Harry's LapTimer Rookie app good for
Being able to re-live and review my track days with Harrys lap timer has been awesome. Viewing and comparing multiple laps, with the ability to correlate to video has allowed me to see where I can improve. This is an awesome, easy to use app. If you are into track days and want to geek on real useful data, try it out. You wont be disappointed.
I dont get to use it as much as I would like, it that has more to do with not doing enough track days.
Love that this app is scaleable. I started with Rookie and have since updated to Grand Prix. It works with just the iPhone out of the box with just the app, but can also be scaled up with external hardware as you get more addicted - cams, OBD2 sensors, better GPS trackers. All of which I have done and am impressed with the capabilities of just an app.
Support is awesome and it is continuously updated and features added, such as the new dyno function (which I think is free for GP only).
Ive used it for autocross, lapping days, karting. Even mountain biking. Have always been happy with it and have recommended it to several friends.
Ive used this software on my Palm for a couple of years and now its finally available for iPhone. Its missing some of the Palm features, but Im confident they will come. This developer has always responded quickly to concerns and problems. I have not seen any other software in the App Store that does what LapTimer does. This is by far the best software for road racers on this platform. Thanks for bringing this software to iPhone!
Good application, has lots of nice features, and is at a reasonabel price. Dont expect a ton from the iPhone GPS system, but it does well with auto-lapping.
Its frustrating now in OS 3.0 that you cant disable auto-lock, I cant figure out how to keep this application "alive" without touching the screen every 5 minutes - not easy while track driving. Any ideas?
I am really impressed by this app, as it fills a need for the right price. I have wanted a GPS/accelerometer logger for HPDE events for the last several years, but have not been willing to fork up the $600 -$1000 this would cost. Although this app does not give the same precision and reliable performance as such a dedicated unit, it is functional enough to do what I want: compare laptimes and analyze sectors where I can improve, as well as provide data for later video overlay. I looked at several other apps, but they seemed more expensive and less functional that this one.
pros: nice realtime accelerometer view, useful GPS status information, easy export of data in a usable format, and nice viewing of individual laps.
cons: still needs work in some areas (for example, I have not been able to get the accelerometer calibration to work as intended... it never finishes the last two steps for the "drive in a straight line" and "linear braking/acceleration" component. "Force calibration" does not seem to do anything useful. My workaround has been to position the phone uncalibrated using a swivel ball mount such that both axis are zero when level and at rest, oriented pretty much vertically in portrait orientation), and it would be good if the intermediate accelerometer data was used to augment the slow GPS update rate, or at least was logged so that I could provide this correction myself. It seems from the development plan on Harrys website that this is in the works, so I am looking forward to the next update.
Keep up the good work!
I managed to figure out how to use the app in 5 minutes of playing with it. Easy instructions:
Calibration happens automatically. If you want you can force it to calibrate manually by hitting the wrench in the "Acceleration" page, but its generally unnecessary.
To get automatic lap timing working:
1) Create your car and track at some point by hitting the wrench in the "Classic" or "Racers" page. Select your car/track.
2) When you get to the starting grid for the first time on that track, hit the "More" page, then "POI List", then "+". This sets your current location as the start/finish line.
3) Hit Go on the "Classic" or "Racers" page and start lapping!
4 stars only because Harry should be writing these instructions and not me. This app has far more features than any of the other track day apps out there; theyre just harder to get to.
Some bad moments
After last update track list is empty and its not possible to download any track map
The app is very nice but the iPhones GPS gets lost easily in corners; my track maps look like spaghetti once I get into the corners. Too bad, because the app appears to have been well designed and implemented.
This MAY be a powerful app, but it is difficult to tell because there are no instructions on how to use it. The website shows some neat screenshots, but I have no idea how they were achieved. While I do get some instant data I cant figure out how to get the track mapping and lap timing shown on the website. The stilted English doesnt help. I tried using it in my racecar once and only got wrong data. I know my MG Midget doesnt go 212 MPH as much as might want it to! I also could not figure out how to keep it running for any meaningful length of time, as another review noted. And why must I agree to the license EVERY TIME I launch the app? I wish I could either get my 4.99 back or get some instructions that might unlock all the secrets that are hiding in this app.
It is easy to turn off auto lock so that really isnt an issue, however this is a terrible app. There are no instructions and simply trying to figure out how to set up a track is hard. Calibrating is a nightmare.
Its really no more useful than a stopwatch... If you want a decent lap timer and data buy a traqmate.
Not good at all, hard to understand dont spend your money in this app you wont be happy
Total waste of $8.99. Didnt work for a SINGLE LAP in a full day at the Thunderhill track. I attempted to get my money back, but was stiff-armed by the developer (Harry) and denied by Apple. Be forewarned, apparently "the app doesnt work" is not a vaild reason for getting a refund. Really? I feel ike Ive been robbed by both Harry and Apple. Dont bother with this one.