Nautical use of the new Apple iPad

Here's another suggestion -- design a new colored marker for local Tide info. Tapping on this marker brings up the built-in Charts&Tides Tide info for that spot on the chart.
 
baz":1hvq1cmw said:
Here's another suggestion -- design a new colored marker for local Tide info. Tapping on this marker brings up the built-in Charts&Tides Tide info for that spot on the chart.
Click to expand...
It's already there - you just can't see the symbol - it's light gray and looks like an hour glass. The update changes the symbols and makes them stand out.
 
ActiveCaptain":2pshmaxx said:
baz":2pshmaxx said:
Here's another suggestion -- design a new colored marker for local Tide info. Tapping on this marker brings up the built-in Charts&Tides Tide info for that spot on the chart.
Click to expand...
It's already there - you just can't see the symbol - it's light gray and looks like an hour glass. The update changes the symbols and makes them stand out.
Click to expand...

The "update" is a future update, right? I ask as I cannot see any hour glasses!
 
No, the current hourglass symbol is in there. It's really hard to see - it's light gray. You have to know it's there.

The update turns the symbol into a larger dark blue diamond with a T, C, or W inside. You won't be able to miss them.
 
OK -- the photo below is the Port of Edmonds, WA taken on my iPad using Charts&Tides. Where would the hour glass be at ?

dk6r19
 
I can't seem to figure out how to post images inline - I'll just have to give references (how do you get a photo library set up here?)

This will clearly show why a new tide station symbol is needed. First, look at this screen shot - it's the area where I'm at right now. I'm getting fuel today before leaving the boat for a few months and I need to go at high tide so I'm very familiar with the tide station in the area. I dare anyone to find it in this shot:
http://www.activecaptain.com/images/1.jpg

Here's a cut out highlighting the symbol:
http://www.activecaptain.com/images/2.jpg

And here's what you get if you tap on it:
http://www.activecaptain.com/images/3.jpg


It's actually the "official" IMO symbol for a tide station. As if that matters if no one can see it!

Here's another trick that's really nice for accessing tide and weather:
1. Tap in the search box at the top.
2. Click on the Tides selection tab.
3. Tap the little book icon on the right.
4. Now you can select "Tides near vessel" or "Tides near chart location".

Using one of those 2 selection items allows you to quickly find a nearby station without searching around for it. It sorts them from closest to furthest (I'd like to see a distance there).

Note that this same technique works for NDBC (National Buoy Data Center) items - you need an active internet connection to get the latest weather info for the buoy.
 
I'll send a PM with instructions for setting up albums and placing inline images.
ActiveCaptain":1w02kea1 said:
I can't seem to figure out how to post images inline - I'll just have to give references (how do you get a photo library set up here?)
Click to expand...
 
ActiveCaptain:

Another suggestion -- in the NW Puget Sound area we have mountain ranges to the west and to the east. It sure would be nice (informative at least) to know the names of the various mountain peaks etc that lay ahead of where the vessel is moving toward.

I was thinking the "Page" button in bottom right corner alongside the Information "i" could be used to display the horizon mountain scape scenery with names of the peaks rather than the current bland gray-looking land masses and shorelines.
 
I think there's a need for a lot more labeling. I notice that some town names don't appear but there are small brown filled circles. If you tap on them, it gives the town name. More of those should be in the open so you can get a perspective of where you are as you're panning around, especially when zoomed out.

Do the mountains have some indicator that when tapped on gives their name?
 
The only way I can see any indication of mountains is by cycling through the PAGE mode to get a topographic view. But there are no labels or indicators of any sort. Tapping doesn't reveal anything. Also, the topo view doesn't accurately correspond to the map view, and only appears in a smaller box within the full screen.
 
Re: purchasing an iPad... we checked Best Buy and the local Apple Authorized Reseller - no iPad 3G models, no idea when they'll get more. Best Buy only had one returned Wifi model available. Here's an article on the shortage...

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/05/21/ ... ds-spread/

Checking the online Apple Store, 6-7 days to ship; we're traveling right now, so that doesn't work for us. It may be a while before we add an iPad to the mix.
 
FYI... Noticed yesterday that the Apple App store had an update for the Charts&Tides -- some 300 MB in size. I did download it and updated my iPad but as with many of these updates it's not always clear what was updated/fixed. This one however did show...

What's New in Version 3.6.1
"Version 3.6.1:
This is a minor bugfix release:
-Made tapping and selection of ActiveCaptain features easier by enlarging the search area around the spot where the user taps."

You can always see when the Charts&Tides was updated by going to the App store, searching for "Charts & Tides" and checking the "Updated..." info. In this case it showed "Updated May 27, 2010".

[Edit]
The update also includes the T letter in black that can be tapped to display the Tide display for that location - A great addition - THANKS ActiveCaptain 🙂
 
Thank you ActiveCaptain. The upgrade was a huge improvement for someone with fat fingers like me.
 
Here's a photo of where I'm placing my iPad with the Chart&Tides + ActiveCaptain display. It sits very easily at the right viewing angle for the navigator seat. The black case I'm using for the iPad is from Apple and provides good protection.

The display on the iPad is my Edmonds Marina and the arrow points to my GPS location as detected by the iPad's assisted GPS feature.

There's easily seen (not in the photo though) "T" marker just north of the Marina which when touched brings up the Tide graph -- very useful info to know about. Of course, I can obtain this display at home even before venturing out to the Marina.

vfss2z
 
Hello All,
For those of you that own an IPAD thought you might be conserned about this article I saw on the news. I try to keep up on the HighTech stuff I just love it, but sometimes it can get a little scary at how they can capture your info. Again just thought you might want to give it a read. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -hole.html


Regards
Cliff
 
Note that the security problem was with AT&T, not Apple.
 
cfallen":3unrquzy said:
Hello All,
For those of you that own an IPAD thought you might be conserned about this article I saw on the news. I try to keep up on the HighTech stuff I just love it, but sometimes it can get a little scary at how they can capture your info. Again just thought you might want to give it a read. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -hole.html


Regards
Cliff
Click to expand...

It's ONLY email addresses. Some 114,000 supposedly were compromised. If it's just Email addr I'm not too worried as hackers can get these from tons of places and use them for spamming presumably.

So far AT&T has not notified me that my Email addr was/has been compromised. Now having posted that, I wonder what will turn up in my Mail app tomorrow. 😉
 
I have been using ActiveCaptain on my home computer to plan a two week fall cruise on the upper reaches of the Tennessee River. It is an incredible program, and I am considering purchasing an iPad to use as a back-up chartplotter and to 'plan ahead' in locating anchorages and marinas. It appears the Navimonics Charts and Tides app integrates the ActiveCaptain info, but the description of it only lists charts for coastal areas. Can anyone confirm that Charts and Tides program with ActiveCaptain overlay will provide the Satelite/Hybrid view of inland lakes and waterways, such as the TN River???
 
I can positively confirm that the Navimatics product does not cover the inland rivers. It only includes charts that were digitized by NOAA. Right now, you'd need something like Coastal Explorer which has support for the Army Corps of Engineers charts MaxSea Time Zero which has optional C-Map support for the inland rivers.

It's an issue that will be solved as updates and new products support ActiveCaptain. Navimatics knows about the river support need.

The other alternative is to beef up Internet support using a Verizon MiFi. Note that the data plan can be suspended on it for times when you don't need it.

In all cases though, right now the iPad isn't a good fit for you.
 
I've been using the Navionics apps on my iPad (3G) and Droid phone, and have been pleased with them. At this point, I am 1,800 miles away from the Raymarine E-series chartplotter in our boat, so I haven't been able to do a side-by-side comparison. Another month and we'll be back cruising on our boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
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