?How to use iPhone as a GPS, other cool bc uses?

I just received an iPhone 4 and am looking for ideas/tutorials on how to use it as a backcountry tool.

Primarily I'd like to learn to use it as a GPS, including syncing it with my PC to upload/download maps, waypoints, etc. Apps and PC software needed...?

Any other good uses for the iPhone folks utilize would be great to learn about too.

Finally, if you can share tips and tricks on using the phone in the bc... - one concern is battery management since it doesn't appear I'll be able to swap in a charged spare due to the sealed case.

New guy to the iPhone looking to hear and learn from the experienced iPhone users.

Thanks!

Most important battery management tip: unless you're sure that you'll have a strong cell signal all day, switch to "Airplane Mode" when heading into the bc. Otherwise, if the cell signal fades, the phone will kill its battery while searching for a cell signal all day. But in Airplane Mode, the battery will only decrease by a few % in a whole day.

This is way better than turning the phone off, which then takes a long time to reboot when turned on, and also obviously prevents using all of the GPS/compass/etc features during the trip.

I've only had my iPhone a few months, but I'm really glad that I waited for the Verizon version since I have have excellent signal in many remote mountain locations where AT&T / T-Mobile / other users have none. Even have 3G data service in many on-mountain spots (Camp Muir, Bunny Flat on Shasta, etc) which makes getting updated weather info a breeze.

I've downloaded a bunch of free GPS / navigation apps which had good reviews, but not really used them much yet. I'd also like to know what apps long-term users have found most useful in the outdoors.

I am very skeptical using the iPhone's gps in the bc.

Was disappointed in my iPhone, so gave it to my older daughter. I got a Garmin (Android) phone just for the better GPS - which it did have, but sucked as a phone. The gps was good, but not as good for streets as my Nuvi, and not good at all around most skiing areas around Seattle.

I lost the Garmin (believe it's somewhere in the house) and talking to the shop guys about replacement with a good gps they advised me to stay away from pretty much all Windows phones, so now I have a Samsung Galaxy something - which is also not very impressive.

Finally, I bought a Garmin map60 for to dedicate to backcountry use. Not much actual use yet, but from short tests it's really much much better than any phone that I've tried.

Not saying that you can't use it or that it's totally useless, but am saying that I would not want to depend on it, at least not for a GPS device. Hoping they will get better in the future, of course.

Cheers
Ivo

If you want a good reliable cell phone GPS then find a used TMobile Garminfone (The manufacturer Garmin-Asus split their affiliation so the phone is no longer manufactured).  I've had one for a year now and it is great. It runs android (comes with 1.7 but upgradable to 2.1) which is my favorite phone operating system. The Garminfone is a REAL gps unit and does not require cell service to work which is really needed in the BC. 

Fyi...

Yes - that's the Garmin phone that I hope to find in the house... One more thing - my battery life was pretty bad, compared to iPhone and Blackberry

Cheers
Ivo

GaiaGPS application for both Android and iPhone

if your an Android user, Backcountrynavigator works much better (IMO). I've tried them both on my android and had issues with Gaia, but BN works flawless and easy to use.

in any case, you will want to put your phone in airplane mode when using the GPS app in the field.