iPad/iPhone as Pilot Tool

[Eclipse]

But my question for Eclipse remains... if you have a list of similar software for the Android or Win-mo platforms, I'd love to hear it.  My experience is obviously with the iPad/iPhone.  And if you have a chance to check out any of the software I and others have mentioned... check it out!  It might convince you that the 20 million people who have bought iPads and 10 Billion iOS software downloads are onto something despite your list of negatives.

Just because there are 20 million people doing something doesn't make it a good idea, or the "best" idea.  Apple has pretended they invented the MP3 player for a long time, despite the fact that there were 3-5 years late to the party and their devices were typically "design high, feature poor" (still are).
There were plenty of people who would buy special electrical tape to cover the flashing "12:00" on their VCR, too.

No flash is ridiculous, and proof that most Apple users will just accept whatever is thrown at them (how is it acceptable that 1/2 the websites
you hit with an iPad are missing content?)

How about the ability to load content, anything, without having to ask Apple's permission, first?  I can Dropbox an .apk to my Galaxy and install it with a click - same goes for movies, music, whatever.  Just as an FYI, most consumers consider open platforms and options as value-add features, not
the downside of a platform (the theoretical ability to hack the devices not withstanding).

Memory expansion? No.  Swappable batteries?  No.

There are no significant applications or abilities that the iOS has a lock on, but lots of important things that Android devices can do that Apple won't even consider.

I fondled a prototype Viewsonic dual-boot device this week (Windows / Android) - that is the direction that the real winners will go.  I'm personally waiting for the LG Slate to hit, but go check out a Xoom, you'll be impressed.

The nearly silent drop of the Verizon iPhone should give you an indication how many people, outside the core base, actually care about the device.
Reports indicate that a good number of buyers were AT&T converts who decided they actually needed to place phone calls - that isn't market share, that
is carrier dilution.  Beyond that, there were no lines at the stores, and things have gone to near silence on the device since.

The iPad2 will have some chatter, and I'm sure a good number of people standing in line, but just as with the iPod, the salad days are over.  From here it will be fragmentation, lower adoption rates, and alternative devices being the clear winner, as indicated by device and ad sales numbers in which
Andy already exceeds iOS. 

BTW - I have mentioned this before, but I support the iPad as part of my consulting business, so I know exactly what it can (and can't), do, and have 4 of them sitting next to me as I type this.  I'm anxious to fully convert to the cloud and leave my notebooks behind, but I tried again this week and
found that the iPad is not capable of that because, for starters, of all the content and load restrictions.

[Spaceman3750]

But my question for Eclipse remains... if you have a list of similar software for the Android or Win-mo platforms, I'd love to hear it.  My experience is obviously with the iPad/iPhone.  And if you have a chance to check out any of the software I and others have mentioned... check it out!  It might convince you that the 20 million people who have bought iPads and 10 Billion iOS software downloads are onto something despite your list of negatives.

Just because there are 20 million people doing something doesn't make it a good idea, or the "best" idea.  Apple has pretended they invented the MP3 player for a long time, despite the fact that there were 3-5 years late to the party and their devices were typically "design high, feature poor" (still are).
There were plenty of people who would buy special electrical tape to cover the flashing "12:00" on their VCR, too.

No flash is ridiculous, and proof that most Apple users will just accept whatever is thrown at them (how is it acceptable that 1/2 the websites
you hit with an iPad are missing content?)

How about the ability to load content, anything, without having to ask Apple's permission, first?  I can Dropbox an .apk to my Galaxy and install it with a click - same goes for movies, music, whatever.  Just as an FYI, most consumers consider open platforms and options as value-add features, not
the downside of a platform (the theoretical ability to hack the devices not withstanding).

Memory expansion? No.  Swappable batteries?  No.

There are no significant applications or abilities that the iOS has a lock on, but lots of important things that Android devices can do that Apple won't even consider.

I fondled a prototype Viewsonic dual-boot device this week (Windows / Android) - that is the direction that the real winners will go.  I'm personally waiting for the LG Slate to hit, but go check out a Xoom, you'll be impressed.

The nearly silent drop of the Verizon iPhone should give you an indication how many people, outside the core base, actually care about the device.
Reports indicate that a good number of buyers were AT&T converts who decided they actually needed to place phone calls - that isn't market share, that
is carrier dilution.  Beyond that, there were no lines at the stores, and things have gone to near silence on the device since.

The iPad2 will have some chatter, and I'm sure a good number of people standing in line, but just as with the iPod, the salad days are over.  From here it will be fragmentation, lower adoption rates, and alternative devices being the clear winner, as indicated by device and ad sales numbers in which
Andy already exceeds iOS. 

BTW - I have mentioned this before, but I support the iPad as part of my consulting business, so I know exactly what it can (and can't), do, and have 4 of them sitting next to me as I type this.  I'm anxious to fully convert to the cloud and leave my notebooks behind, but I tried again this week and
found that the iPad is not capable of that because, for starters, of all the content and load restrictions.

Agreed, for the most part. The big area iOS (as a side note, I'm still a bit shocked that Cisco hasn't had something to say about this name) has a lock on is dead-simplicity. You push a button, slide a bar, and things Just Work^TM. I haven't had much experience with Android but I don't think you can say the same thing about it. I'm also not a huge fan of the current Android tablets (save the Xoom because of Honeycomb) because they're running a phone OS blown up to tablet sizes, as opposed to the iPad which runs an OS tailored to it with applications specifically designed to take advantage of the screen size.

[Eclipse]

Agreed, for the most part. The big area iOS (as a side note, I'm still a bit shocked that Cisco hasn't had something to say about this name) has a lock on is dead-simplicity. You push a button, slide a bar, and things Just Work^TM. I haven't had much experience with Android but I don't think you can say the same thing about it. I'm also not a huge fan of the current Android tablets (save the Xoom because of Honeycomb) because they're running a phone OS blown up to tablet sizes, as opposed to the iPad which runs an OS tailored to it with applications specifically designed to take advantage of the screen size.

Just as Apple has iTunes, Android has Google Apps.  Use either and things "just work", I don't know of anyone who has had issues on either platform
with the core functionality.  But with Andy you also have options that Apple doesn't provide.

I agree on the honeycomb issue - the early tablets like the Galaxy Tab were rushed to market as Honeycomb was ramped up.   HC is acknowledged as the first tablet-supported version of Android, with the primary issue being full size-scalability of applications vs. being written in a fixed size, iOS has the same issue with many apps not written specifically with the iPad in mind.

Andytabs aren't really even in the market yet, for the most part, and won't be in full swing until at least the Fall - everything today is still early adopter land and too expensive for mom & dad.  Wait a year.  CES this year didn't even have an Apple presence, next year will be worse.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I haven't had much experience with Android but I don't think you can say the same thing about it. I'm also not a huge fan of the current Android tablets (save the Xoom because of Honeycomb) because they're running a phone OS blown up to tablet sizes, as opposed to the iPad which runs an OS tailored to it with applications specifically designed to take advantage of the screen size.

LOl.


All that an iPad was on launch date was a big iPhone. In fact, the iPhone would have come after the iPad, since that was the original product Apple was working on. Sure it's gotten better, but it's still less (a lot less) capable than android.

I say this having owned an iPod Touch since Late 2008. iPhone 3GS in my fiancees hands since end of 09. iPad as a present to her a while back, and a Droid X that I love, but hate the headphone jack on for myself since August 2010.

[lzu2]

All that an iPad was on launch date was a big iPhone.

You're pretty much dead on with that. But the fact that it was "big" is the big difference. It's the perfect size for so many tasks and really easy on the eyes.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I know someone posted about Asus and netbooks/tabs, but I just don't see it. I use my HP netbook on the train to/from work, and for class. It's light weight, it has a keyboard, and it just does that much more than the tabs.

[Eclipse]

iPad approved for use by pilots:  http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-28/tech/FAA.approves.iPads_1_ipad-ios-faa?_s=PM:TECH

[Eclipse]

New iPad drops:  http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Let me be the first to say.  Thinner, dual-core.

!!!!! CASE !!!!

((*yawn*))

When the >case< is a feature, you're done. 

[Spaceman3750]

New iPad drops:  http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Let me be the first to say.  Thinner, dual-core.

!!!!! CASE !!!!

((*yawn*))

When the >case< is a feature, you're done.

I like the changes but I still don't feel very compelled by it. We'll see.

I too thought the case thing was a little bit... Odd. It's almost as if someone at Apple said "Oh #&@* we forgot feature X, quick, come up with something we can do before launch day."

[a2capt]

The only thing I'm not thrilled with is the lame arse camera choice. It's not even the same as the original iPhone. In the quest for thin, they claim they can't fit that iPhone 4 camera in there. A thicker one wouldn't have bothered me one bit.

[HGjunkie]

And yet they can't put a dual-core chip in the itouch/phone...

[Spaceman3750]

And yet they can't put a dual-core chip in the itouch/phone...

I would bet almost anything we see one in the June model.

[jimmydeanno]

And yet they can't put a dual-core chip in the itouch/phone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

Just Sayin'.

[a2capt]

It's goin' to space! FTW!! Give it a second... LOL

That was great entertainment while waiting for IMU to archive missions to WMU do a DB update

[HGjunkie]

And yet they can't put a dual-core chip in the itouch/phone...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

Just Sayin'.

LOL. I'm not complaining, just stating that Apple won't do something other manufacturers have already done.

[JoeTomasone]

http://crystallake.patch.com/articles/local-company-brings-ipad-to-cockpit

While a lot of users may employ the Apple tablet to play Scrabble or read books, the 30 pilots of N-Jet, which charters airplanes and is based at the Lake in the Hills Airport, use the iPad to store navigational charts, company manuals and technical documents.

A few weeks ago, the company was the first FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) Part 135 fleet, which refers to charters and air taxis as opposed to commercial flight operators, whose proposal to use iPads in cockpits was accepted by the Federal Aviation Association, said N-Jet President and CEO Howard Seedorf.

[lzu2]

Sporty's has an iPad kneeboard... anyone else using these? 

I designed an iPad kneeboard and have been selling them for nearly a year. Here's the link:
www.ForPilotsOnly.com. CAP members can email me and I'll give you 20% off. - Russ

[MIKE]

You can keep the discount if she ships with it. 

[davidsinn]

Sporty's has an iPad kneeboard... anyone else using these? 

I designed an iPad kneeboard and have been selling them for nearly a year. Here's the link:
www.ForPilotsOnly.com. CAP members can email me and I'll give you 20% off. - Russ

I'm not an iPad fan but I must admit that knee board is cool.

[Paradoc]

I fondled a prototype Viewsonic dual-boot device this week (Windows / Android) - that is the direction that the real winners will go.  I'm personally waiting for the LG Slate to hit, but go check out a Xoom, you'll be impressed.

Well I played with a Xoom for a bit the other day at Staples.  Not the best way to test a device for a specific use like aviation.  I agree, nice piece of hardware.  Although apparently the market isn't responding as favorably.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/06/everyones-to-blame-for-the-xooms-low-sales-numbers/
...just sayin, the consumers may not agree with you Eclipse.

Again, I hope the android tablets provide a great alternative to the iPad someday... competition is good for everyone.

But if you are looking for a full-featured tablet that provides EFB functionality NOW, I remain very pleased with ForeFlight on my original iPad (and iPhone).  Agree with comments about the lousy camera in iPad2, but who really wants to use a large slate as a primary camera?  I also wish Apple had included better GPS chip in the iPad.  I've remedied this with a bluetooth external GPS http://amzn.com/B004M3BICU

Like the look of the iPro kneeboard.  I bought one from Sporty's that I'm not very happy with.  It is too bulky, and only has cheap elastic bands to hold the iPad in.  It has a "kickstand" to prop the iPad up, but that could interfere with the controls.

Cheers,
Jim