Your most useful Android apps

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FairweatherDave

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As one of the newbies to tablets and specifically android tablets now seems a good time to ask what apps people like using on their boats.
I found this online
http://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/14-tablet-navigation-apps-17096
but the forum also have a wealth of experience. From the article MXMariner looks targetted at me.
I guess non-boaty recommendations of general interest preferably free apps are welcome too.
 
Memory Map- (went round the UK on it-)
Anchor Watch
Tune-In Radio (better than the BEEB version)
Wind Guru- not as baffling as it looks!
UB Reader
Moon Reader
FB Reader
Akido REader (none work with all books)
View Ranger for walking/cycle maps off line
Nav Free (NavMi) for offline road Sat Nav
 
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I have:

One of the internet AIS viewers - several to choose from, all free. I have Marine Traffic.
A proper AIS display if you have wifi-AIS - several to choose from, all free. I have several.
Filmon
Netflix
Mobdro (only installed yesterday)
Navionics Boating HD
OpenCPN (great for AIS as well)
Tune-In radio
Anchor Watch Pro
Navionics Ski Maps (free if you have Boating)
PocketGrib
Kindle

Richard
 
I'm a fan of MX Mariner on my phone, but on my tablet it's not so good - you get a bigger view of the area but the moment you zoom in the (raster) charts start to blur... I'd go Navionics I think....

RichardS has it bang on with Kindle app - for me it's the killer app for my tablet (Hudl2) :encouragement:

For more sailing related apps Windguru (as mentioned), Windfinder, GPS Essentials & Tides Near Me.
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. Really useful. Will need time to work through them. Appreciate your point about MX Mariner, Fantasie 19.
MarkDJ was that "My tide times pro"?
 
Spyro said:
Drag Queen...Honest it's a boating app.
Click to expand...

Okay, I'm gonna bite! Actually I know it is a good app, I've seen it around. But my real question is how do you know which apps are genuine,"honest", and which apps could be stealing your ID, personal info etc. Obviously there are the popular apps which I have no concerns about but there are billions I could never know. Is it neccessary to load something like Nortons anti virus. I don't understand the "app permissions" bit yet (and don't really use any apps on my phone so this is all new to me). So much to learn!
 
FairweatherDave said:
Okay, I'm gonna bite! Actually I know it is a good app, I've seen it around. But my real question is how do you know which apps are genuine,"honest", and which apps could be stealing your ID, personal info etc. Obviously there are the popular apps which I have no concerns about but there are billions I could never know. Is it neccessary to load something like Nortons anti virus. I don't understand the "app permissions" bit yet (and don't really use any apps on my phone so this is all new to me). So much to learn!
Click to expand...

Your vanilla phone came loaded with data leaching apps already.... In theory 'Playsore' apps are safe(?) Sideloaded APK apps less so.

It was the Facebook permissions that first made me back out- location/data/pictures/documents/browsing history/etc/etc.... (You can in theory use a permissions app to turn off things you dislike)
 
NickRobinson said:
Your vanilla phone came loaded with data leaching apps already.... In theory 'Playsore' apps are safe(?) Sideloaded APK apps less so)
Click to expand...

Genuinely appreciate your answer. I have googled vanilla android and side loaded apk apps. Interesting! Sounds like stick to using Google play store or whatever it is called is a safe easy route for the moment.
Re Facebook I have avoided that so far...... But all the children and wife do it on the iPads. PAH!!
 
FairweatherDave said:
Genuinely appreciate your answer. I have googled vanilla android and side loaded apk apps. Interesting! Sounds like stick to using Google play store or whatever it is called is a safe easy route for the moment.
Re Facebook I have avoided that so far...... But all the children and wife do it on the iPads. PAH!!
Click to expand...

The moment you turn your phone on "they" know exactly where you are, and your Google id will give them the rest of the information they want... trust me - they already know exactly what you're doing... :D
 
Barometer+ I think, though there are several similar. Have not used in anger over winter,
Best Knots etc if you cant remember !
Various weather ones, though some are just web pages of course.I like passageweather.com
Navionics+ must be the only bargain relating to boats-HUGE chart areas.

Skype,Whatsapp,Evernote.
 
Fantasie 19 said:
I'm a fan of MX Mariner on my phone, but on my tablet it's not so good - you get a bigger view of the area but the moment you zoom in the (raster) charts start to blur...
Click to expand...

In my experience that happens when it fails to realise that a smaller scale chart is available and keeps zooming in to a larger scale one. I found a couple of places were that happened last year and emailed the developer who fixed the issues almost at once - he seems very keen to receive and act on user feedback.

Also, it costs peanuts, which is nice.
 
JumbleDuck said:
In my experience that happens when it fails to realise that a smaller scale chart is available and keeps zooming in to a larger scale one. I found a couple of places were that happened last year and emailed the developer who fixed the issues almost at once - he seems very keen to receive and act on user feedback.

Also, it costs peanuts, which is nice.
Click to expand...

Agreed, and I love it so that's useful info.. thanks...
 
Since we don't seem to be strictly sticking to sailing apps. A must-have favourite of mine is "The Photographer's Ephemeris" (TPE). As a sailor you can regard it as an "enriched" way of getting sun and moon rise and set info. As a photographer you can get it to tell you the height and direction of the sun at any point on the planet at any time. AND - it's dead easy to use - just plonk a position on the map and get view the results. I use it every time I go out to take pictures, and even use it to think months in advance: e.g. is there a day on which I can get the sun setting behind that lighthouse?

(Forgive if not nautical enough.)
 
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