Apple or Android for boating app?

[pessimist]

I'm posting this here because I'm looking specifically at boating apps. Not trying to start a war about the merits of either system (or even Windows), but which system do you use for your boating apps.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I use Apple. For me, the integration between my Mac and iOS on iPhone and iPad makes everything simple. Not everyone's choice but works for me.

I hated Android, had all the hallmarks of something designed by 100 committees where it was almost seamless everywhere but fact was a sea of cracks and joins. Others love it.

 

[Yngmar]

Uhm. Linux?

I've found the sandboxed and locked down world of IOSdroid rather annoying and restrictive. Apps are expensive and limited (for example, buying the Navionics chart app with UK charts does not entitle you to use the charts you bought in any other app - you get to buy them again [for more]) if you wanted to use iNavX. Then, when you finally have it all working like you want, the OS stops receiving updates for your device but your apps current version requires you to have the latest OS version - so now you get to buy a new tablet and throw away one that was working perfectly fine - stupid.

I also often found myself unable to do really basic stuff, like see what's going on with a USB-serial port or even access one at all, which made troubleshooting needlessly difficult. So I gave up on those things (I still use an ancient iPad1 for watching movies, mostly because it refuses to die) but that's about it - it's pretty useless for internet surfing, as the ancient browser crashes on many sites and Apple has long since stopped providing even security updates.

Instead, my Nav desk has an old cheap Thinkpad from eBay that runs some kind of Linux (doesn't really matter which - even Windows would do, if it didn't randomly decide to pester you with updates and reboots at the worst possible time), OpenCPN and kplex. It puts both the raw NMEA data on the boat Wifi, and also lets any other device share its screen (VNC), so I can have it on a (dumb) tablet in the cockpit (that's the other thing those are good for - remote viewing) or anywhere else. I did briefly wonder if there are any chartplotters that have VNC clients built in now?

Of course I'm a recovering computer nerd, so YMMV ;-)

 

[PaulRainbow]

OepnCPN on my Windoze laptop and MX mariner on an Android tablet.

 

[GHA]

No linux choice?

Even if the choice of android hadn't been made decades ago with not being able to afford anything apple, not having opencpn on a tablet would swing it away from an ipad for me.
System is raspberry pi down below spitting out nmea/signalK with ais,gps and engine temperature data to a Xperia tablet in the cockpit.

 

[pessimist]

No linux choice?

Even if the choice of android hadn't been made decades ago with not being able to afford anything apple, not having opencpn on a tablet would swing it away from an ipad for me.
System is raspberry pi down below spitting out nmea/signalK with ais,gps and engine temperature data to a Xperia tablet in the cockpit.

Sorry, I was really thinking of handheld devices - tablets and 'phones. No problems with Linux - we switched the whole company around 10 years ago. We also run our boat systems on RPI and Arduino.

 

[TangaraToo]

I've used both Android and Apple. Not a huge amount in it but Apple just seems to be a little smoother and faster - Navionics and tide/weather apps.

 

[howard easton]

Instead, my Nav desk has an old cheap Thinkpad from eBay that runs some kind of Linux (doesn't really matter which - even Windows would do, if it didn't randomly decide to pester you with updates and reboots at the worst possible time), OpenCPN and kplex. It puts both the raw NMEA data on the boat Wifi, and also lets any other device share its screen (VNC), so I can have it on a (dumb) tablet in the cockpit (that's the other thing those are good for - remote viewing) or anywhere else. I did briefly wonder if there are any chartplotters that have VNC clients built in now?

Of course I'm a recovering computer nerd, so YMMV ;-)

I dont know what you mean by a VNC client so I am guessing. My B&G plotter certainly allows access and limited control from my tablet on deck if thats what you were asking about.

Like you I also use an old thinkpad that refuses to die.

 

[Iminei]

Android, simply because I already had a couple of tablets both of which have GPS built in. Have tried Marine Navigator (because I already had a VMH licence for the charts from the desktop), OpenCPN (with openseamap charts, and Navionics. They all have their limitations.

 

[dunedin]

Android phone and Apple tablet. I specifically do not want forced synchronisation of everything across devices and cloud - I choose what I synchronise, which also means safer as fallback devices

 

[tudorsailor]

I have an aversion to things Apple

So Android phone in my pocket, small Sony Xperia at the helm and big Samsung tablet below all able to repeat from the Raymarine or run Navionics independently

Also have PC with Windows and OpenCPN

TS

 

[prv]

I dont know what you mean by a VNC client so I am guessing. My B&G plotter certainly allows access and limited control from my tablet on deck if thats what you were asking about.

No, he was wondering whether any plotter allows you to remotely connect to a computer and view and control whatever is running there, while sitting in front of the plotter.

I'm almost certain the answer is no. It would be fairly easy for them to provide, modern plotters are basically just Linux computers, but something like this is completely outside their mindset.

Pete

 

[Yngmar]

I dont know what you mean by a VNC client so I am guessing. My B&G plotter certainly allows access and limited control from my tablet on deck if thats what you were asking about.

Thanks, that's interesting information. I meant the other way around though - the chartplotter connecting to the OpenCPN laptop below, so that I can view and control it from the waterproof chartplotter.

 

[freespiritdavid]

I needed to get a new phone so gone for Samsung again. In the process the galley slave noticed the nice clear larger screen on my new phone, she ditched her iphone for one the same as me......... knew she would wake up to the fact I know best and have always detested the apple brand.

 

[LadyInBed]

I used to use Ocpn on a Windows notepad as a backup system, but when Ocpn became available on Android I put it on my tablet and phone and now use those as backup.
Because of the low power consumption I often leave one of them down in the saloon plotting away to itself (using old CM93 charts).