iPad vs. Nexus 7

Here's a note for those who used the original single stroke Graffiti writing system. I used it first on the Newton, then on several generations of Palm Pilots, and really got good at using it -- about 20 words a minute. I wrote the major part of two books using a Palm Pilot and Graffiti. Then they "improved" it and went to having some letters needed two strokes; dot your eyes and cross your tees. That slowed it down considerably because the software had to wait to see I'd finished making a letter, and it slowed me down considerably because I had to learn to make both strokes to get the letter.

The original single stroke Graffiti is available for Android and I've been using it on the Nexus. Not as fast a full size keyboard, of course, but faster than the hunt and peck Nexus screen keyboard.

If you're not experienced with Graffiti, then this probably is not for you, but for those who had Palm Pilots from the start, it may be useful to try it out again. Graffiti for Android search brings it up in Google app store.
 
I've been pretty happy with TouchPal, which is a swipe to spell system, but I'll have to check that out, thanks. BTW, I'm almost done setting up my Nexus, as it came in today...looking forward to using it on my trip tomorrow. I have both Anywhere Map and Naviator ready to go.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
 
SkyHog said:
For example - you fly to Podunk, Mo. for the first time. You go get lunch and get a rental car. Your iDevice won't know you're in a car.
Click to expand...

How is your NFC-enabled Android device going to know it's in a rental car? Or do you carry around a bunch of NFC tags and leave them everywhere and program your device? That seems like it's a lot harder than just manually launching an app, and definitely harder than doing a voice command.
 
Jay Honeck said:
I suspect you will be first in line for a 7" iPad. The advantage of that form factor is enormous -- much more than I would have guessed, having owned an iPad.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking about it - My original iPad is getting quite slow these days and I'd like to get a new one, but I don't want to wait until March for the normal new product cycle on the 10" variety.

However, I can't imagine what I'd use it for. I don't think it's big enough that I'd want to use it for charts in the plane, but it'd be too big to carry around on a regular basis (we can't all wear cargo pants to work). I don't think I'd get any more use out if it than I do out of the 10" version, and it wouldn't be as readable.

We'll see. My girlfriend has been thinking about an e-reader so maybe I'll just buy one and try it out, and give it to her as soon as I'm done trying. :D
 
TMetzinger said:
How do you like Square? I can always use it with my phone.
Click to expand...

It's terrific. And I do use it on my phone and iPad. Best part is no monthly fees. And the percentage fee isn't that bad considering there are no other fees.
 
Mike5250 said:
Garmin pilot works perfect. The gps signal on the ipad 2 works indoors, and nexus 7 rarely gets a signal. I haven't tried it while flying or driving, but haven't seen any complaints.
Click to expand...

My Nexus 7 never has had a problem with the GPS. Has been used on several long road trips so far. It always works from inside my house, too. Tried it just now.
 
denverpilot said:
I have to ask a Wayne style question:

What makes you believe from current evidence, that they will ever treat it as more than a "second tier" program within Garmin?

(I'd say tenth tier, or lower... But we'll go with second tier.)
Click to expand...

Well, my guess is that Garmin won't have a choice.

Example: Mary and I flew to Houston today. As we were droning up the island chain, I reverse-"pinched" the N7's screen and zoomed into our position. I commented to Mary, who was diddling around with our Garmin 496, that this was EXACTLY the capability we dreamed about back when we bought the 496.

The 496 cost over $3000. The N7 cost $245, and has much more capability -- INCLUDING free weather.

That, my friend, is a remarkable sea change in just a few short years. How many $3000 stand-along VFR GPS's can Garmin expect to sell, with the Nexus 7 and iPad so capable?

Answer: Not many. Thus, Garmin will either have to make Garmin Pilot a first-tier program, or exit the VFR aviation market.

Actually, I would normally expect Garmin to pull a Lowrance, and simply abandon our tiny-and-shrinking aviation market -- except that they have also lost their incredibly lucrative automotive market. They are facing incredible competition across the board, so it's compete or die for them.

Like I said a year ago, if I owned shares in Garmin, I would have dumped them. Between the smartphone and the tablet market, Garmin is on the verge of losing it all. I hope they persevere as an aviation software company, but I'm not terribly optimistic.
 
Jay Honeck said:
That, my friend, is a remarkable sea change in just a few short years. How many $3000 stand-along VFR GPS's can Garmin expect to sell, with the Nexus 7 and iPad so capable?

Answer: Not many. Thus, Garmin will either have to make Garmin Pilot a first-tier program, or exit the VFR aviation market.
Click to expand...

I agree with this sentiment, VFR.

IFR, is a whole, different ball game unless Dynon or similar gets over their "we'll never certify" trip.

The one I really don't understand is Aspen. They have a huge wide open hole they could hammer Garmin with.

Build or partner with someone to give them a certified black box GPS that outputs nothing but NMEA data, and they already have the display, the knobs, etc. Even can relatively easily update mapping data from someone like Jepp and make that recurring cost look like they have no control over it.

They're like one or two steps away from having a cheaper and solid solution that is 100% "Garmin free" and significantly less expensive, as is Dynon, and they sit there on their hands.

What I think they know that we don't, is the mark-up on Garmin's IFR boxes is enormous, and Garmin would just price match them right out of business.

It's Microsoft all over again, in many ways. Once all the books and head knowledge of a community are leaned toward Garmin's method of buttonology and operational methods, it's really hard to break into the Market.

Apple still doesn't sell that many computers, overall. Their money maker was iOS and iPods before that. They made sure the Mac integrated nicely (well, nicely might be too strong a word for today's iTunes, but when it first came out, it was a lot better than managing music with WinAmp) and geeks bought Macs again for the underlying Unix-y goodness, at first...

Wonder what Aspen could make that everyone would want that would sell more of their PFDs and MFDs...?

Oh yeah! An IFR GPS! ;)

They're really missing the boat there. I swear.
 
P.S. Sorry that post is way off topic for Nexus vs iPad. We could take it to another thread, I suppose. Doesn't really matter, I don't think Aspen or Dynon are ever going there... Garmin has a lock on the IFR GPS market.

Honeywell/BK thinks they'll play, but we'll see. They didn't offer anything spectacularly priced and they're delayed by software problems, apparently. :(
 
Wayne who? What did I say? Is it time to get up?

denverpilot said:
I have to ask a Wayne style question:

What makes you believe from current evidence, that they will ever treat it as more than a "second tier" program within Garmin?

(I'd say tenth tier, or lower... But we'll go with second tier.)
Click to expand...
 
wabower said:
Wayne who? What did I say? Is it time to get up?
Click to expand...

Heh. Go back to sleep. We got this one. Haha...

Apple "admitted" iPhone 5 "purple flare" problem with the camera in it today...

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/10/03/0357223/apple-acknowledges-iphone-5-camera-flaw

But did the typical Apple thing of saying "it's normal" and they're not going to fix it.

So we're up to the Maps issues and the camera stinks... I'm pretty sure an iPhone 5 won't be in my future. iPad probably stays, but the next phone may be Android... you never know.

Right now, the iPhone 4s show no signs of needing upgrades so even when the contract is up on them, I see no reason to shop yet. The whole ecosystem will change again next year, I'm sure...

It's a pivotal time for Apple without Jobs running around screaming at engineers to make it right and make sure new stuff comes out with BETTER quality than the last "big new thing"... we'll see how it goes for them.
 
I can't figure out how to display flight rules on the map page of Garmin Pilot, anyone know how?
 
Badger said:
I can't figure out how to display flight rules on the map page of Garmin Pilot, anyone know how?
Click to expand...

When on a map display, touch the top right layers icon and choose Weather. That will depict the color-coded weather synopsis and whatever other options are selected on the new icon which appears below the usual layers icon on the top right.
 
I have an iPad 1, and like it. But it doesn't work for me in the cockpit of either of the airplanes I usually fly (Cardinal RG or Archer). It's too big, and too hard to see in any kind of sunlight.

I'll probably pick up a Nexus 7 real soon now and give it a try, it sure sounds better for the cockpit.

I was at the Microsoft Store the other day and they had these awesome 10" Windows 7 tablets that totally blow away any iPad in terms of display brightness and overall useability. They aren't cheap though.

For the last fifteen years I've worked mostly as a Windows software developer, but for the last two years I've worked on cross platform desktop apps that need to run on both Windows and Macs. For that reason I purchased a MacBook Pro.

The Macbook Pro is a good piece of hardware, especially great is the magsafe connector.

I really like iMovie for home video editing, it's better than anything I've tried on Windows. It's great that XCode is free.

I hate OS-X with the passion of thousand suns! It's a Fisher-Price desktop OS. Yes, I can open a terminal window and talk to the real OS. Why should I have to?

Finder is an insult to anyone with an IQ above room temperature.

It's good that the Macbook can run Windows so that adults can have a real OS.

I have been using Android phones, but I just ruined my Samsung Epic by pouring water into it. DOH! I have an iPhone 5 on order, not because I think it's any better overall than an Android, but because I wanted to stay on Sprint for unlimited data, but didn't want Sprint management to do anything for me except provide cell service. I especially want LTE, which I was told isn't available on the Sprint version of the Nexus phone yet.

Their have only been 2 updates to my Epic since I got it three years ago, and I think I only got those because they came attached with undeletable crapware.

At least Apple has an interest in keeping iPhones up to date, even if the carrier hates the thought that I might not hate the phone after two years.
 
JimNtexas said:
I hate OS-X with the passion of thousand suns! It's a Fisher-Price desktop OS. Yes, I can open a terminal window and talk to the real OS. Why should I have to?

Finder is an insult to anyone with an IQ above room temperature.

It's good that the Macbook can run Windows so that adults can have a real OS.
Click to expand...

Umm... how do you talk to the real OS in Windows without opening a termal window (command prompt)?

And you are the first person I have have ever heard reference OS-X as a fisher price operating system. I have heard that term references many times when comparing OS's, but in every single case, it was about Windows. The term was coined when Windows 95 came out, and had the big colorful bars and buttons.

OS-X, like it or hate it, feels far more sophisticated then Windows. I think just about everyone agrees with that.

P.S. I am a Microsoft developer as well.
 
LDJones said:
When on a map display, touch the top right layers icon and choose Weather. That will depict the color-coded weather synopsis and whatever other options are selected on the new icon which appears below the usual layers icon on the top right.
Click to expand...

Thanks
 
What do you guys use for Nexus yoke mount ?
It's hard to hold it inside the cockpit on my lap and fly at the same time, I guess it will be best to mount it on yoke but I couldn't find any product when I search the net.
 
Challenged said:
I was using the larger "Tab-Tite" with my ASUS Transformer, and I just ordered the smaller version for my Nexus 7 today:
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I use as well. I have a horrible video on Youtube with it installed, search for: chartbundle nexus 7
 
odachoo said:
What do you guys use for Nexus yoke mount ?
It's hard to hold it inside the cockpit on my lap and fly at the same time, I guess it will be best to mount it on yoke but I couldn't find any product when I search the net.
Click to expand...

I use a ram suction mount and slap it on a side window. Velcro on Nexus and the round RAM adapter works great. Small and easy to carry. If I need it on the yoke I added Velcro to an old Garmin mount.

As an instructor I like the ease and speed of the suction mount.
 
Hi guys, I actually registered just to post in this topic.

I'm a private pilot and was wanting a little help in the cockpit for cross countries (I rent a Cessna 152 which is pretty barebones).

Kind of a stupid question, but I noticed that Nexus 7 has a GPS. Does that mean, in the Garmin App or some other aviation app, that you can track your plane across a sectional map or something like that? Is Wi-Fi needed for these features or is it all in the app?

Thanks! I just got started in aviation a few years and I've never bought a tablet (or even a smartphone). I'm probably the only 20 year old that can say that haha.
 
The Nexus 7 does have a built-in GPS that the aviation apps all make use of to show your airplane moving across the sectional. I haven't had any problems with it in the airplane so far. That said, I do typically use a separate bluetooth GPS in the airplane with my Nexus 7, as I believe it saves the battery life a little bit on the Nexus (although I've never tested that out).
 
Challenged said:
The Nexus 7 does have a built-in GPS that the aviation apps all make use of to show your airplane moving across the sectional. I haven't had any problems with it in the airplane so far. That said, I do typically use a separate bluetooth GPS in the airplane with my Nexus 7, as I believe it saves the battery life a little bit on the Nexus (although I've never tested that out).
Click to expand...

I'd be curious to see if there actually is a difference. My gut says it's at best a wash, but would think the internal GPS would actually consume less power since it is only a receiver whereas Bluetooth has to broadcast and receive.

I use the internal GPS exclusively on the Nexus and battery life is excellent. And to the original poster, coupled with one of the compatible aviation software products, it makes for a excellent aviation moving map.
 
LDJones said:
I'd be curious to see if there actually is a difference. My gut says it's at best a wash, but would think the internal GPS would actually consume less power since it is only a receiver whereas Bluetooth has to broadcast and receive.

I use the internal GPS exclusively on the Nexus and battery life is excellent. And to the original poster, coupled with one of the compatible aviation software products, it makes for a excellent aviation moving map.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%. The N7 with Garmin Pilot gives you everything you're looking for in a moving sectional chart display.

The only reason I use a separate Bluetooth GPS With my N7 is because it is built into the GDL-39 ADS-B receiver. Since I'm already Bluetoothed to it for weather/traffic, might as well use the GPS, too. (Although I have never noticed any difference in performance.)

Sent from my Nexus 7
 
Jay Honeck said:
The only reason I use a separate Bluetooth GPS With my N7 is because it is built into the GDL-39 ADS-B receiver. Since I'm already Bluetoothed to it for weather/traffic, might as well use the GPS, too. (Although I have never noticed any difference in performance.)
Click to expand...

That makes complete sense. I'm sure the N7 GPS is not WAAS capable like the GDL-39.
 
Jay (and others)

can you tell me a little about the power cable. The Sportys catalog states "requires cigarette lighter cable (included) or battery pack....."

Is this power cable really a big round cigarette outlet plug or is it a USB that plugs into a cigarette style plug? Reason I ask: my panel only has 1 big 24v outlet. I have an adapter that allows 2 USB connections. (1 for the GDL-39, and other hopefully for the Nexus 7).
 
Badger said:
Jay (and others)

can you tell me a little about the power cable. The Sportys catalog states "requires cigarette lighter cable (included) or battery pack....."

Is this power cable really a big round cigarette outlet plug or is it a USB that plugs into a cigarette style plug? Reason I ask: my panel only has 1 big 24v outlet. I have an adapter that allows 2 USB connections. (1 for the GDL-39, and other hopefully for the Nexus 7).
Click to expand...

It charges off a USB cable, but is finicky. It would not charge off any of my iPad wall adapters or my 2.1A 12v adapter. After some research on-line I found a OEM Sprint adapter that is both 120v and 12V in one unit that charges it. I bought two, one for my truck and the other for my flight bag. Both my iPad and my Nexus will charge off it.

There's an extensive thread back in August concerning this issue.
 
Thanks Loren, I'll look for the August thread.

I've read about the Pilot App's HSI/panel page: (here) but I cannot seem to find where to turn it on? Does it just appear when in route or on a flight plan?

I have version 2.1.0 (17), build date 10-23-2012
 
Badger said:
Thanks Loren, I'll look for the August thread.

I've read about the Pilot App's HSI/panel page: (here) but I cannot seem to find where to turn it on? Does it just appear when in route or on a flight plan?

I have version 2.1.0 (17), build date 10-23-2012
Click to expand...

Don't think it's available in the 7 inch tablets

Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk 2
 
Badger said:
Thanks Loren, I'll look for the August thread.

I've read about the Pilot App's HSI/panel page: (here) but I cannot seem to find where to turn it on? Does it just appear when in route or on a flight plan?

I have version 2.1.0 (17), build date 10-23-2012
Click to expand...

As mentioned, the HSI/panel page is one of things they disable on devices smaller than 10". Little by little they are activating some of these on the 7" tablets. We're still waiting on that one.
 
Where do I get the "Navigator" program ? Anyone with a link ?
New to the forum.

Bob

Mooney Missle
 
So is there a term for these data-wire-shorted cables we can look for? Do the chargers that work short those data cables?
 
LDJones said:
So is there a term for these data-wire-shorted cables we can look for? Do the chargers that work short those data cables?
Click to expand...

In my case, I bought cables described as "3ft USB 2.0 A Male to Micro 5pin Male 28/24AWG Cable w/ Ferrite Core (Gold Plated)" from a pretty popular cable vendor (I think the XDA thread might link to it, but you can PM me if you want).

They may work with with any charger, but I played it safe and bought a pair of "PowerGen Dual USB 3.1A 15w High Output Car Charger - BLACK" from another popular vendor that started off as a book company.

The combination successfully charges my Nexus 7 in the car and in the trainer.
 
monoprice.com can rarely be beat on cable prices, and they're built just fine too. Just a side note.
 
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