Disappointed
I had high hopes for the bivy device, tested it on a few small hikes and had some weird results, but put it down to learning curve and device glitches. The app itself is just noisy and confusing: so many fonts/button/tabs/options and yet finding out if the bivy is WORKING and tracking seems to be lowest priority.
Just got back from a backpacking trip and it was sending checkins with locations from the day before, the tracking stopped in the middle of the day and missed most of the hike, but when I hooked to bivy and looked it seemd to show my location (hint: it was using iPhone's GPS position).
All this "adventure" stuff is noise and detracts from using this as reliable tracking/communicating tool. I wish they had a basic app that didn't have all of this social crap in it, that let me know:
* is Bivy working, if not how long since it was
* what is the link for spouse to follow (no adventure!)
* are communications/tracking being delivered
Just got back from a backpacking trip and it was sending checkins with locations from the day before, the tracking stopped in the middle of the day and missed most of the hike, but when I hooked to bivy and looked it seemd to show my location (hint: it was using iPhone's GPS position).
All this "adventure" stuff is noise and detracts from using this as reliable tracking/communicating tool. I wish they had a basic app that didn't have all of this social crap in it, that let me know:
* is Bivy working, if not how long since it was
* what is the link for spouse to follow (no adventure!)
* are communications/tracking being delivered
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App needs update still
Although this app does help figure out about what places are near by on the map but is still several updates away from being perfect.
Love the new update!
The most recent update is a game changer for me. It is much smoother and more intuitive. I was recently down in Goblin Valley, Utah and I stumbled upon a cool trail that I just submitted to the database. It’s cool to be a part of it all!
It is a start but needs work
Ok
I am an older person
But very tech savvy and do app design work
The text is really hard to read it is a very light grey with small font - so bright day good luck.
Also the routes are done in a light green that is easy to miss on a green topo map
The green route does not have any arrows to help you know which way to go on trails that are loops.
I am an older person
But very tech savvy and do app design work
The text is really hard to read it is a very light grey with small font - so bright day good luck.
Also the routes are done in a light green that is easy to miss on a green topo map
The green route does not have any arrows to help you know which way to go on trails that are loops.
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Not easy to use for main purpose
This application tries too hard to do too many things, it has sales experiences in the core user interface wasting precious space, way too many colors, too many icons, etc. For this reasons I don’t recommend people buy this device or use this application.
Needs work
Basic editing functions don’t work.
Moving between screens sometimes doesn’t work. For example I was editing my standard checkin message and the app got to a point where the keyboard won’t disappear so you can’t save the message or cancel the edit. You have to force close the app. Hardware works great so far, software a little half baked.
Moving between screens sometimes doesn’t work. For example I was editing my standard checkin message and the app got to a point where the keyboard won’t disappear so you can’t save the message or cancel the edit. You have to force close the app. Hardware works great so far, software a little half baked.
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Great variety
This app has so much variety for anyone who loves the outdoors. Camping, hiking, off-roading adventures, and more! I have used the bivystick orange and blue and the device is super handy when I’m out of cell range enjoying no cell service....but need to stay in contact with my family.
Find Me does jot work
My brother has a bivy stick on his sail boat - he has friended me and yet I cannot locate him from this app or from the website. I also cannot find him by searching by name. The Find Me linkbis completely dead.
Clunky
The app needs some work. Why is there a “Shop Now” banner in an app that already requires the purchase of the device? Too much screen real estate for branding at the expense of necessary functionality. I expect to use this app primarily for messaging and SOS capabilities (I use other apps for maps and tracking), so I would prefer to have the app emphasize the UI for those functions, and for providing information about the satellite connection.
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WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!
I have been a Bivystick user for nearly a year and this recent update to the app is light years beyond the previous version. Love the improvements to the interface, it makes navigation back and forth between the map and messaging a breeze versus the previous version requiring you to back out of and close windows. The only thing I find missing (and the reason for not giving 5 stars) is the ability to create a waypoint directly from the map. The only place I can seem to add a waypoint is from the waypoints submenu on the home page. This is a big issue as I use waypoints extensively in my other trail mapping apps and not being able to drop a pin directly on the map page is a deal breaker for this replacing my other mapping app entirely. Love it for the tracking, messaging and SOS features but add that feature and Bivy becomes my primary off-grid navigational tool.
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