Although I typically suffer separation anxiety when I’m forced to go more than a few minutes without my iPhone, there are occasions when I prefer to be without it. For instance, I don’t bring it to the gym or on a run. The device is just too big, and I haven’t found an armband to fit my massive pythons. I’m a big dude. It’s an issue.
But I might have found an app in Distance Meter Pro that could make me change my mind. Yet it is not without its flaws and I’m not infatuated.
Chief among my gripes: The app doesn’t let you access your iPod playlists. A fitness app, in my view, requires music in the background.
I’m also not crazy about the one-and-done nature of Distance Meter Pro’s tracking. You can upload your workouts to partner sites TrainingPeaks and MapMyFitness, which is cool, but the app itself maintains no memory of your sessions. If you log out, you start over. Frustrating.
What I do like is the simple design and reliable tracking of the distance, pace, and calories burned in my hikes and runs. I was also impressed with the app’s ability to lock onto a GPS signal and stay with it throughout my workout. I live in a city with tall buildings and trees, and my route maps were satisfyingly accurate.
Distance Meter Pro needs improvement, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a charming app that’s definitely staying on my iPhone.
