4 ms·

Some of that already exists, check out the App Store. I'm thinking an iPad would make a decent chart plotter, though :-). Now, if I could only find a weather-pr

Some of that already exists, check out the App Store. I'm thinking an iPad would make a decent chart plotter, though :-). Now, if I could only find a weather-proof enclosure!

aaronblohowiak 16y ago
I have TideApp, but I haven't seen anything like weatherfax on the iphone :-) You're right that chart plotter on the ipad would be pretty tops. As waterproofing.. you'd have to use a material that lets the capacitance of your finger through.
- wagerlabs 16y ago
  Do you know of any material that lets capacitance through? The other issue is connecting a GPS to the iPad if the internal GPS is not good enough. I don't know if it is yet, will take my iPad sailing this August. Apple requires you to build external accessories specifically to work with iOS devices. I think that even requires a special chip. An external Bluetooth GPS would likely be power-hungry. I think http://www.tacktick.com/ http://www.tacktick.com/ are an awesome example of low-power marine electronics. They designed and built their own low-power wireless network to connect their instruments and powered them with solar energy whenever possible.
  - aaronblohowiak 16y ago
    sure, there are lots of "screen protectors" that are thin plastic films: http://www.amazon.com/9-7-Screen-Protector-Apple-iPad/dp/B003C6SETS http://www.amazon.com/9-7-Screen-Protector-Apple-iPad/dp/B00... Tacktick looks pretty awesome, i will check them out!
  - pietrofmaggi 16y ago
    "Do you know of any material that lets capacitance through?" Just avoid insulators! Regarding the connection of a GPS to the iPad, I don't have on hands the technical details of the iPad (or iPhone) GPS, but on open water, it will surely be better that in an urban canyon. It can see a lot of sky --> a lot of satellite. So, the internal GPS may be not so bad in your scenario. But an external GPS with an active antenna will always be better (better GPS chip, better antenna and fewer electronics noise being far from the iPad radios). You can find kits build by Microchip and Cypress for the connection of external devices to the iPod/iPhone, but you first, must enroll in Apple’s Made for iPod licensing program, by completing the online application at http://developer.apple.com/programs/ipod/ http://developer.apple.com/programs/ipod/. Here is the microchip kit: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2872&param=en546067 http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_P... And here's the Cypress one: http://www.cypress.com/?rID=41030 http://www.cypress.com/?rID=41030 Let me know if you need some advice on the GPS stuffs.
    - pietrofmaggi 16y ago
      iPad 3G and iPhone 4 use the Broadcom BCM4750 receiver: http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/BCM4750 http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/B... "High-sensitivity, -157dBm assisted acquisition sensitivity (with coarse time assistance) and -162dBm tracking sensitivity, enabling indoor and deep urban operation" You can compare this with an usual SIRF Star III based GPS receiver (Leadtek 9101x), which is not assisted: http://www.leadtek.com/eng/gps/overview.asp?lineid=8&pronameid=310&check=f http://www.leadtek.com/eng/gps/overview.asp?lineid=8&pro... With a sensitivity of -159dB and a cold start time of 35s (worst case scenario). I think that, on open water, with a good sky visibility, the GPS included in the iPad 3G and the iPhone 4 should be more than adequate for this kind of usage.
- thalur 16y ago
  I hope someone like aquapac who make them for iphone will make an ipad cover too.
lowkey 16y ago
Here is one option for a water-proof iPad enclosure, though I'm sure it can be improved upon: http://gadgetsin.com/waterwear-waterproof-ipad-case.htm http://gadgetsin.com/waterwear-waterproof-ipad-case.htm
- wagerlabs 16y ago
  Looks great. Need to figure out whether the built-in GPS is good or how to connect an external one.
stcredzero 16y ago
A friend of mine uses a Ziploc freezer bag. She can still operate it through the plastic, apparently. Haven't tried it myself. EDIT: I just tried wearing a Ziploc sandwich bad as a mitt and operating my iPad. There's apparently no degrading of the touch screen! I'll have to pick up some large Ziploc bags the next time I'm at the store.
- donw 16y ago
  I run, rain or shine. Last year, I had an eight mile run through some heavy flooding, to the point where I had to backtrack because some of the roads had developed lakes in the most inconvenient places. Took two days for my shoes to dry. The Ziplock bag around my Runkeepering iPhone didn't miss a trick. :)
olefoo 16y ago
There is a company working on making an iPad enclosure that can be used in the tank with dolphins. I don't know what pressure depth it's supposed to be rated at, but it should be adequate for sailing.
- wagerlabs 16y ago
  Do you have the company name by any chance?

Some of that already exists, check out the App Store. I'm thinking an iPad would make a decent chart plotter, though :-). Now, if I could only find a weather-proof enclosure!

aaronblohowiak 16y ago

I have TideApp, but I haven't seen anything like weatherfax on the iphone :-) You're right that chart plotter on the ipad would be pretty tops. As waterproofing.. you'd have to use a material that lets the capacitance of your finger through.

wagerlabs 16y ago
Do you know of any material that lets capacitance through? The other issue is connecting a GPS to the iPad if the internal GPS is not good enough. I don't know if it is yet, will take my iPad sailing this August. Apple requires you to build external accessories specifically to work with iOS devices. I think that even requires a special chip. An external Bluetooth GPS would likely be power-hungry. I think http://www.tacktick.com/ http://www.tacktick.com/ are an awesome example of low-power marine electronics. They designed and built their own low-power wireless network to connect their instruments and powered them with solar energy whenever possible.
- aaronblohowiak 16y ago
  sure, there are lots of "screen protectors" that are thin plastic films: http://www.amazon.com/9-7-Screen-Protector-Apple-iPad/dp/B003C6SETS http://www.amazon.com/9-7-Screen-Protector-Apple-iPad/dp/B00... Tacktick looks pretty awesome, i will check them out!
- pietrofmaggi 16y ago
  "Do you know of any material that lets capacitance through?" Just avoid insulators! Regarding the connection of a GPS to the iPad, I don't have on hands the technical details of the iPad (or iPhone) GPS, but on open water, it will surely be better that in an urban canyon. It can see a lot of sky --> a lot of satellite. So, the internal GPS may be not so bad in your scenario. But an external GPS with an active antenna will always be better (better GPS chip, better antenna and fewer electronics noise being far from the iPad radios). You can find kits build by Microchip and Cypress for the connection of external devices to the iPod/iPhone, but you first, must enroll in Apple’s Made for iPod licensing program, by completing the online application at http://developer.apple.com/programs/ipod/ http://developer.apple.com/programs/ipod/. Here is the microchip kit: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2872&param=en546067 http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_P... And here's the Cypress one: http://www.cypress.com/?rID=41030 http://www.cypress.com/?rID=41030 Let me know if you need some advice on the GPS stuffs.
  - pietrofmaggi 16y ago
    iPad 3G and iPhone 4 use the Broadcom BCM4750 receiver: http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/BCM4750 http://www.broadcom.com/products/GPS/GPS-Silicon-Solutions/B... "High-sensitivity, -157dBm assisted acquisition sensitivity (with coarse time assistance) and -162dBm tracking sensitivity, enabling indoor and deep urban operation" You can compare this with an usual SIRF Star III based GPS receiver (Leadtek 9101x), which is not assisted: http://www.leadtek.com/eng/gps/overview.asp?lineid=8&pronameid=310&check=f http://www.leadtek.com/eng/gps/overview.asp?lineid=8&pro... With a sensitivity of -159dB and a cold start time of 35s (worst case scenario). I think that, on open water, with a good sky visibility, the GPS included in the iPad 3G and the iPhone 4 should be more than adequate for this kind of usage.
thalur 16y ago
I hope someone like aquapac who make them for iphone will make an ipad cover too.

lowkey 16y ago

Here is one option for a water-proof iPad enclosure, though I'm sure it can be improved upon: http://gadgetsin.com/waterwear-waterproof-ipad-case.htm http://gadgetsin.com/waterwear-waterproof-ipad-case.htm

wagerlabs 16y ago
Looks great. Need to figure out whether the built-in GPS is good or how to connect an external one.

stcredzero 16y ago

A friend of mine uses a Ziploc freezer bag. She can still operate it through the plastic, apparently. Haven't tried it myself. EDIT: I just tried wearing a Ziploc sandwich bad as a mitt and operating my iPad. There's apparently no degrading of the touch screen! I'll have to pick up some large Ziploc bags the next time I'm at the store.

donw 16y ago
I run, rain or shine. Last year, I had an eight mile run through some heavy flooding, to the point where I had to backtrack because some of the roads had developed lakes in the most inconvenient places. Took two days for my shoes to dry. The Ziplock bag around my Runkeepering iPhone didn't miss a trick. :)

olefoo 16y ago

There is a company working on making an iPad enclosure that can be used in the tank with dolphins. I don't know what pressure depth it's supposed to be rated at, but it should be adequate for sailing.

wagerlabs 16y ago
Do you have the company name by any chance?