City Walk - Review - Cassell Feld2002

Information technology's a little strange reviewing an exercise app for your Windows Phone while its withal wintertime just, nosotros ran beyond an interesting Windows Phone vii app that might come up in handy when the weather condition improves. Urban center Walk has been developed past Powerapp that volition add a competitive twist to your outdoor walking routine.

The concept is simple, the Windows Phone seven app divides your city into 50x50 meters sectors and your goal is to bear upon upon each of the fifty squares. Sure you could cheat and hit them all while driving around in your car but you don't burn every bit many calories that way.

To read more on City Walk, just brand the jump past the intermission.

Getting Started

When yous first run City Walk, you will need to become a registered user (costless). This will allow you to compete against other users with regards to your walking performance. Powerapp also has a companion website where you can view the list of cities, high scores and contribute to discussions in their forums.

City Walk Main Menu

The Master Menu of City Walk will get y'all to your Map, Scores, Help Department, Settings, an Well-nigh screen and a Log Out push. Settings are basic in that they allow you lot to turn off your location services, run the app under the lock screen and vibrate when a square is covered. Y'all also tin cull unit measurements and languages (English or Swedish). There are besides settings for your registration contour that allow y'all to change the registered user using City Walk.

The Map

When you're ready to brainstorm your walk, to launch your urban center map simply tap "Start Walking". This will pull upwards a Bing Map of your location. If you don't take your location services turned on, City Walk volition prompt yous to plow it on and exit the map.

The app is loaded with xx,000 cities from 130 countries and if your city isn't listed in the database, you will be prompted with directions on how to add together your city.

City Walk Map One City Walk Map Two

The map is affect scrollable/zoomable but it wasn't every bit responsive every bit I would take expected. There is a "+" and "-" button that piece of work much better than pinching to zoom did. At any time your phone looses it's location, City Walk displays the mistake and exits the map. Makes sense but I'yard wondering if information technology would be better to stay with the Map view and simply update your location once your position is restored.

At the bottom of the map view y'all'll see information on your speed, altitude walked, accurateness of your location and squares touched during your walk. The map view tin toggle betwixt street map and satellite views. Additionally, you can access City Walk's high scores from the map to give you additional motivation to keep on exercising.

Overall Impression

I liked the twist City Walk gives walkers. While it's piece of cake to set a goal of walking "X" number of miles a week, Metropolis Walk gives your exercise routine a competitive twist. You tin compare your progress with others in your city or encounter how your performance compares to members in other cities.

There are a few reservations with Urban center Walk. First, when the app loses your location, it exits the map. This volition cause you lot to finish and relaunch the map, which will suspension any rhythm you've established. Second, I see City Walk as being more focused at the urban walker. For those living in more than rural or suburban settings the 50x50 filigree may comprise sectors that aren't easily accessible.

City Walk isn't for everyone and there's a trial version available to permit you try before yous purchase. The full version will run y'all $.99. If you live in a metropolitan or urban area and have a walking routine, Urban center Walk should be appealing. Metropolis Walk might not be as good a fit for track walkers and those living in rural (or fifty-fifty suburban) areas.

You can find your copy of Metropolis Walk here (opens Zune) at the Marketplace.