Sunlight readable PNAs reviewed

[PCool]

There is an interesting discussion here at
http://www.postfrontal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5589&whichpage=6
with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-900 nits
displays.

This PNA has also a spare RS232. I am searching for a Dell Streak to
compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months ago.
With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is the only
help to make the screen visible at all.

I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long awaited unbranded
device with a very good visibility.
(I dont sell them!)

paolo

[Richard[_9_]]

On Dec 30, 7:10*pm, "PCool" > wrote:
> There is an interesting discussion here athttp://www.postfrontal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5589&whichpage=6
> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-900 nits
> displays.
>
> This PNA has also a spare RS232. *I am searching for a Dell Streak to
> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months ago.
> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is the only
> help to make the screen visible at all.
>
> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long awaited unbranded
> device with a very good visibility.
> (I dont sell them!)
>
> paolo

I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article may
clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a display
sunlight readable. Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
readability. Contrast ratio is the most important factor.

The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the standard
in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
vividness. The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module consumes only 4.5
Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite small
and there are few thermal management issues. The LCD module displays
a VGA (640 x 480) image.
Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full sunlight
applications. Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the luminance
(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state. The
color LCDs “white” state and “black” state are used to calculate the
contrast ratio.
Contrast ratio = CR = luminance of the “white” /luminance of the
“black”.
If white and black are equally bright, then CR = 1 and the display is
not readable. Due to the coatings applied to the display the contrast
ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. The high contrast ratio
makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on the
backlight intensity. Even at the low backlight setting the display
is totally readable in full sunlight. These characteristic contribute
to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the cockpit.
No longer do you need to run software in the white or no terrain mode,
the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.

http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm


Richard
www.craggyaero.com

[John Galloway[_1_]]

At 13:37 31 December 2011, Richard wrote:
>On Dec 30, 7:10=A0pm, "PCool" wrote:
>> There is an interesting discussion here
>athttp://www.postfrontal.com/foru=
>m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D5589&whichpage=3D6
>> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-
900 nits
>> displays.
>>
>> This PNA has also a spare RS232. =A0I am searching for a
Dell Streak to
>> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months
ago.
>> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is
the only
>> help to make the screen visible at all.
>>
>> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long
awaited
>unbrand=
>ed
>> device with a very good visibility.
>> (I dont sell them!)
>>
>> paolo
>
>I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article
may
>clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a
display
>sunlight readable. Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
>readability. Contrast ratio is the most important factor.
>
>The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the
standard
>in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
>brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
>vividness. The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module
consumes only 4.5
>Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite
small
>and there are few thermal management issues. The LCD
module displays
>a VGA (640 x 480) image.
>Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full
sunlight
>applications. Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the
luminance
>(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state.
The
>color LCDs =93white=94 state and =93black=94 state are
used to calculate
>th=
>e
>contrast ratio.
> Contrast ratio =3D CR =3D luminance of the =93white=94
/luminance of the
>=93black=94.
> If white and black are equally bright, then CR =3D 1 and the
display is
>not readable. Due to the coatings applied to the display the
contrast
>ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. The high contrast
ratio
>makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on
the
>backlight intensity. Even at the low backlight setting the
display
>is totally readable in full sunlight. These characteristic
contribute
>to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the
cockpit.
>No longer do you need to run software in the white or no
terrain mode,
>the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.
>
>http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm
>
>
>Richard
>www.craggyaero.com

Why don't other non-touch-screen glider computer instrument
makers use the same screens as the Ultimate?

BTW - the new Butterfly vario (if it works as claimed it could be
a significant advance in variometry) + the Craggy Ultimate looks
like a great combination matching all the features of a fully
optionalised LX 9000.

John Galloway

[PCool]

Gentlemen, the sunlight readable screen I (and many people out here) want to
buy should not be expensive!
A 500 euro device is too much, and way too much a 1000 euro. These should be
portable devices.

A great deal of people is buying cheap but usable PNAs such as the MIO400
(60 euro, new not refurbished), with serial port and internal gps.

The devices we mention on the forum share the same price range: the 900 nits
one, 5 inches 800x480 with serial port is sold in the UK for 275 euro.

Most people want a device sized between 4 and 6 inches. We all know that 7
inches and more becomes a big problem to be installed aboard.
This is why most of PNAs are sized 4.3 and 5 inches. Bigger LCD will not
fit easily (and costly) rack mounted.

Manufacturers are improving LCD coating process, brightness and contrast
ratio, to provide cheap devices.

Of course if you want and can spend more, LX 9000, Craggy Aero Ultimate,
Triadis, there are several great choices!

heppy 2012 everybody
paolo




"John Galloway" > ha scritto nel messaggio
.com...
At 13:37 31 December 2011, Richard wrote:
>On Dec 30, 7:10=A0pm, "PCool" wrote:
>> There is an interesting discussion here
>athttp://www.postfrontal.com/foru=
>m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D5589&whichpage=3D6
>> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-
900 nits
>> displays.
>>
>> This PNA has also a spare RS232. =A0I am searching for a
Dell Streak to
>> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months
ago.
>> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is
the only
>> help to make the screen visible at all.
>>
>> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long
awaited
>unbrand=
>ed
>> device with a very good visibility.
>> (I dont sell them!)
>>
>> paolo
>
>I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article
may
>clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a
display
>sunlight readable. Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
>readability. Contrast ratio is the most important factor.
>
>The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the
standard
>in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
>brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
>vividness. The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module
consumes only 4.5
>Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite
small
>and there are few thermal management issues. The LCD
module displays
>a VGA (640 x 480) image.
>Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full
sunlight
>applications. Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the
luminance
>(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state.
The
>color LCDs =93white=94 state and =93black=94 state are
used to calculate
>th=
>e
>contrast ratio.
> Contrast ratio =3D CR =3D luminance of the =93white=94
/luminance of the
>=93black=94.
> If white and black are equally bright, then CR =3D 1 and the
display is
>not readable. Due to the coatings applied to the display the
contrast
>ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. The high contrast
ratio
>makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on
the
>backlight intensity. Even at the low backlight setting the
display
>is totally readable in full sunlight. These characteristic
contribute
>to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the
cockpit.
>No longer do you need to run software in the white or no
terrain mode,
>the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.
>
>http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm
>
>
>Richard
>www.craggyaero.com

Why don't other non-touch-screen glider computer instrument
makers use the same screens as the Ultimate?

BTW - the new Butterfly vario (if it works as claimed it could be
a significant advance in variometry) + the Craggy Ultimate looks
like a great combination matching all the features of a fully
optionalised LX 9000.

John Galloway

[brianDG303[_2_]]

On Jan 1, 2:47*am, "PCool" > wrote:
> Gentlemen, the sunlight readable screen I (and many people out here) want to
> buy should not be expensive!
> A 500 euro device is too much, and way too much a 1000 euro. These should be
> portable devices.
>
> A great deal of people is buying cheap but usable PNAs such as the MIO400
> (60 euro, new not refurbished), with serial port and internal gps.
>
> The devices we mention on the forum share the same price range: the 900 nits
> one, 5 inches 800x480 with serial port is sold in the UK for 275 euro.
>
> Most people want a device sized between 4 and 6 inches. *We all know that 7
> inches and more becomes a big problem to be installed aboard.
> This is why most of PNAs are sized 4.3 and 5 inches. *Bigger LCD will not
> fit easily (and costly) rack mounted.
>
> Manufacturers are improving LCD coating process, brightness and contrast
> ratio, to provide cheap devices.
>
> Of course if you want and can *spend more, LX 9000, Craggy Aero Ultimate,
> Triadis, there are several great choices!
>
> heppy 2012 everybody
> paolo
>
> "John Galloway" > ha scritto nel messaggionews:4f002b1f$0$30185$a8266bb1@newsreader .readnews.com...
> At 13:37 31 December 2011, Richard wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Dec 30, 7:10=A0pm, "PCool" *wrote:
> >> There is an interesting discussion here
> >athttp://www.postfrontal.com/foru=
> >m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D5589&whichpage=3D6
> >> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-
> 900 nits
> >> displays.
>
> >> This PNA has also a spare RS232. =A0I am searching for a
> Dell Streak to
> >> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months
> ago.
> >> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is
> the only
> >> help to make the screen visible at all.
>
> >> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long
> awaited
> >unbrand=
> >ed
> >> device with a very good visibility.
> >> (I dont sell them!)
>
> >> paolo
>
> >I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article
> may
> >clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a
> display
> >sunlight readable. *Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
> >readability. *Contrast ratio is the most important factor.
>
> >The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the
> standard
> >in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
> >brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
> >vividness. * The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module
> consumes only 4.5
> >Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite
> small
> >and there are few thermal management issues. *The LCD
> module displays
> >a VGA (640 x 480) image.
> >Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full
> sunlight
> >applications. *Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the
> luminance
> >(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state.
> The
> >color LCDs =93white=94 state and =93black=94 state are
> used to calculate
> >th=
> >e
> >contrast ratio.
> > Contrast ratio =3D CR =3D luminance of the =93white=94
> /luminance of the
> >=93black=94.
> > If white and black are equally bright, then CR =3D 1 and the
> display is
> >not readable. *Due to the coatings applied to the display the
> contrast
> >ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. * The high contrast
> ratio
> >makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on
> the
> >backlight intensity. * Even at the low backlight setting the
> display
> >is totally readable in full sunlight. *These characteristic
> contribute
> >to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the
> cockpit.
> >No longer do you need to run software in the white or no
> terrain mode,
> >the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.
>
> >http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm
>
> >Richard
> >www.craggyaero.com
>
> Why don't other non-touch-screen glider computer instrument
> makers use the same screens as the Ultimate?
>
> BTW - the new Butterfly vario (if it works as claimed it could be
> a significant advance in variometry) + the Craggy Ultimate looks
> like a great combination matching all the features of *a fully
> optionalised LX 9000.
>
> John Galloway

having flown last year with a LXminimap and the connected vario, I
think people are missing a large safety and convenience issue by
concentrating on sunlight visibility and not the total user
interface. The eyes-in-the-cockpit time required to use a touchscreen
to move between maps and pages, scroll through turnpoints, select a
new turnpoint, and return to the original screen is several to 20
times longer than when using a well set up stick controller or other
remote control device. The operation described can be accomplished
with a single button press and a glance with the LX stick controller.
In my mind this is as important as sunlight visibility.

[Mike[_37_]]

On Jan 5, 6:02*pm, brianDG303 > wrote:
> On Jan 1, 2:47*am, "PCool" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Gentlemen, the sunlight readable screen I (and many people out here) want to
> > buy should not be expensive!
> > A 500 euro device is too much, and way too much a 1000 euro. These should be
> > portable devices.
>
> > A great deal of people is buying cheap but usable PNAs such as the MIO400
> > (60 euro, new not refurbished), with serial port and internal gps.
>
> > The devices we mention on the forum share the same price range: the 900 nits
> > one, 5 inches 800x480 with serial port is sold in the UK for 275 euro.
>
> > Most people want a device sized between 4 and 6 inches. *We all know that 7
> > inches and more becomes a big problem to be installed aboard.
> > This is why most of PNAs are sized 4.3 and 5 inches. *Bigger LCD will not
> > fit easily (and costly) rack mounted.
>
> > Manufacturers are improving LCD coating process, brightness and contrast
> > ratio, to provide cheap devices.
>
> > Of course if you want and can *spend more, LX 9000, Craggy Aero Ultimate,
> > Triadis, there are several great choices!
>
> > heppy 2012 everybody
> > paolo
>
> > "John Galloway" > ha scritto nel messaggionews:4f002b1f$0$30185$a8266bb1@newsreader .readnews.com...
> > At 13:37 31 December 2011, Richard wrote:
>
> > >On Dec 30, 7:10=A0pm, "PCool" *wrote:
> > >> There is an interesting discussion here
> > >athttp://www.postfrontal.com/foru=
> > >m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D5589&whichpage=3D6
> > >> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-
> > 900 nits
> > >> displays.
>
> > >> This PNA has also a spare RS232. =A0I am searching for a
> > Dell Streak to
> > >> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months
> > ago.
> > >> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is
> > the only
> > >> help to make the screen visible at all.
>
> > >> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long
> > awaited
> > >unbrand=
> > >ed
> > >> device with a very good visibility.
> > >> (I dont sell them!)
>
> > >> paolo
>
> > >I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article
> > may
> > >clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a
> > display
> > >sunlight readable. *Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
> > >readability. *Contrast ratio is the most important factor.
>
> > >The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the
> > standard
> > >in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
> > >brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
> > >vividness. * The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module
> > consumes only 4.5
> > >Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite
> > small
> > >and there are few thermal management issues. *The LCD
> > module displays
> > >a VGA (640 x 480) image.
> > >Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full
> > sunlight
> > >applications. *Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the
> > luminance
> > >(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state.
> > The
> > >color LCDs =93white=94 state and =93black=94 state are
> > used to calculate
> > >th=
> > >e
> > >contrast ratio.
> > > Contrast ratio =3D CR =3D luminance of the =93white=94
> > /luminance of the
> > >=93black=94.
> > > If white and black are equally bright, then CR =3D 1 and the
> > display is
> > >not readable. *Due to the coatings applied to the display the
> > contrast
> > >ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. * The high contrast
> > ratio
> > >makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on
> > the
> > >backlight intensity. * Even at the low backlight setting the
> > display
> > >is totally readable in full sunlight. *These characteristic
> > contribute
> > >to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the
> > cockpit.
> > >No longer do you need to run software in the white or no
> > terrain mode,
> > >the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.
>
> > >http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm
>
> > >Richard
> > >www.craggyaero.com
>
> > Why don't other non-touch-screen glider computer instrument
> > makers use the same screens as the Ultimate?
>
> > BTW - the new Butterfly vario (if it works as claimed it could be
> > a significant advance in variometry) + the Craggy Ultimate looks
> > like a great combination matching all the features of *a fully
> > optionalised LX 9000.
>
> > John Galloway
>
> having flown last year with a LXminimap and the connected vario, I
> think people are missing a large safety and convenience issue by
> concentrating on sunlight visibility and not the total user
> interface. *The eyes-in-the-cockpit time required to use a touchscreen
> to move between maps and pages, scroll through turnpoints, select a
> new turnpoint, and return to the original screen is several to 20
> times longer than when using a well set up stick controller or other
> remote control device. *The operation described can be accomplished
> with a single button press and a glance with the LX stick controller.
> In my mind this is as important as sunlight visibility.

LX Minimap and the vario is a very nice set up. My thoughts on the
Streak with XCSoar is - moving through various pages or screens with
XCSoar requires a finger swipe to the left or right depending on what
screen you are looking for -there are eight that can, when once set
up, be accessed easily with swipes. Selecting a new turn point on
the fly is as simple as touching the turn point location on the moving
map, and acknowledging it when the turn point info window comes up on
the screen, by pressing "GoTo". Takes a couple of seconds. Making a
new contest task from scratch, on the fly, is a bit of a chore
though, and probably is with any soaring program. Changing a task from
the task file takes about 15 seconds.

Mike

[akiley]

On Jan 5, 8:58*pm, Mike > wrote:
> On Jan 5, 6:02*pm, brianDG303 > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jan 1, 2:47*am, "PCool" > wrote:
>
> > > Gentlemen, the sunlight readable screen I (and many people out here) want to
> > > buy should not be expensive!
> > > A 500 euro device is too much, and way too much a 1000 euro. These should be
> > > portable devices.
>
> > > A great deal of people is buying cheap but usable PNAs such as the MIO400
> > > (60 euro, new not refurbished), with serial port and internal gps.
>
> > > The devices we mention on the forum share the same price range: the 900 nits
> > > one, 5 inches 800x480 with serial port is sold in the UK for 275 euro..
>
> > > Most people want a device sized between 4 and 6 inches. *We all know that 7
> > > inches and more becomes a big problem to be installed aboard.
> > > This is why most of PNAs are sized 4.3 and 5 inches. *Bigger LCD will not
> > > fit easily (and costly) rack mounted.
>
> > > Manufacturers are improving LCD coating process, brightness and contrast
> > > ratio, to provide cheap devices.
>
> > > Of course if you want and can *spend more, LX 9000, Craggy Aero Ultimate,
> > > Triadis, there are several great choices!
>
> > > heppy 2012 everybody
> > > paolo
>
> > > "John Galloway" > ha scritto nel messaggionews:4f002b1f$0$30185$a8266bb1@newsreader .readnews.com...
> > > At 13:37 31 December 2011, Richard wrote:
>
> > > >On Dec 30, 7:10=A0pm, "PCool" *wrote:
> > > >> There is an interesting discussion here
> > > >athttp://www.postfrontal.com/foru=
> > > >m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3D5589&whichpage=3D6
> > > >> with a lot of pictures I have taken out of new PNAs with 800-
> > > 900 nits
> > > >> displays.
>
> > > >> This PNA has also a spare RS232. =A0I am searching for a
> > > Dell Streak to
> > > >> compare, but it is was gone out of production a few months
> > > ago.
> > > >> With the sun in front of us, and not in the back, brightness is
> > > the only
> > > >> help to make the screen visible at all.
>
> > > >> I am also about to review the Holux 61CS, which is a long
> > > awaited
> > > >unbrand=
> > > >ed
> > > >> device with a very good visibility.
> > > >> (I dont sell them!)
>
> > > >> paolo
>
> > > >I think the following exerpt from a Gliding Internation Article
> > > may
> > > >clear up many misconceptions that high brightness makes a
> > > display
> > > >sunlight readable. *Brightness minimually affects the sunlight
> > > >readability. *Contrast ratio is the most important factor.
>
> > > >The Craggy Aero Ultimate Le aviation quality display sets the
> > > standard
> > > >in sunlight readability it delivers a radically high level of screen
> > > >brightness that results in unparalleled picture sharpness and
> > > >vividness. * The VHB LED backlight in the LCD module
> > > consumes only 4.5
> > > >Watts at full brightness. The LCD screen temperature is quite
> > > small
> > > >and there are few thermal management issues. *The LCD
> > > module displays
> > > >a VGA (640 x 480) image.
> > > >Contrast ratio is the most important factor in high and full
> > > sunlight
> > > >applications. *Contrast ratio of a display is defined as the
> > > luminance
> > > >(brightness) ratio between a brighter state and a darker state.
> > > The
> > > >color LCDs =93white=94 state and =93black=94 state are
> > > used to calculate
> > > >th=
> > > >e
> > > >contrast ratio.
> > > > Contrast ratio =3D CR =3D luminance of the =93white=94
> > > /luminance of the
> > > >=93black=94.
> > > > If white and black are equally bright, then CR =3D 1 and the
> > > display is
> > > >not readable. *Due to the coatings applied to the display the
> > > contrast
> > > >ratio of the Ultimate Le is extremely high. * The high contrast
> > > ratio
> > > >makes the view in direct sunlight only slightly dependent on
> > > the
> > > >backlight intensity. * Even at the low backlight setting the
> > > display
> > > >is totally readable in full sunlight. *These characteristic
> > > contribute
> > > >to the overall superior direct sunlight performance in the
> > > cockpit.
> > > >No longer do you need to run software in the white or no
> > > terrain mode,
> > > >the color and clarity are vibrant in full sun.
>
> > > >http://www.craggyaero.com/ultimate_le.htm
>
> > > >Richard
> > > >www.craggyaero.com
>
> > > Why don't other non-touch-screen glider computer instrument
> > > makers use the same screens as the Ultimate?
>
> > > BTW - the new Butterfly vario (if it works as claimed it could be
> > > a significant advance in variometry) + the Craggy Ultimate looks
> > > like a great combination matching all the features of *a fully
> > > optionalised LX 9000.
>
> > > John Galloway
>
> > having flown last year with a LXminimap and the connected vario, I
> > think people are missing a large safety and convenience issue by
> > concentrating on sunlight visibility and not the total user
> > interface. *The eyes-in-the-cockpit time required to use a touchscreen
> > to move between maps and pages, scroll through turnpoints, select a
> > new turnpoint, and return to the original screen is several to 20
> > times longer than when using a well set up stick controller or other
> > remote control device. *The operation described can be accomplished
> > with a single button press and a glance with the LX stick controller.
> > In my mind this is as important as sunlight visibility.
>
> LX Minimap and the vario is a very nice set up. *My thoughts on the
> Streak with XCSoar is - moving through various pages or screens with
> XCSoar requires a finger swipe to the left or right depending on what
> screen you are looking for -there are eight that can, when once set
> up, *be accessed easily with *swipes. Selecting a new turn point on
> the fly is as simple as touching the turn point location on the moving
> map, and acknowledging it when the turn point info window comes up on
> the screen, by pressing "GoTo". *Takes a couple of seconds. *Making a
> new contest task from scratch, on the fly, *is a bit of a chore
> though, and probably is with any soaring program. Changing a task from
> the task file takes about 15 seconds.
>
> Mike

I use XCSoar with a Droid phone and a bluetooth GPS (45 USD). I rent
and don't own a ship. XCSoar switches modes automatically. So you
can design your own set of data fields (infoboxes) for cruise, thermal
and final glide. So you seldom need to swipe. It even has auto MC,
so you don't have to fiddle with MC. Use it in sim mode, or with
Condor on the ground to get proficient and this greatly reduces fidget
time in the cockpit. The team at XCSoar has really brought this app a
long way and it's still being imporved at a fast pace.

I personally think it it very hard to evaluate these screens by
tossing them out in the sunlight and firing off a photo. In reality
most screens that do well in sunlight, do so not by the strength of
their backlight, (backlight can rarely compete with full sun) but by
there ability to "glow" and actually take advantage of direct sun.
Some of the old iPaqs do this, but there is a specific angle to the
sun that makes them glow brighter. Having these devices on a mount
with the ability to swivel them around really helps their
readability. Then some devices are not helped by sunlight and are
better shaded somehow. Fly under the shade of a cloud, and the whole
problem changes. Backlighting becomes a bigger factor. To complicate
it more, some devices like Oudie have a matt glass screen, where
others have glossy. The glossy reflects objects that can make the
screen hard to read, but they can also be angled toward dark objects
(like the black t-shirt I wear) which really makes the screen pop.
Matt screens don't have the annoying reflections, but they scatter
light and have a low contrast hazy look to them. Maybe better placed
in shade or hooded somehow.

The exception seems to be paying a lot of money for a navigator. A
Garmin 369 or 496 has very powerful backlighting. ... akiley