LoadMyTracks 1.3.1

LoadMyTracks is a piece of software that will communicate with GPS devices from many manufacturers to send and receive data. It can also be used to translate data between the popular GPX and KML (Google Earth) formats. The software provides support for Waypoints (single locations in space), Routes (lists of waypoints that can be used as instructions of where to go, Tracks (the breadcrumbs that many GPS devices keep to show where you have been) and additional data that may vary by device.

With GPX files, you can log your travels, determine the location of your photos on your latest photo safari, plan and track exercise, participate in geocaching, help make better maps of your country's roadways, or anything that your geospatial mind can think of. Utilities exist on the Internet and on the Macintosh to use and manipulate GPX files. Google is a great place to start when trying to find these. Try searching on "GPX Macintosh". [Opens a new window]

We've been working with the help of many of our users to create a utility that is straightforward and easy to use, while also providing most of the features necessary to satisfy beginners and power users alike. Thanks for all of the encouragement and good thoughts by our current and future users. Please continue to provide us with the great feedback that you have with previous versions.

Recent versions of LoadMyTracks make use of Sparkle by Andy Matuschak for automatic program updates and we're now using Growl for notification of events that make take time or happen asynchronously, such as a device becoming ready or going offline or the program finishing a task.

LoadMyTracks uses version 1.1 of the GPX schema (as defined originally by Topografix) and relies upon the extension method built into that format to provide support for additional information not supported by the standard. To support heart rate, cadence, and lap information which are available from some GPS Devices (such as the Garmin ForeRunner and Edge series), we have introduced our GPXDATA schema. The schema is currently open for review and is still in the testing phase and likely to change. More detailed information will be made available as it solidifies, but XML-saavy people are welcome to look at the schema and comment to us using the bug report form.

LoadMyTracks also supports Geocaching using LOC files or GPX files with the extensions from geocaching.com . Right now, device support is limited, but there should be recognition of Geocache symbols for Garmin devices and support for full geocaching behavior on Magellan devices that support geocaching.