Ipad Mini?

Shortly after I bought my iPad I started hearing rumors about the mini. Wish I had known. I would have waited.
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The rumor about the rumored iPad mini is that it will be announced 12 Sep but that's just a rumor. It is also rumored that the rumored iPhone 5 will also be announced the same date but there are other rumors the iPhone announcement will be slipped to Oct.

Another rumor is one that Steve Jobs will be there in a Pre recorded video saying the iPad mini is not 7", it's 7"+ a smidgen since he said before he died 7" tablets are useless.

Cheers
 
X3 Skier said:
The rumor about the rumored iPad mini is that it will be announced 12 Sep but that's just a rumor. It is also rumored that the rumored iPhone 5 will also be announced the same date but there are other rumors the iPhone announcement will be slipped to Oct.

Another rumor is one that Steve Jobs will be there in a Pre recorded video saying the iPad mini is not 7", it's 7"+ a smidgen since he said before he died 7" tablets are useless.

Cheers
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Personally, I think that a 7" tablet would be great for some things and not so great for other things. It would be great for mounting in the cockpit of small GA aircraft, but not so great for displaying some things such as full-view approach plates. It would be great for portability, but not so great for browsing the web without zooming and scrolling (which, IMO, is a pain). I use a virtual desktop application on my iPad to access my home and work PCs, and along with a Bluetooth keyboard, means that my PCs rarely leave my desk anymore. That would be less practical on a tablet with a smaller screen.

I'm also not sure that I would prefer one over a slightly bigger phone for portability. It seems that a 7" tablet would be a compromise device, but it would sure mount nicely on the yoke.


JKG
 
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I'm done with 'i' devices unless they have a sunlight viewable screen. My iPad does fine for watching Netflix and playing Angry Birds and Zombie Gunship (thanks for that one Captain, it's a great time killer when I'm out of phone range) and I like the size not wanting anything smaller. As for the cockpit I consider it useless, something to hand to someone in the right or back seat to play with along the flight. My G-500 & 430W combo give me all the info I need for flying. As for everything else, it takes a real computer which as I have been told over and over, the iPad was never meant to be. I also think the Android platform makes for a much better phone and 'pocket PC' than the apple iPhone.
 
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I've held off on buying an iPad, waiting for a smaller form factor and price tag.

The tea leaves du jour are saying October 23.
 
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woot.
 
The last Apple product I owned was a titanium G4 Powerbook. The mini's got me...I'm sold.
 
After playing with a friend's iPad, and looking at some of the aviation apps he has I was thinking about making that move....After viewing the specs and size of the mini I am very interested as the size of the iPad was a bit of a stumbling block. The mini eliminates that issue. I will wait to hear some initial user reports but it looks good.
 
Henning said:
I'm done with 'i' devices unless they have a sunlight viewable screen. My iPad does fine for watching Netflix and playing Angry Birds and Zombie Gunship (thanks for that one Captain, it's a great time killer when I'm out of phone range) and I like the size not wanting anything smaller. As for the cockpit I consider it useless, something to hand to someone in the right or back seat to play with along the flight. My G-500 & 430W combo give me all the info I need for flying. As for everything else, it takes a real computer which as I have been told over and over, the iPad was never meant to be. I also think the Android platform makes for a much better phone and 'pocket PC' than the apple iPhone.
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This is quite possibly the truest statement I've ever encountered regarding Apple products in the cockpit. Apple specializes in graphics and user interactions, NOT things like moving maps and flight information. It takes a specialized aviation unit to have any real purpose in the cockpit, which is exactly what companies like Garmin and Aspen focus on. Not only that, Apple products are subject to heat, and essentially useless once they leave the range of the nearest cell phone tower.
 
Henning said:
If you're gonna handle a whole bunch of charts like I do, 32 GB is a bit weak, I should have gone more. This is all why I'm waiting until Surface and all the Win8 equipment comes out for a while before I risk anything.
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Agree...I'm bumping up against my 32G limit. If you're ONLY going to run ForeFlight, it's probably fine...but if you add other things that bring along data, it disappears quickly.
 
janikpilot said:
This is quite possibly the truest statement I've ever encountered regarding Apple products in the cockpit. Apple specializes in graphics and user interactions, NOT things like moving maps and flight information. It takes a specialized aviation unit to have any real purpose in the cockpit, which is exactly what companies like Garmin and Aspen focus on. Not only that, Apple products are subject to heat, and essentially useless once they leave the range of the nearest cell phone tower.
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What?

The IPAd is a great addition to the cockpit. For around $1,200 dollars, I have a moving map GPS that works great with inflight weather. Then to top it all off, I can take it out of the cockpit and use it for all sorts of other things.

Your statement on the IPAD being worthless without a cell tower just shows that you are unaware of the capabilities.

As for heat, I have flown all summer with my IPAD 3 here I. Northern Illinois (picture over 95 degree temps with 98% humidity and have not had a problem with it mounted on the Yoke.

You go ahead and spend a lot more money to get similar performance and I will spend mine on Gas.

Good luck.

Flav
 
Henning said:
If you're gonna handle a whole bunch of charts like I do, 32 GB is a bit weak, I should have gone more. This is all why I'm waiting until Surface and all the Win8 equipment comes out for a while before I risk anything.
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First Surface will run Win 8 RT only. Not full Win 8.

MSFT throwing hardware vendors a bone. Asus tablet will run full Win 8 on day one.

Unless its available in their version of the App Store, it won't run on first release of Surface.

They say maybe two-six months after initial hardware release maybe they'll do full Win 8 support.

Just FYI.
 
janikpilot said:
This is quite possibly the truest statement I've ever encountered regarding Apple products in the cockpit. Apple specializes in graphics and user interactions, NOT things like moving maps and flight information. It takes a specialized aviation unit to have any real purpose in the cockpit, which is exactly what companies like Garmin and Aspen focus on. Not only that, Apple products are subject to heat, and essentially useless once they leave the range of the nearest cell phone tower.
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Poppycock. Lets see...

Apple doesn't have to focus on Aviation software. That's what Foreflight, WingX, Garmin (yes, Garmin), and Bendix-King are doing on iPad.

Everything is subject to heat.

My iPad runs just fine with cellular turned off. Hundreds of thousands of them don't even have cellular capability.

Same old incorrect info, new thread. Yawn.
 
denverpilot said:
First Surface will run Win 8 RT only. Not full Win 8.

MSFT throwing hardware vendors a bone. Asus tablet will run full Win 8 on day one.

Unless its available in their version of the App Store, it won't run on first release of Surface.

They say maybe two-six months after initial hardware release maybe they'll do full Win 8 support.

Just FYI.
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Thanks, yeah, I'm not planning on being an early adopter, I'm waiting for the full deal. I have high hopes but I owned a Zune....:rolleyes:
 
janikpilot said:
This is quite possibly the truest statement I've ever encountered regarding Apple products in the cockpit. Apple specializes in graphics and user interactions, NOT things like moving maps and flight information. It takes a specialized aviation unit to have any real purpose in the cockpit, which is exactly what companies like Garmin and Aspen focus on. Not only that, Apple products are subject to heat, and essentially useless once they leave the range of the nearest cell phone tower.
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Sir, negative opinions of the iPad aren't allowed here. Sure it has heat strokes, can't be viewed except while in night IMC, doesn't fit in the cockpit of anything smaller than an A-380 and only does what apple and only apple wants it to do. If it weren't for the iPad, there wouldn't be 999,891 threads titled "How do I mount it?", "Do the glare screen protectors work?", "I've tried 8 mounts and three kneeboards what could I be doing wrong?" Internet forum survival depends on the iPad. :D
 
bartmc said:
Sir, negative opinions of the iPad aren't allowed here. Sure it has heat strokes, can't be viewed except while in night IFC, doesn't fit in the cockpit of anything smaller than an A-380 and only does what apple and only apple wants it to do. If it weren't for the iPad, there wouldn't be 999,891 threads titled "How do I mount it?", "Do the glare screen protectors work?", "I've tried 8 mounts and three kneeboards what could I be doing wrong?" Internet forum survival depends on the iPad. :D
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I have to admit, I don't understand why all the trouble mounting the IPAD, I have mounted mine on the yoke in both a Cherokee 180 and my 69 Cessna 172 and not blocked any instruments.

Flav
 
denverpilot said:
My iPad runs just fine with cellular turned off. Hundreds of thousands of them don't even have cellular capability.
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Would there be any reason to buy one with cellular when you can use personal hotspot off an iPhone?

I'm always tempted by toys but I haven't been tempted enough to buy an iPad of any variety yet. The last time I thought about an iPad I bought a MBAir instead and I've been very happy with it. I like the fact that it's a real computer and I always travel with it.
 
Everskyward said:
Would there be any reason to buy one with cellular when you can use personal hotspot off an iPhone?

I'm always tempted by toys but I haven't been tempted enough to buy an iPad of any variety yet. The last time I thought about an iPad I bought a MBAir instead and I've been very happy with it. I like the fact that it's a real computer and I always travel with it.
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Yes, the Cellular ones have a built in GPS so unless you are going to buy a ADS-B receiver (which have a built in WASS GPS) you are going to want a cellular one.

Flav
 
Flavius Renatus said:
Yes, the Cellular ones have a built in GPS so unless you are going to buy a ADS-B receiver (which have a built in WASS GPS) you are going to want a cellular one.
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I wasn't necessarily going to use it in the airplane, especially for navigation, but I guess that's something to think about.
 
Everskyward said:
I wasn't necessarily going to use it in the airplane, especially for navigation, but I guess that's something to think about.
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Ahh, I use my IPAD for work and play.

it is a less expensive way to get inflight weather, geo sync approach plate, geo sync taxi diagrams,etc.

Flav
 
Flavius Renatus said:
Ahh, I use my IPAD for work and play.

it is a less expensive way to get inflight weather, geo sync approach plate, geo sync taxi diagrams,etc.
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The airplane I fly already had geo sync taxi diagrams and approach plates and I haven't needed to look at a sectional in a long time except out of curiosity. The inflight weather would be nice but how does one get it above about 10,000' or wherever you lose cell reception? Does the iPad work differently? I know I'm showing my ignorance here but I never thought about how that worked.
 
Flavius Renatus said:
I have to admit, I don't understand why all the trouble mounting the IPAD, I have mounted mine on the yoke in both a Cherokee 180 and my 69 Cessna 172 and not blocked any instruments.
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I have to agree. I've always found a spot for it in everything from C150s to Apaches. Non-issue. People ask because that's the nature of on-line forums...people throw stuff out there cuz it's quick and easy.
 
Everskyward said:
The airplane I fly already had geo sync taxi diagrams and approach plates and I haven't needed to look at a sectional in a long time except out of curiosity. The inflight weather would be nice but how does one get it above about 10,000' or wherever you lose cell reception? Does the iPad work differently? I know I'm showing my ignorance here but I never thought about how that worked.
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He's referring to the ADS-B receivers (Stratus, Dual, Garmin, etc.) that you link to the iPad via Bluetooth or WiFi in the cockpit.
 
Everskyward said:
The airplane I fly already had geo sync taxi diagrams and approach plates and I haven't needed to look at a sectional in a long time except out of curiosity. The inflight weather would be nice but how does one get it above about 10,000' or wherever you lose cell reception? Does the iPad work differently? I know I'm showing my ignorance here but I never thought about how that worked.
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You would need an ADS-B receiver to get in-flight weather. As far as the ipad working above 10,000, I'm not sure about that. I think that's its limit.
 
pete480 said:
You would need an ADS-B receiver to get in-flight weather.
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Ok, thanks. I had wondered about that.

pete480 said:
As far as the ipad working above 10,000, I'm not sure about that. I think that's its limit.
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Are you talking about the iPad itself? I threw out that number speculating on the cell signal when I thought that's how uplink weather was received.
 
Everskyward said:
Ok, thanks. I had wondered about that.

Are you talking about the iPad itself? I threw out that number speculating on the cell signal when I thought that's how uplink weather was received.
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I think I read about the internal GPS not working at that altitude. But it wouldn't matter if you had an ADS-B unit, because they're also external waas GPS recievers. The ipad connects either with wifi or Bluetooth.
 
iPads will work fine above 10,000 msl. Cell phone coverage (and internet weather) in flight will be hit and miss (mostly miss). ADS-B or uplinked subscription weather would be your only choices assuming you have the hardware. I'd hazard to guess that the majority of iPad pilots use external GPS since the iPad internal GPS can be problematic in many cockpits. In my 182, internal GPS loses the signal about 40% of the time (and thus I use an external GPS).

www.facebook.com/groups/ipadaviator
 
Surprised it drops that much for you. I rarely see the internal GPS drop in my 182. Doesn't seem to matter if yoke mounted (which works fine) or sitting on the pax seat or floor.
 
write-stuff said:
iPads will work fine above 10,000 msl. Cell phone coverage (and internet weather) in flight will be hit and miss (mostly miss). ADS-B or uplinked subscription weather would be your only choices assuming you have the hardware. I'd hazard to guess that the majority of iPad pilots use external GPS since the iPad internal GPS can be problematic in many cockpits. In my 182, internal GPS loses the signal about 40% of the time (and thus I use an external GPS).

www.facebook.com/groups/ipadaviator
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I never lost GPS with my internal GPS on the MAXiPAD 2. It may be the way you have it mounted or it may be that the high wings do block some of the sky for the unit.
 
janikpilot said:
This is quite possibly the truest statement I've ever encountered regarding Apple products in the cockpit. Apple specializes in graphics and user interactions, NOT things like moving maps and flight information. It takes a specialized aviation unit to have any real purpose in the cockpit, which is exactly what companies like Garmin and Aspen focus on. Not only that, Apple products are subject to heat, and essentially useless once they leave the range of the nearest cell phone tower.
Click to expand...

How many hours in the cockpit with your iPad do you have to back up your statement?
 
ScottM said:
I never lost GPS with my internal GPS on the MAXiPAD 2. It may be the way you have it mounted or it may be that the high wings do block some of the sky for the unit.
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I've got quite a few 182 hours with the iPad 1, and only had a problem once - And that problem wasn't a reception issue, it was an OS issue early on. When I noticed that Google Maps wasn't working on the ground after landing either, I rebooted it and haven't lost a lock since.
 
bartmc said:
Sir, negative opinions of the iPad aren't allowed here. Sure it has heat strokes, can't be viewed except while in night IMC, doesn't fit in the cockpit of anything smaller than an A-380 and only does what apple and only apple wants it to do. If it weren't for the iPad, there wouldn't be 999,891 threads titled "How do I mount it?", "Do the glare screen protectors work?", "I've tried 8 mounts and three kneeboards what could I be doing wrong?" Internet forum survival depends on the iPad. :D
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As you may have noticed the iPad was used quite extensively crossing the country in your Bonanza. From checking weather, to filing flight plans, to looking at charts, to pulling additional information, to handling last minute diversions. Much of which was done in sun light :)

Sure beats the hell out of the 40 lbs worth of paper and having to constantly call Lockheed.

To be honest I don't understand why anyone tries to mount an iPad. Just sit the damn thing on your knee when you need it and when you don't shove it somewhere beside you. Works fine in every type I've tried it in.
 
LDJones said:
Agree...I'm bumping up against my 32G limit. If you're ONLY going to run ForeFlight, it's probably fine...but if you add other things that bring along data, it disappears quickly.
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Clearly highly depends on what you put on your Ipad, I am doing just fine with 16 G and I have extensive charts (much more than needed for my area of flying) plus other stuff with room to spare. But I don't store movies, music, or thousands of photos, etc. I don't use ForeFlight, I use FlightGuide plus FltPlan.
 
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