Category : Applications

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Weather4D still makes greater finesse

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With the basic 1.3.3 and PRO versions 1.3.9 delivered last November, Weather4D had replaced the GRIB files fine grid from Great Circle by its own files based on the U.S. model WRF (¹), computed under his own steam. These files cover Europe, Greece, Canaria, Azores, Greater and Lesser Antilles, offer a resolution of 0.1° (6 NM) up to 96 hours by 1 hour steps. The data provided is the same as the GFS model (¹). At the same time, The annual subscription price has been reduced by 60 down to 30 €.

Thanks to the implementation of new means, the next updates that have just been submitted to Apple Store will provide even more details. Olivier Bouyssou explains :

« FYI, App4Nav uses 6 different servers, 2 for the calculation of WRF model and 4 for distributing GRIBs : 2 for the US+Asia region and 2 for Europe. At this time 8000 GRIBs are distributed per day and triple during the season… ”

This now enables to provide, for the French coasts, including Corsica, ultra-fine grid to 0.04 °, that to say 2,4 NM. It also adds to the GFS and WRF files new data evaluating wind gusts. Read more …

Charting, the game of 7 errors

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A recent Thread on the Hisse Et Oh forum, I salute by the way, I challenged the accuracy of the chart data provided on the electronic charts. The subject concerns the observation that, in some location, existing information on the Navionics Marine HD application, or on some chartplotters, are missing on Navionics charts available on the website x-traverse.com used with iNavX (and MacENC). Quote :

"So the question is : Is there a difference between the 46XG map and the Europe map or is the difference due to the software that makes the cards tick?. ”

Damned ! It seemed useful to make comparisons closing electronic charts from various sources. As far as I know particularly well geographic location used in example, since it is the approach to the port of Concarneau, near the beacon tower Le Cochon, passage I borrowed hundreds of times over the years I was working with Glenans Nautical Centre. Read more …

SEAiq professional navigation on iPad

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SEAiqA few days before going on a long trip from Toulon to Noumea, my friend Christophe Mahé introduced me to this application which had gone completely unnoticed by me. I sincerely thank him ! As it is never too late to do well, a few discussions with the developer allowed me to install this application on my iPad with all its options. SEAiq went live on the AppStore in April 2012. Its developer, Mark Hayden, is a Californian computer engineer living a good part of his time with his family or alone around the world aboard his Super Maramu, the happy man.

SEAiq Open (¹) is the only application on iPad / iPhone for using vector charts ENC IHO official standards S-52, S-57 and S-63. With information database included in these charts, and update systems , SEAiq transforms the iPad into a real ECDIS (²) professionnal. Read more …

Marée.info is evolving its offering

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You know all the good things I think about this excellent application. Unfortunately, many users did not understand that the “Free” download was intended solely to allow testing of the application before subscribing to the data.. This misunderstanding caused dissatisfaction and the developer took it into account.

Since the last update, access to all tide stations is free for the current day : Read more …

iOS7 and navigation applications

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The latest version of the iOS operating system for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch have caused their share of compatibility updates. This time, with iOS7, developers have had hard work to put their interfaces in accordance. As far as we are concerned, the latest versions optimized for iOS7 to date are :

  • iNavX 3.7.0
  • iSailor 1.5.5
  • AyeTides 3.0 (iPhone) and AyeTides XL 2.0 (iPad )
  • Weather4D 1.3.2 and Weather4D PRO 1.3.7

Read more …

Navionics Marine still going strong

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Strong of 1 million applications sold for mobile devices, announcement end of April 2013, Navionics continues to offer new and more attractive options. However, the term “tempting” could sometimes rhyme with “disillusioning”.

The last option in-app available from 15 August 2013 is called NavionicsPlus. This is the fourth paid option that Navionics has added to its Navionics Marine apps for iPhone and iPad. What is it about ?

Read more …

Charting compared, a mixed result

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Croisière estivale aux BaléaresThree weeks and 600 nautical miles of sailing between the mainland and the Balearic Islands have allowed me to test in live some of iPad maritime applications we have.

Warning : There is no question of making a point-by-point comparison between applications, but rather to highlight certain essential aspects of their use. On the other hand, applications used were up-to-date at the beginning of July. Developments are rapid, and updates may have occurred in August or early September that I did not have. Finally, the messaging app iNavX associated with Navionics charting available from the X-Traverse server for me is the "master-standard" marine applications. iNavX is the most complete application in terms of features to date, and Navionics charting (from the X-Traverse server, I specify) closest to the geographical reality observed by many users.

Read more …

Marée info : SHOM tides prediction on iPhone [Update]

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Thousands of users have known about the excellent website for several years tide.info which offers the tidal times and heights of the SHOM for all the coast stations of the Channel and the Atlantic. Boaters, professional fishermen, beach fishermen, kite surfers and other relevant users visit daily the information pages of this website.

Its author, Guillaume Bolo, set about creating an app for iPhone (iPad compatible) using the content of its website, but with the particularity of providing, for a low subscription (*), tides for a whole year. The data are tidal predictions from SHOM, reproduced with permission by contract. Their reliability therefore leaves no doubt, although SHOM does not control the content before editing. Read more …

MaxSea TimeZero on iPad

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Announced for three months, The first version of TimeZero has been available for iPad for a few days. Under the brand Nobeltec, bought by Signet S.A., MaxSea holding company (¹), this free application contains a simplified design suitable for the tablet technology that has made the reputation of the French publisher.

I was waiting with curiosity for a while the position taken by MaxSea about the iPad phenomenon. The least I can say is that I am not disappointed. Read more …