iPad Pro vs. iPad Air 2 - Screen Visibility

Sefuller

Sefuller

.
May 6, 2010
472
1984 Oday 39 79 Milwaukee
I have iSailor and Navionics on my Android phone and tablet, and one major issue I have with iSailor (and it may just be I haven't discovered a setting someplace) is that no matter how tight I zoom in, the depths shown maintain their original unreadably small font. In the Navionics app, the chart labels increase in size with the zoom. Hoping I am just missing something here. Also seems the iSailor for Android is missing many of the features I see in the manual, which I assume must be available on Apple devices.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Sefuller said:
I have iSailor and Navionics on my Android phone and tablet, and one major issue I have with iSailor (and it may just be I haven't discovered a setting someplace) is that no matter how tight I zoom in, the depths shown maintain their original unreadably small font. In the Navionics app, the chart labels increase in size with the zoom. Hoping I am just missing something here. Also seems the iSailor for Android is missing many of the features I see in the manual, which I assume must be available on Apple devices.
Click to expand
With Navionics vector charts (on an iPad) the words marginally change size as you zoom in/out as related to the screen clutter. As you zoom out there are less soundings and the text gets "marginally" larger or "bolder". As you see more detail the text gets smaller and bolding is removed. In iSailor you can set your shallow water depth to say 20' and every sounding 20' and below is red as opposed to black. I like that feature.

My one gripe with all these paired down apps is lack of adjustment or control. A good MFD gives you ten ways from Sunday to present the data but app options are drastically minimized.

For grins I just set both apps to 0.2nm in North Up.

Navionics:


iSailor:


 
JK_Boston_Catalina310

JK_Boston_Catalina310

.
Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
Maine Sail said:
With Navionics vector charts (on an iPad) the words marginally change size as you zoom in/out as related to the screen clutter. As you zoom out there are less soundings and the text gets "marginally" larger or "bolder". As you see more detail the text gets smaller and bolding is removed. In iSailor you can set your shallow water depth to say 20' and every sounding 20' and below is red as opposed to black. I like that feature.

My one gripe with all these paired down apps is lack of adjustment or control. A good MFD gives you ten ways from Sunday to present the data but app options are drastically minimized.

For grins I just set both apps to 0.2nm in North Up.

Navionics:


iSailor:
Click to expand
MS,

I see you are showing with the basic Navionics charts. Isn't the Sonar Charts going to show similar to the iSailor? I don't have a current US version or I would put it up for the same area.

JK
 
JK_Boston_Catalina310

JK_Boston_Catalina310

.
Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
For iSailor users, can someone please tell me the cost of the charts to cover the Caribbean and if the app has an ETA tool for sailing a mapped route?

Thanks, I am thinking of giving this a try but was wondering about these questions first.

JK
 
CloudDiver

CloudDiver

.
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
JK_Boston_Catalina310

JK_Boston_Catalina310

.
Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
CloudDiver said:
What? I don't think you understand what I'm saying at all... The B&G Zeus is a dedicated chart plotter, not a tablet. And it would cost a whole lot less if it were manufactured AND sold in the quantities that tablets are.
Click to expand
Don't forget to add another $300-500 to the cost of that chart plotter. The standard charts are crap and you have to buy better ones.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
JK_Boston_Catalina310 said:
Thanks MS, looks like I will be getting iSailor if they have Caribbean coverage.
Click to expand
I use iSailor around the world, they have the best charting, and often from multiple sources. Eagle Ray is the Gold standard in Greek Waters, of course they have it as an option. That being said, that app+ipad is more for sitting in the salon while looking at weather, and developing a 'feel' for tomorrow night's anchorage. My primary nav is going to be hardwired, waterproof, and dedicated to that function.

 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,829
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Mark Maulden said:
so why can an ipad touchscreen work so well and plotter not
Click to expand
It is all about design and money. Sorry to hear about yoour equipment issues, and thankful that I can learn from your experiences. Is this the same unit that howled at you, alarm sounding at random times? I keep trying to talk myself down from buying an i pad pro. One fact is I have Coastal Explorer on my laptop and it is great. Yet, limited to a pc system.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

.
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
When I worked for Magellan, we were a division of Thales, a large French defense contractor. We made GPS gear for a wide range of markets. Everything from almost toys, to gear that was going to end up in French missle frigates. Trust me they were designed and made TOTALLY differently.

In many ways it's like the power tool market. Take cordless drills. If you're an occasional handyman, a Black & Decker will get you by drilling hole for picture hangers. But if you're a pro and use it every day for hours, you own a Milwalkee. The two drills will do the same thing, but the pro gear will to it all day long, survive drops, etc. The extra cost went into things you can't see.

Same with iPod vs dedicated Navigation devices.... Waterproofing. Heat-resistant internal components, hi-brightness screens. UV-safe shells. Hardened connectors. Things that cost money that don't show up on the simple spec sheet. One's designed for occasional use. One's pro-spec.
 
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CloudDiver

CloudDiver

.
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
I think I am going to explore the 'Super Cheap' option and post my results for everyone here. I think its worth trying the ultra low price tablets I can get from Amazon (I'm a Prime subscriber anyway), and as long as the OS works with the Aps I will download iSailor, Navionics, and others just to see what I like and to see how how the super-budget tablet holds up. I know the tablet won't be the fastest or the brightest, won't be waterproof, and the screen for sure won't survive too much time in direct sunlight... but at the price they have them at its worth seeing what a cheap 'throw away' option can do for the casual sailor.
 
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Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,436
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
I spent 37 yrs in aerospace both commercial and defense and what you say is normally right. In this instance, the cheapie non-spec'ed touchscreen (ipad) works far better than the expensive (RM) "hardened"one. John, the one that howled at me was the vhf when the plotter was turned off. Stupid design there......
 
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Head Sail

Head Sail

.
Nov 13, 2013
723
Catalina 34 Tacoma
Maine Sail said:
JK,

This is the annoying issue with Navionics that I have with it.

Navionics Course Up - Chart Rotates but it rotates like raster with all text moving with the chart and remaining in North Up.. Pretty lame for a vector chart.


Navionics Sonar Charts Course Up - Chart Rotates but it rotates like raster with all text moving with the chart. Pretty lame for a vector chart..



iSailor Course Up - Chart rotates and text rotates for readability! Just like a real MFD..


FWIW it is race night tonight and three guys on the launch had Navionics installed. None of them had the text rotate correctly, all were just like mine. Tech support at Navionics is of no help on this. All they claim is it does course or head up. Yep it does but very sloppily for vector charting..

I would love to see a screen shot of yours and try and figure out how yours is doing what mine and at least three other guys can't do and that is course up with text also oriented for course up readability...? All I can get is Course Up chart orientation but North Up text & soundings. Amazingly annoying...
Click to expand
I just checked how my Raymarine MFD displays depth data with course up. The text DOES rotate as the course direction changes. Do you have the latest S/W updates?
Head.
 
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