I was once again lucky enough to win something and received a license to myTracks . And say what, my eyes pop out by the amazing things that myTrack does combined in a single application. Not only that I do now have a library where I can store and administrate my GPS data files (routes, logs, POI’s, geocaches) I also have a feature rich program aside that handle almost any tasks I do with my GPS data. As the features speak for themselves I copied the feature list over…

GPS Devices

myTracks supports a lot of different GPS devices. Using the GPS Logger Assistant the setup is done with some simple clicks. Finally you can import GPS tracks directly into myTracks.

Track Library

GPS tracks can be managed within the track library comfortably. You can structure the library using folders as much as you like.

Geotagging

myTracks has two different Geotagging modes. In the 1-click geotagging mode you only have to drag&drop your files onto myTracks‘s dock icon. The second mode gives you full control over the geotagging process. E.g. you can specify a time correction if your camera was set to the wrong time.

It is also possible to use myTracks for manual geotagging in case you don‘t have a GPS track.

myTracks can geotag both JPEG and RAW image files.

Apple’s iPhoto ’09 and ’11

You use iPhoto ’09 or ’11? Then you will love myTracks because geotagging becomes so easy. Just drag&drop your photos to myTracks‘s dock icon and myTracks automatically updates the location information of your photos in the iPhoto places database.

Apple’s Aperture

With myTracks comes a plug-in for Aperture 2 and 3. You can use this plug-in to easily open photos organized in Aperture in myTracks. After geotagging with myTracks the photos will be updated in Aperture. This works perfectly with Aperture’s new Places feature. The plug-in works with both JPEG and RAW image files.

Maps

myTracks shows GPS tracks on maps such as OpenStreetMap or Microsoft Bing Maps. You can move the map and zoom in and out. You can also add other offline maps.

To easily navigate to different places myTracks provides a bookmark and a search feature.

iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

A free myTracks edition for the iPhone and iPod touch is available on Apple’s AppStore . You can use this app for recording tracks and to copy your Mac track library including the linked photos to your iPhone. This is your Track Library ToGo.

Elevation and Speed Profile

Besides displaying GPS tracks on the map myTracks can show an elevation and a speed profile.

Editing Tracks

Sometimes, GPS tracks are not very accurate. GPS loggers may have problems in the mountains or between high buildings. In this case you may want to correct these tracks. You can edit track points and even whole parts of track using the edit mode of myTracks. Its also possible to delete individual track points.

Import and Export

You can export GPS tracks to different file formats. Besides the standard for GPS tracks, GPX, you can export track to KML and KMZ files. You can import both GPX and KML files of course.

If you have photos which already contain GPS information it‘s also possible to create a new track out of these files.

Google Earth

With a single click you can view a GPS track with Google Earth.

Geocaching

myTracks also supports geocaching. You can import geocaches from services such as geocaching.com or opencaching.de and the caches are shown on the maps. You can filter the caches based on different criteria. You can also export filtered lists of geocaching for paperless caching.

Online Services

myTracks can upload your photos including the location information to the online photo services flickr and locr.

Help

myTracks has a detailed online help. With short screencasts the different features of myTracks are explained clearly.

After the first start of myTracks special help windows will pop-up explaining the most important workflows.

I don’t know what I should add to this. All that I do and need to do handling my GPS data is gathered. After the installation there is a few step setup done and after that it took a while to import my entire (file based and folder structured) GPS data from my HDD. After completion I had all my logs, POI’s, geocaches etc. in a library at myTracks. I simply started exploring myTracks trying to do all the things I formerly did with several applications. Managing, editing GPS logs, routes, POI’s and Geocaches up to geotagging some photos. I was able to do all these things nearly without any help. With the geotag method in myTrack it is not that faulty any longer to forget sometimes to align the GPS time with the camera. Even with already having my photos in Aperture it is easy to do geotagging, how this can be done is shown here in this little tutorial from the myTracks website:

To be able to use Aperture you should have a look into the help of myTracks, where you will find a link to download the Aperture-Plugin that needs to be installed separately.

My conclusion: If I would rate with stars I would give 5 out of 5, but alas I don’t make use of stars, I simply say: A program that I won’t miss any longer, a genius that I recommend to all in need of a tool to handle GPS data!

Note to the images, you might have noticed that the images show German language, but of course myTracks and the myTracks iPhone App is also showing up in English for those who have an English device setup!