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46 BACKPACKER 03.2014 Gear: Field Test Basecamp *KML Keyhole Markup Language: This data format allows you to view GPS tracks, waypoints, and multimedia on a Google Earth map. 1. BACKPACKER GPS Trails Our app rocks: Geotag photos, overlay five weather maps (Doppler radar, cloud cover, wind, air and ocean temps) on your route ($30/ year for weather) and store maps for off-the-grid use. free ($5 for Pro version, backpacker.com/apps 2. My Tracks Google’s GPS-recording app monitors basic hiking stats and allows you to edit, share, and archive KML* data in Google’s easy-to-use Maps and Drive apps. Access data on mobile or desktop. Gripe: No offline map stor- age. free; google.com 3. FxCamera Give your photos a creative boost with more than 40 filters and six effects that style photos with pro-level treatments without the expense of Photoshop soft- ware. Testers liked the fish- eye setting for detail shots. free; fxcamera.com 4. Google Sky Map Point your tablet skyward and this app finds your loca- tion and display stars, plan- ets, and deep-sky objects from the Hubble Space Telescope. The red display preserves night vision. free; google.com/mobile/ skymap ASUS MeMO Pad HD Best for bargain hunters Why we love it For about the cost of a pair of light hikers, score a trail-friendly Android tablet that packs front- and rear-facing cameras (5- and 1-megapixels, respectively), plus a microSD slot that offers flexibility to expand the memory. For a first-time tab- let user, the ease of operation and low price make this an ideal entry-level device. In the field Despite its discount price, the MeMo isn’t chintzy. And for bulk-conscious hikers, the petite size (7.7-by-4.7 inches) is ideal (think cargo pocket). To switch from photo to social to map- ping apps while on the go, testers relied on the options ring that pops up from the home button. Just hold your finger on top of the home icon for a split second, and a set of app and widget short- cuts opens. “I love the mini compass overlay (see right) for in-field orientation,” says one navigator. Though it has the smallest screen here, with the lowest pixel count (1,240-by-600), one tester says, “I was still able to preplan routes on Google Earth’s interac- tive globe without blurry imagery, and I could scrawl handwritten notes (with my finger or a stylus) using the preloaded SuperNote app.” Some of the budget- 3. 4. 1. 2. price sacrifices include the 1-megapixel, rear-facing camera, which captures somewhat grainy images, the shortest battery life in the test (about eight hours while running GPS), and a sluggish processor that loads apps slowly and bogs down while streaming videos. But in the end, this tablet delivers killer perfor- mance for the price. $149 (Wi-Fi only; no 3G option); 12.6 oz.; asus.com Case Slim Folio Book Get a bargain case to go with your bargain tablet. This simple faux-leather hardback case, while basic and not weather-sealed (for cheap waterproofing, grab a zip-top bag), still kept the MeMO secure from low-impact drops and dings. Bonus: A loop on the side holds a slim stylus (included). $13; 3.2 oz.; i-Blason.com Essential Backcountry Apps [Android] P H O T O S B Y B E N F U L L E R T O N ( 2 ) ; C O U R T E S Y ( 4 ) . ; I L L U S T R A T I O N S B Y M E G A N H I L L M A N