What device to use with the InReach?

Now that I have an InReach, I'd like to have a device to communicate
with it for text messages. My phone is dumb and won't do it, so I'm
considering an iPod Touch or similar device that would also let me have
a sectional maps and airports app, run a soaring app (like XCSoar) to
back up my panel mounted computer, and check the weather via wifi at the
airport.

My main concern is visibility in the cockpit - what's be best choice
among iPod Touch a similar Android-based devices?

The 7" tablets are also attractive for those uses, but again I don't
know if their sunlight visibility is adequate or if the larger size is
impractical in the cockpit. They'd be better outside the cockpit, I expect.

Can anyone with some experience with these devices in the cockpit give
me some suggestions?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

Eric, this might work.
http://tinyurl.com/pc8h5
Jim

On Friday, March 15, 2013 1:34:53 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
Eric, this might work.

http://tinyurl.com/pc8h5

Jim

Cool. One card per turnpoint. Manually sorted/indexed for your easy access. "Aww crap, can't find turnpoint #2 - it must've slipped behind my back".

On 3/15/2013 10:34 AM, JS wrote:
Eric, this might work.
http://tinyurl.com/pc8h5

Great sunlight visibility, but are you sure it runs Android 2.4 or higher?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

You might consider a Dell Streak 5. ~$200 on Ebay, excellent sunlight readability and can connect via bluetooth. Also runs XCSoar as a backup flight computer if you wish.

Good multi-tasker device. Can even be a phone, but I find it too big to want to carry it around.

On Wednesday, March 13, 2013 1:17:01 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Now that I have an InReach, I'd like to have a device to communicate

with it for text messages. My phone is dumb and won't do it, so I'm

considering an iPod Touch or similar device that would also let me have

a sectional maps and airports app, run a soaring app (like XCSoar) to

back up my panel mounted computer, and check the weather via wifi at the

airport.



My main concern is visibility in the cockpit - what's be best choice

among iPod Touch a similar Android-based devices?



The 7" tablets are also attractive for those uses, but again I don't

know if their sunlight visibility is adequate or if the larger size is

impractical in the cockpit. They'd be better outside the cockpit, I expect.



Can anyone with some experience with these devices in the cockpit give

me some suggestions?



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to

email me)

On 3/15/2013 2:54 PM, Morgan wrote:
You might consider a Dell Streak 5. ~$200 on Ebay, excellent
sunlight readability and can connect via bluetooth. Also runs XCSoar
as a backup flight computer if you wish.

I like the idea of the good display, but I'm concerned it can't be
updated past version 2.2 (which was two years ago, I think), and might
not be able to run some useful apps in the near future.

Since the lack of responses suggests I'm the only that's not planning to
use a smartphone on the inReach, I'll look into those again. I rarely
use a mobile phone, but they seem to cost about the same iPad Touch and
similar Android devices, and I can get one that works with my prepaid
phone plan.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

Hey, I used one of those in college!

And I upgraded my Dell Streak 5 to Android 2.3.7 via Cyanogen. Of course,
it's a do-it-yourself thing, you can't just go to a site and hit "Upgrade".


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
On 3/15/2013 2:54 PM, Morgan wrote:
You might consider a Dell Streak 5. ~$200 on Ebay, excellent
sunlight readability and can connect via bluetooth. Also runs XCSoar
as a backup flight computer if you wish.

I like the idea of the good display, but I'm concerned it can't be updated
past version 2.2 (which was two years ago, I think), and might not be able
to run some useful apps in the near future.

Since the lack of responses suggests I'm the only that's not planning to
use a smartphone on the inReach, I'll look into those again. I rarely use
a mobile phone, but they seem to cost about the same iPad Touch and
similar Android devices, and I can get one that works with my prepaid
phone plan.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

On Friday, March 15, 2013 9:20:53 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 3/15/2013 2:54 PM, Morgan wrote:

Since the lack of responses suggests I'm the only that's not planning to

use a smartphone on the inReach, I'll look into those again. I rarely

use a mobile phone, but they seem to cost about the same iPad Touch and

similar Android devices, and I can get one that works with my prepaid

phone plan.
--

Eric Greenwell


Still waiting to see if Eric is really gonna struggle out of the dark ages. Talks "electronics", but rumor has it still generates electricity rubbing a rubber rod with wool. :c)

bumper

On 3/16/2013 10:28 AM, bumper wrote:
On Friday, March 15, 2013 9:20:53 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 3/15/2013 2:54 PM, Morgan wrote:

Since the lack of responses suggests I'm the only that's not
planning to

use a smartphone on the inReach, I'll look into those again. I
rarely

use a mobile phone, but they seem to cost about the same iPad Touch
and

similar Android devices, and I can get one that works with my
prepaid

phone plan. --

Eric Greenwell


Still waiting to see if Eric is really gonna struggle out of the dark
ages. Talks "electronics", but rumor has it still generates
electricity rubbing a rubber rod with wool. :c)

Wool works? That would be a lot easier than the cat I've been using.
He's pretty fed up with it anyway, because he thinks it's in violation
of the "substantial petting" clause in his contract.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

On Saturday, March 16, 2013 11:18:43 AM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 3/16/2013 10:28 AM, bumper wrote:

On Friday, March 15, 2013 9:20:53 PM UTC-7, Eric Greenwell wrote:

On 3/15/2013 2:54 PM, Morgan wrote:



Since the lack of responses suggests I'm the only that's not

planning to



use a smartphone on the inReach, I'll look into those again. I

rarely



use a mobile phone, but they seem to cost about the same iPad Touch

and



similar Android devices, and I can get one that works with my

prepaid



phone plan. --



Eric Greenwell





Still waiting to see if Eric is really gonna struggle out of the dark

ages. Talks "electronics", but rumor has it still generates

electricity rubbing a rubber rod with wool. :c)



Wool works? That would be a lot easier than the cat I've been using.

He's pretty fed up with it anyway, because he thinks it's in violation

of the "substantial petting" clause in his contract.



--

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to

email me)

Now that we're completely off topic you'll need to consult the "Engineer's Guide to Cats" for further elucidation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4

Good luck,
Craig