps profile, see where I am and what I’m up to, or follow me there by creating your own profile.
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