Theodolite HD

First of all, this app has a beautifully executed and intuitive user interface. IMO, everybody, even if they never leave the city, need to know the basics of how to use a map and compass. If a 12 year old Boy Scout can, so can you. It might even save your life one day. This tool is so easy and pleasant to use that practically anyone who took middle school geometry will know how to use it without even looking at the help. But “what use could I possibly have for it ?” you ask. Look around, you’ll see. If nothing else it’s a fun way to help a kid understand geometry, which is essential knowledge, like knowing how to add and subtract.

We use Theodolite to take pictures of cemetery headstones and other family history sites to augment our family history information. The imprinted information helps others locate historical site more accurately rather than from notes like near the big tree, near a gate, along the third driveway, etc. Since most cellphones have GPS capabilities, a Theodolite picture can help someone find a relevant place more easily. Also, as the chairman of a small cemetery, I take a picture of each headstone and place that picture in the plot file. Now I can respond to an inquiry with a photo that has the location information. Thank you to the folks who make Theodolite, what a great tool.

I've always liked this app for site survey of local obscura and the like. Since they added the offline map function I thought it would be a great hiking add (like a GPS). I like using my iPad as a GPS even though I know its big. the large screen is really nice for looking at the local terrain. The capability to download offline maps is very attractive so I bought 100,000 tile credits for $15 to download maps for hiking. I defined the area of one local park/hiking are to download and found that 100,000 tiles was not enough! I did a test and found I need about 10 tiles just to cover an area the size of my house and yard. A fine app but does not make dollars and sense for the average hiker. For $100 I can buy detailed maps for my GPS that cover NM, AZ, UT, and CO. At Theodolite prices, $100 would buy offline maps for about 1 county