iPhone 6 Plus and iGlide

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 8:52:32 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
Good review. I have been flying with iGlide for 2 years and look forward to flying with it this week in TN for the FAI PanAm event with a new iPhone 6+. The UI is intuitive and simple just as you would expect from apple. iGlide is an exceptional soaring app when compared to the rather dated Oudie or others. The screens are so outdated compared to the latest generation smart phones. XC Soar on a modern Android device is also excellent of course for the same reason.

I still use my oudie - SN10 - PowerFlarm as my primary but always have the iPhone on my knee as a backup or to cross reference certain navigational scenarios. To be perfectly honest find myself using the iGlide far more than the Oudie. iGlide is far, far better than the Oudie other than the simple integration the Oudie has with the SN10.

Here is a screenshot of iGlide on the iphone 6 plus: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A253qWtHBcPl9





On Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 4:23:59 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
Since the board seems kind of dead today (everyone getting their gliders ready for the season?) I will weigh in with a brief review of this combo. I like iGlide, which seems quite modern compared to the other commercial offerings and it pairs well with the Butterfly/Air variometer. Last year I was running it on an iPhone 5s alongside an Avier(Oudie/V2) running SYM, XCSoar, and Winpilot on various days. The problem with the 5s is the screen is considerably smaller and not apparently as bright as the Avier. Though the display is much higher resolution, you have to hold it closer to you (not ideal for mature eyes) and sometimes hope you are under a cloud.

I bought an iPhone 6 Plus just to run iGlide. It's pretty big to carry around as a phone, however you can swap the SIM card back and forth if you have a 5/ 5s and want to use it that way. In any case, I did so with some trepidation that though the display is bigger and reputedly a bit more sunlight readable, it is an expensive experiment to perform. I now have it running, though I have not flown with it yet.

It is a great deal better than the iPhone 5s, it seems a little brighter held side by side in the sunlight but the shear size means a lot more light is falling on your eyeballs. It is quite readable even in direct sun behind while the 5s was not. Only when you get a direct refection of the sun orb on the screen is it illegible. iGlide just scales up everything to fit the display, so the text, icons, everything is bigger and easier for someone over 50 to read. The touchscreen is also better than the 5s, which seemed to take just a bit more firm touch than the previous iPhones. The 6+ is very sensitive and nice.

The surprise was holding it next to the Avier. There is a mismatch of specs, the Avier/Oudie/V2 claims are in the 800 - 1000 nit brightness and the iPhone 6+ has been independently tested at around 560. However they seem about the same apparent brightness held side by side with both at highest brightness. And the iPhone 6+ is more readable at any angle, in any light. The worst for both is the sun orb directly reflected from the glass, neither is readable there although you can see the edges of the iPhone. At slightly off that angle you can read the iPhone first, and it is simply better in all conditions. Of course the resolutions and touchscreens are not even in the same century. The iPhone display is both physically larger and higher resolution (1920 x 1080 vs. 480 x 272). The less said about the Avier touch screen the better.

I also have Winpilot iOS installed on it, this is also pretty modern and has some nice ideas incorporated, however for me it has been too buggy to use, yet.

I'm looking forward to flying with it.

I'll agree with that. Now you just need the Air vario to go with it. The instantaneous wind driven thermal assistant is very interesting.

+1 on the outdated look and UI of SYM (and XCSoar too).

But, still no US contest rules on iGlide - can't do MAT tasks. I know how you love them.

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 3:07:27 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 8:52:32 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
Good review. I have been flying with iGlide for 2 years and look forward to flying with it this week in TN for the FAI PanAm event with a new iPhone 6+. The UI is intuitive and simple just as you would expect from apple.. iGlide is an exceptional soaring app when compared to the rather dated Oudie or others. The screens are so outdated compared to the latest generation smart phones. XC Soar on a modern Android device is also excellent of course for the same reason.

I still use my oudie - SN10 - PowerFlarm as my primary but always have the iPhone on my knee as a backup or to cross reference certain navigational scenarios. To be perfectly honest find myself using the iGlide far more than the Oudie. iGlide is far, far better than the Oudie other than the simple integration the Oudie has with the SN10.

Here is a screenshot of iGlide on the iphone 6 plus: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A253qWtHBcPl9





On Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 4:23:59 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
Since the board seems kind of dead today (everyone getting their gliders ready for the season?) I will weigh in with a brief review of this combo. I like iGlide, which seems quite modern compared to the other commercial offerings and it pairs well with the Butterfly/Air variometer. Last year I was running it on an iPhone 5s alongside an Avier(Oudie/V2) running SYM, XCSoar, and Winpilot on various days. The problem with the 5s is the screen is considerably smaller and not apparently as bright as the Avier. Though the display is much higher resolution, you have to hold it closer to you (not ideal for mature eyes) and sometimes hope you are under a cloud.

I bought an iPhone 6 Plus just to run iGlide. It's pretty big to carry around as a phone, however you can swap the SIM card back and forth if you have a 5/ 5s and want to use it that way. In any case, I did so with some trepidation that though the display is bigger and reputedly a bit more sunlight readable, it is an expensive experiment to perform. I now have it running, though I have not flown with it yet.

It is a great deal better than the iPhone 5s, it seems a little brighter held side by side in the sunlight but the shear size means a lot more light is falling on your eyeballs. It is quite readable even in direct sun behind while the 5s was not. Only when you get a direct refection of the sun orb on the screen is it illegible. iGlide just scales up everything to fit the display, so the text, icons, everything is bigger and easier for someone over 50 to read. The touchscreen is also better than the 5s, which seemed to take just a bit more firm touch than the previous iPhones. The 6+ is very sensitive and nice.

The surprise was holding it next to the Avier. There is a mismatch of specs, the Avier/Oudie/V2 claims are in the 800 - 1000 nit brightness and the iPhone 6+ has been independently tested at around 560. However they seem about the same apparent brightness held side by side with both at highest brightness. And the iPhone 6+ is more readable at any angle, in any light. The worst for both is the sun orb directly reflected from the glass, neither is readable there although you can see the edges of the iPhone. At slightly off that angle you can read the iPhone first, and it is simply better in all conditions. Of course the resolutions and touchscreens are not even in the same century. The iPhone display is both physically larger and higher resolution (1920 x 1080 vs. 480 x 272). The less said about the Avier touch screen the better.

I also have Winpilot iOS installed on it, this is also pretty modern and has some nice ideas incorporated, however for me it has been too buggy to use, yet.

I'm looking forward to flying with it.

I'll agree with that. Now you just need the Air vario to go with it. The instantaneous wind driven thermal assistant is very interesting.

+1 on the outdated look and UI of SYM (and XCSoar too).

But, still no US contest rules on iGlide - can't do MAT tasks. I know how you love them.

If more of us send emails to Marc maybe something happens. I did.

AK

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 1:23:33 PM UTC-7, Andrzej Kobus wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 3:07:27 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 8:52:32 AM UTC-7, Sean Fidler wrote:
Good review. I have been flying with iGlide for 2 years and look forward to flying with it this week in TN for the FAI PanAm event with a new iPhone 6+. The UI is intuitive and simple just as you would expect from apple. iGlide is an exceptional soaring app when compared to the rather dated Oudie or others. The screens are so outdated compared to the latest generation smart phones. XC Soar on a modern Android device is also excellent of course for the same reason.

I still use my oudie - SN10 - PowerFlarm as my primary but always have the iPhone on my knee as a backup or to cross reference certain navigational scenarios. To be perfectly honest find myself using the iGlide far more than the Oudie. iGlide is far, far better than the Oudie other than the simple integration the Oudie has with the SN10.

Here is a screenshot of iGlide on the iphone 6 plus: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A253qWtHBcPl9





On Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 4:23:59 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
Since the board seems kind of dead today (everyone getting their gliders ready for the season?) I will weigh in with a brief review of this combo. I like iGlide, which seems quite modern compared to the other commercial offerings and it pairs well with the Butterfly/Air variometer. Last year I was running it on an iPhone 5s alongside an Avier(Oudie/V2) running SYM, XCSoar, and Winpilot on various days. The problem with the 5s is the screen is considerably smaller and not apparently as bright as the Avier. Though the display is much higher resolution, you have to hold it closer to you (not ideal for mature eyes) and sometimes hope you are under a cloud.

I bought an iPhone 6 Plus just to run iGlide. It's pretty big to carry around as a phone, however you can swap the SIM card back and forth if you have a 5/ 5s and want to use it that way. In any case, I did so with some trepidation that though the display is bigger and reputedly a bit more sunlight readable, it is an expensive experiment to perform. I now have it running, though I have not flown with it yet.

It is a great deal better than the iPhone 5s, it seems a little brighter held side by side in the sunlight but the shear size means a lot more light is falling on your eyeballs. It is quite readable even in direct sun behind while the 5s was not. Only when you get a direct refection of the sun orb on the screen is it illegible. iGlide just scales up everything to fit the display, so the text, icons, everything is bigger and easier for someone over 50 to read. The touchscreen is also better than the 5s, which seemed to take just a bit more firm touch than the previous iPhones. The 6+ is very sensitive and nice.

The surprise was holding it next to the Avier. There is a mismatch of specs, the Avier/Oudie/V2 claims are in the 800 - 1000 nit brightness and the iPhone 6+ has been independently tested at around 560. However they seem about the same apparent brightness held side by side with both at highest brightness. And the iPhone 6+ is more readable at any angle, in any light. The worst for both is the sun orb directly reflected from the glass, neither is readable there although you can see the edges of the iPhone. At slightly off that angle you can read the iPhone first, and it is simply better in all conditions. Of course the resolutions and touchscreens are not even in the same century. The iPhone display is both physically larger and higher resolution (1920 x 1080 vs. 480 x 272). The less said about the Avier touch screen the better.

I also have Winpilot iOS installed on it, this is also pretty modern and has some nice ideas incorporated, however for me it has been too buggy to use, yet.

I'm looking forward to flying with it.

I'll agree with that. Now you just need the Air vario to go with it. The instantaneous wind driven thermal assistant is very interesting.

+1 on the outdated look and UI of SYM (and XCSoar too).

But, still no US contest rules on iGlide - can't do MAT tasks. I know how you love them.

If more of us send emails to Marc maybe something happens. I did.

AK

Another thing to email Marc about: they really need a "free" demo version on the iTunes store. It should have the Advanced or Pro features, but only work with the simulator. Nearly every other package is available this way, try before you buy. The cost of the Lite version is too much for people to experiment, and you really want the Adv feature set anyway. I think if people could try it, they would have many more sales. I want it to be successful so they continue to put effort in, so more people buying is better.

You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:
You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.

Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:47:47 PM UTC-7, jfitch wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:
You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.

Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?

Can one configure a desired safety altitude added to arrival or required altitude with iglide?
I recently downloaded the simulator version of WinPilot ios (I agree, it would be nice to have a trial, simulator version for iglide as well,)and indeed it was confirmed that it only configures glide "net" to a waypoint. One needs to mentally add whatever margin one desires.
To me; that adds to the workload and only somewhat better than the handheld GPS devices.
6PK

On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 6:05:31 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:47:47 PM UTC-7, jfitch wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:
You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.

Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?

Can one configure a desired safety altitude added to arrival or required altitude with iglide?
I recently downloaded the simulator version of WinPilot ios (I agree, it would be nice to have a trial, simulator version for iglide as well,)and indeed it was confirmed that it only configures glide "net" to a waypoint. One needs to mentally add whatever margin one desires.
To me; that adds to the workload and only somewhat better than the handheld GPS devices.
6PK

Yes you can add a safety altitude. It will optionally calculate this over intervening high terrain as well. I have requested two numbers, one for terrain and one for waypoint/airport arrival (like XCSoar) but it doesn't have that yet. It continuously displays the point of terrain impact based on current course and conditions. In addition there is a flight profile nav box which shows a profile of terrain and airspace restrictions on course. Numerous nav boxes sets top and bottom can be accessed by swiping them with your finger, this works as smoothly as you would expect on an iPhone. Pinch to zoom, pan with a finger and these are non-modal. An iPhone 6 has way more processing and graphics engine horsepower than a PDA so display updates are effectively instantaneous, even though the terrain maps are detailed. The choice of terrain depiction is better than Oudie as well.

One thing not well explained in the manual is the config.xml file and style..xml files. In these files a bunch of display and operational behavior can be changed to your liking. Font sizes, what shows up at what zoom, how things are labeled, etc.

I find it hard to believe that you can add a turn point between two
existing turn points with one click using iGlide. Please describe the
process.

With XCSoar on an Android I have to touch the point of interest, which
pops up info on the point, press the right arrow, and then press "Insert
into task". That's 3 clicks.

I admit you have the advantage being able to upload your flight via the
cell phone. With my CNv I have to download the flight to the USB stick,
remove the stick, walk to the hangar, and use the computer to upload the
flight. Or I can simply take my Streak close enough to the hangar to
pickup the wifi signal and upload from there. These tasks are easily
done while sipping a cold beer! ;-D

On 3/30/2015 5:47 PM, jfitch wrote:
On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:
You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.
Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?

--
Dan Marotta

On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 9:05:35 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
I find it hard to believe that you can add a turn point between two
existing turn points with one click using iGlide.* Please describe
the process.



With XCSoar on an Android I have to touch the point of interest,
which pops up info on the point, press the right arrow, and then
press "Insert into task".* That's 3 clicks.



I admit you have the advantage being able to upload your flight via
the cell phone.* With my CNv I have to download the flight to the
USB stick, remove the stick, walk to the hangar, and use the
computer to upload the flight.* Or I can simply take my Streak close
enough to the hangar to pickup the wifi signal and upload from
there.* These tasks are easily done while sipping a cold beer!* ;-D




On 3/30/2015 5:47 PM, jfitch wrote:



On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:


You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.


Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?





--

Dan Marotta

On iGlide, touch and hold for a second on the turnpoint or leg between points you want to modify, then drag to new location, it rubber bands the route and your done. If dragged near a turnpoint or airport, it will snap there.

I'm pretty familiar with XCSoar, used it for a couple of years. I'm not going to dis it - it was worth every penny I paid. However editing tasks on iGlide is far easier, no matter how you do it.

You don't "dis" it yet you mention every penny you paid...

Dan


I like the method you described for adding a turn point but think that
doing that in turbulence might add a bit of a challenge...

On 3/31/2015 3:39 PM, jfitch wrote:
On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 9:05:35 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
I find it hard to believe that you can add a turn point between two
existing turn points with one click using iGlide. Please describe
the process.



With XCSoar on an Android I have to touch the point of interest,
which pops up info on the point, press the right arrow, and then
press "Insert into task". That's 3 clicks.



I admit you have the advantage being able to upload your flight via
the cell phone. With my CNv I have to download the flight to the
USB stick, remove the stick, walk to the hangar, and use the
computer to upload the flight. Or I can simply take my Streak close
enough to the hangar to pickup the wifi signal and upload from
there. These tasks are easily done while sipping a cold beer! ;-D




On 3/30/2015 5:47 PM, jfitch wrote:



On Monday, March 30, 2015 at 4:32:16 PM UTC-7, wrote:


You guys who prefer iglide to Oudie, can you explain what you prefer about it? I suspect that what works best for each of us is the system with which we are most familiar. Personally, I much prefer the (highly customisable) displays on my Oudie IGC to the screen shot linked above, all data is very quick to find and to enter, and files are easy to maintain. I agree the touchscreen is not up to modern mobile phone standards but it is perfectly easy to use.


Hard to know even where to start. iGlide is like a modern iOS or Android app. Oudie (SYM really) is kind of like a Windows 98 app.

The iGlide display is highly configurable and also very non-modal. I can think of very few things that I would like to configure that I can't. File maintenance? You download maps, turnpoints, Flarm, airspace filed directly off the cell (or WiFi) network right into the application. You can upload your flight files same way.

A pet peeve of mine might serve as an example of the interface: From your flight screen on the Oudie, let's say you want to add a turnpoint between this one and that one. How many clicks, searches, typing etc do you have to do? In iGlide, one click, done.

The screen shot that Sean posted is not a great example, zoomed way out and not showing many features. What would you like to configure? What data would you like to see?





--

Dan Marotta
On iGlide, touch and hold for a second on the turnpoint or leg between points you want to modify, then drag to new location, it rubber bands the route and your done. If dragged near a turnpoint or airport, it will snap there.

I'm pretty familiar with XCSoar, used it for a couple of years. I'm not going to dis it - it was worth every penny I paid. However editing tasks on iGlide is far easier, no matter how you do it.

--
Dan Marotta