Umagap43gu: Mophie intros Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition for adventure loving iPhone owners (video)

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Mophie intros Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition for adventure loving iPhone owners (video)

It's been just over a week since Mophie quietly intro'd updated Juice Packs at IFA, and now -- as we've reacquainted with our offices -- the company's given us a sneak peek at its Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition. Aside from a special olive drab and orange colorway, the charging case itself is your standard $100 iPhone 4 Juice Pack Plus. So what's the big deal, you ask? This Pack's bundled with Mophie's Outdoor Navigation app (a collaboration with NeoTrecks) positioning itself as an alternative to pricier handheld GPS units. Purchased separately, said app's slated to sell for $30 along with optional desktop access priced at $20 annually, while you'll get the software and that first year included out of box with the OE.

The app works using your iPhone's GPS to provide highly detailed maps and a robust suite of options to get you where you're going, even if you're offline for most of the US -- sorry, Alaska. We checked out an early build of the software showcasing its three modes for tracking, downloading new maps, and a library you can check back on. The maps feature hand-shaded topography for extra clarity and a unique "grid-mode" for downloading new sections, although it appears you'll be stuck there while you wait for it to finish. The software also pulls up points of interests and you'll be able to track your trips, allowing you to then view your statistics or even share the details over the web. Mophie's expecting to have these available sometime in October with full details forthcoming, but in the meantime, there's a brief demo on how it'll help you navigate your local trail past the break.

Gallery: Mophie Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition hands-on