iPad : new support for iNavX ?

Can not join the chorus of comments about’iPad that Apple presented yesterday. As far as we are concerned, for us yachtsmen, this new touch pad does not seem to represent anything other than an iPod Touch bigger screen, and yet that is its whole interest !

The model we are interested with, equipped with the WiFi and the 3G, and with a Integrated GPS, should be available in France in June. However, We will have to wait until this time to know the operators' offers, Knowing that unlimited 3G connection is included in some iPhone plans, but not in all, how much will it cost ?

Actually, will we need the cellular network (GPRS/3G) for the use of GPS at sea ? Nothing is less certain : an iPhone without a network is positioned correctly with its built-in GPS. The iPad's A-GPS chipset may have a more powerful antenna than the iPhone's that will allow you to properly pick up satellite emissions without assistance. There are a few weeks left to keep an eye on the websites (*) who will dissect the beast to learn more about its components.

The iPad already allows you to run iNavX, because all applications are compatible from AppStore, which Richard Ray confirms to us :

"iNavX runs as is on the iPad, but be assured that future versions of iNavX will support native screen resolution of iPad. iNavX will be able to be installed by existing users [on iPhone] at no extra cost on the iPad. ”

Apple has planned to synchronize applications already purchased for an iPhone with the iPad via the iTunes application, so no need to pay for iNavX again, AyeTides and our others favorites apps. The question is what will be the policy on commercial Fugawi charts Navionics Gold already purchased on x-traverse.com for iPhone ? Amanda Holt, Sales Manager, quickly answered me to this question :

"Navionics charts are licensed for a single device. If a customer wishes to move his charts to install it another device, We are able to accommodate that.
Other charts of the site www.x-traverse.com, such as CHS Digital or NV Verlag, are licensed for two devices. ”

So we know where we stand.

With its 9.7″ (24,6cm wide) diagonal, its small footprint and its lowest power need, the iPad will certainly interest owners of small boats who were hesitant to take a bulky and energy-hungry laptop.

Moreover, Apple has planned to provide an optional USB and SD Card adapter for the Dock connector. This should open up the possibility of connecting a GPS and other external instruments via USB, and why not Navionics charts if this company decides to provide an OS compatible driver 3 for its mapping on SD Card. (View article Navionics does not know the crisis…).

Attendons l’été prochain pour voir si l’iPad rencontre le succès auprès des navigateurs. For my own, I think this tablet will make a real revolution on the chart tables, si ses performances sont au rendez-vous. It represents, de toute façon, a particularly economical alternative to get a Mac onboard (ou même d’un PC) pour la navigation maritime de plaisance.

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(*) phoneWreck, iFixit