G
GeorgiaOcean
Guest
<p class=MsoNormal>I've used a couple of different GPS-based golf range finders
and <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> is easily my favorite.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>PRICE</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>For $0.99, you get the functionality of a stand-alone GPS
range finder that would set you back a few hundred dollars. <span class=GramE>Hard
to beat.</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>FUNCTIONALITY</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>There isn't much more to the app than opening it. You
immediately are given yardage to the front, center and back of the green, and
can quickly scroll through any hazards that have been input for the hole to get
those distances as well. The program even advances to the next hole
automatically after you walk off the green (if you have that feature enabled).</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>BATTERY DRAIN</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I have never come close to draining my battery on my HTC
Incredible. It burns down maybe to halfway, and I have plenty of other apps
updating during that time. Battery life is basically a non-issue, which was a
pleasant surprise.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>TRACK FEATURE</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The track feature surprised me a bit as an incredibly
helpful feature. <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> will keep track of how far
you have travelled since hitting the "Track" button, which gives you
an accurate measure of how far you hit the ball. I always used to assume that I
drove the ball about 250 <span class=SpellE>yds</span> off the tee, but now
have indisputable evidence that I only go about 225. While my pride is wounded,
my game has gotten better now that I have an accurate understanding of the
distances that I hit with each club.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>COURSE DATABASE AND MAPPING</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>So far, I've found the course database to be quite
comprehensive. The one course that I did not find already mapped, I was able to
map myself in about 20 minutes on the <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> site.
The mapping is a simplified version of some of the older programs built using
Google Earth - very intuitive, very quick. And you can add way points for as
many (or few) hazards as you would like. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Allowing user-generated mapping yields pros and cons similar
to Wikipedia - tons of information, but not all of it good. I have definitely
played on courses where the <span class=SpellE>mapper</span> had done a sloppy
job resulting in inaccurate readings. The plus side of this is that it is easy
to correct using the mapping software (after your round is over).</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A great feature is the ability to pull up the satellite map
of each hole during your round to find yardage to any hazard or target landing
area that has not already been programmed in - just touch the spot, and you get
instant <span class=SpellE>yardge</span> to that point. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>SCORECARD</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Curiously absent. You'll need a second app running if you
want to keep score on your phone, which is inconvenient. Hopefully the
developers can add this feature to a future update.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>OVERALL</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o> </o></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I love it and would recommend it to anyone. And for the
price, there's really no risk. So get it!</p>
and <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> is easily my favorite.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>PRICE</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>For $0.99, you get the functionality of a stand-alone GPS
range finder that would set you back a few hundred dollars. <span class=GramE>Hard
to beat.</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>FUNCTIONALITY</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>There isn't much more to the app than opening it. You
immediately are given yardage to the front, center and back of the green, and
can quickly scroll through any hazards that have been input for the hole to get
those distances as well. The program even advances to the next hole
automatically after you walk off the green (if you have that feature enabled).</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>BATTERY DRAIN</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I have never come close to draining my battery on my HTC
Incredible. It burns down maybe to halfway, and I have plenty of other apps
updating during that time. Battery life is basically a non-issue, which was a
pleasant surprise.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>TRACK FEATURE</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>The track feature surprised me a bit as an incredibly
helpful feature. <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> will keep track of how far
you have travelled since hitting the "Track" button, which gives you
an accurate measure of how far you hit the ball. I always used to assume that I
drove the ball about 250 <span class=SpellE>yds</span> off the tee, but now
have indisputable evidence that I only go about 225. While my pride is wounded,
my game has gotten better now that I have an accurate understanding of the
distances that I hit with each club.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>COURSE DATABASE AND MAPPING</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>So far, I've found the course database to be quite
comprehensive. The one course that I did not find already mapped, I was able to
map myself in about 20 minutes on the <span class=SpellE>SkyDroid</span> site.
The mapping is a simplified version of some of the older programs built using
Google Earth - very intuitive, very quick. And you can add way points for as
many (or few) hazards as you would like. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Allowing user-generated mapping yields pros and cons similar
to Wikipedia - tons of information, but not all of it good. I have definitely
played on courses where the <span class=SpellE>mapper</span> had done a sloppy
job resulting in inaccurate readings. The plus side of this is that it is easy
to correct using the mapping software (after your round is over).</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>A great feature is the ability to pull up the satellite map
of each hole during your round to find yardage to any hazard or target landing
area that has not already been programmed in - just touch the spot, and you get
instant <span class=SpellE>yardge</span> to that point. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>SCORECARD</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>Curiously absent. You'll need a second app running if you
want to keep score on your phone, which is inconvenient. Hopefully the
developers can add this feature to a future update.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>OVERALL</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o
> </o></p> <p class=MsoNormal>I love it and would recommend it to anyone. And for the
price, there's really no risk. So get it!</p>