Ipads, Androids and GPS
05-31-2011 | 09:40 AM
#12
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 595
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From: Toronto, ON
Form factor of a tablet just blows away a laptop. That's why they are selling them faster than they can make them.
05-31-2011 | 09:44 AM
#13
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I have the Navionics app on my Motorola droid phone. Great app and beyond worth the money for at least a backup.
But like everyone else is saying, you can't see it for crap in the sunlight. It might be better if I had bimini top, but I don't, so it is just tough to read.
I have had it mounted with the car mount on the dash and it is semi helpful, but the real GPS is way easier to read because of that coating on the screen (purplish tint stuff). I wish you could get that coating in film form so I could put it on my phone.
But like everyone else is saying, you can't see it for crap in the sunlight. It might be better if I had bimini top, but I don't, so it is just tough to read.
I have had it mounted with the car mount on the dash and it is semi helpful, but the real GPS is way easier to read because of that coating on the screen (purplish tint stuff). I wish you could get that coating in film form so I could put it on my phone.
I can see both the iPad and iPhone under the Bimini on my wifes boat. My open cockpit Skater it is almost impossible to see in direct sunlight. The solution is to locate it in such away that it does not get direct sunlight and turn it to max brightness.
05-31-2011 | 10:03 AM
#14
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,679
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From: At the office.
I downloaded the Navionics app for my iphone a couple of weeks ago... very impressive and a fantastic back-up for the $10. I like that you can DL just about any map/area you want and it's a resident on the phone/ipad so lack of cell service is not a show stopper. The down side is the visibility of the screen, battery life using teh GPS (as noted above), and the lack of water resistance.
05-31-2011 | 10:12 AM
#15
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,008
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From: Traverse City, Michigan
The reason I started this thread is my very expensive chartplotter died and I don't have an extra 2K laying around to replace it. Thinking I could use my Garmin handheld GPS with a tablet. The Garmin would be the true marine GPS but the tablet would display the charts and gps data. Even if the tablet failed the handheld is still working.
At my age the tiny handheld is a bit challenging with a 1.5 x 2 screen !
ed
At my age the tiny handheld is a bit challenging with a 1.5 x 2 screen !
ed
05-31-2011 | 10:38 AM
#18
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Bell Canyon, CA
Laptop? So 90's! I never use a laptop anymore when traveling. iPad all the way. I can use it for hours longer than a laptop, add a Bluetooth keyboard if I want, a gagillion applications, I can access my office DeskTop unit if I need more via Gotomypc. Amazing.
05-31-2011 | 11:44 AM
#20
Charter Member #232
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,417
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From: Carlisle, MA USA
I also use my phone. I added another app that drops a bread crumb trail down with my speed at each point of the trip. LOVE that feature.
You guys complaining that the Ipad is hard to read in the light: Put on polarized glasses and rotate it 90 degrees. Works for me.
You guys complaining that the Ipad is hard to read in the light: Put on polarized glasses and rotate it 90 degrees. Works for me.
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