Anyone tried ichart for iPhone?

NUTMEG

NUTMEG

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www.theblindsailor.co.uk
I noticed a new chart package on the apps store the other day. Ichart at present just Solent but Thames folio coming out soon. I have the Navionics and like the look of it's first real competitor. Wondered if any forumites have it yet before forking out £30odd

maybe us iPhone types should form a new group?
 
£39.99, nearly 3 times the price of Navionics. Looks like it is based on the Admiralty/RYA Chartplotter and is about the same price. Keep meaning to email them to find out about updates, if you buy it on disc you are expected to update it yourself and buy a new one every 2 years. No reviews yet to judge it by.
 
yup - it's pretty good - handy for whizzing around a chart to find out where you want to go and what the distances are - I'd hestitate to use it for normal nav as 1) I've got 2 chartplotters on deck & charts below 2) battery life is limited & 3) it isn't waterproof ...
 
Navionics is worth the money as an addition to other systems. Good for planning - I don't know of any other systems that give such broad coverage and are always available in your pocket. What's the risk - the cost of a single chart?
 
Another vote in support of the Navionics chart app, I find it really useful. I am also a great fan of Shipfinder, an AIS app. I sail out of Portsmouth and it's a great app for finding out what is about.

Best wishes

HM
 
jpcarter30 said:
is the Navionics any good? I've heard different reports and I'd rather get the view of a few on here before I'd trust the reviews.
Click to expand...

Does it work - yes it does with a caveat about GPS signal when out of mobile range. But is it seriously useable - not really. It might be useful as an emergency back up to a proper plotter but really it's an interesting toy / gadget. Screen is simply too small.

Worth £10 though. Imagine the entertainment value alone during boring board meetings. :D
 
--Full Disclosure-- I'm the owner of MPD Software, and am the creator of iChart. I hope you don't mind me clearing up some of the questions about this product, i'm not trying to spam the board. If its not acceptable, i apologize, and moderators, i wont be offended if you delete the post.

iChart is not related in any way to the RYA chart system.
It is primarily a chart viewer app and each area pack contains high quality scans of all the admiralty paper charts for that area, with the additional feature of being able to store waypoints, which work across all the charts.

There are a few limited navigation features ( speed, course and position) but it is not recommended to rely on a mobile phone for your navigation needs in any circumstance!

Updates will be available on a per-chart basis as they are updated by the UKHO. This will use an in-app purchase system. Until we have this system worked out fully, all updates will be free.

if anyone wants more information, contact me at the website, www.mpdsoftware.co.uk/ichart/

Sorry again if this seems like spam, i'm genuinely just trying to answer the questions posted on the thread.

calum.
 
mpd said:
--Full Disclosure-- I'm the owner of MPD Software, and am the creator of iChart. I hope you don't mind me clearing up some of the questions about this product, i'm not trying to spam the board. If its not acceptable, i apologize, and moderators, i wont be offended if you delete the post.

iChart is not related in any way to the RYA chart system.
It is primarily a chart viewer app and each area pack contains high quality scans of all the admiralty paper charts for that area, with the additional feature of being able to store waypoints, which work across all the charts.

There are a few limited navigation features ( speed, course and position) but it is not recommended to rely on a mobile phone for your navigation needs in any circumstance!

Updates will be available on a per-chart basis as they are updated by the UKHO. This will use an in-app purchase system. Until we have this system worked out fully, all updates will be free.

if anyone wants more information, contact me at the website, www.mpdsoftware.co.uk/ichart/

Sorry again if this seems like spam, i'm genuinely just trying to answer the questions posted on the thread.

calum.
Click to expand...
Dont have a prob with you posting, BUT an obscure forum, a first time poster, who alerted you!!
Stu
 
The iChart peeps could have google alerts set up.

Anyhoo, Navionics is great for pub planning, but it does sup up the battery power as all apps do if you have the screen on for some time.

So if you want to use it on board, get a 12v charger and a bracket for your chart table

However you can't use an external gps with it, so if you are abroad you have to have data roaming switched on (which cost you money to find out where you are) as the positioning system uses mobile phone networks

Why apple won't allow a Bluetooth GPS to connect to the iPhone is a mystery :(
 
This has come up before and I can confirm again the GPS in the IPhone will work perfectly with the phone in "airplane mode" (ie the phone part and all data switched off). I have used mine like this for car satnav when abroad without problems. I have also used it on the boat while abroad with data roaming switched off.
 
I used mine (latest) extensively on our Channel Islands cruise in the summer, all the usual ports including Iles Chausey and St Malo. Roaming was off, the phone was in a locker behind Instruments on charge and I was recording the track to let me upload it later to facebook.. Was nice for SWMBO and such to keep abreast of our travels, worked really well, the only un-recorded trip was due to my own ineptitude!

Absolutely superb bit of kit, frequently sat in bars discussing our next few days sailing... out with the iphone for tides, directions, routes, distances etc., all there in the palm of your hand. Again, wouldn't use it for any primary form of nav but it whittles your ideas/plans into something workable which you can later double check with almanacs/charts etc..

It has turned into a great little cruising companion.. especially as you can use it for so many other things.. watch movies, listen/sleep to music (lots of snoring amongst my crew!), talking books, good in a dimly lit forpeak and wifi access in ports/bars/restaurants is pretty good, useful for all your quick browsing requirements i.e. news, email, weather etc.. I also have recipes/notes on mine as I am the prominent chef whilst afloat, comes in handy when your cooking for six for three weeks!
 
Because GPS apps tend to drain battery life, I use my app mostly for dinner table conversation and impulse planning. Very handy to get local info at the dock, to share routes, or just dream.
 
snooks said:
Anyhoo, Navionics is great for pub planning, but it does sup up the battery power as all apps do if you have the screen on for some time.

So if you want to use it on board, get a 12v charger and a bracket for your chart table
Click to expand...

A couple of alternatives to help keeping yout iPhone alive for longer

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet-1900mAH-External-Battery-Classic/dp/B001B214II/ref=pd_sim_ce_5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Am-105-iPhone-Solar-Charger/dp/B001RTS55A

Cheers
 
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