View Full Version : EFB - Kindle/iPad
VOR-DME[_4_]
December 14th 10, 09:18 PM
Well JEPP has released a free app for JeppView on the iPad (free if you 
already have a subscription, of course). There are plenty of reviews out 
there for different tablets serving as EFB's, but from what I've seen 
the reviews focus on functions and navigation ease. I have not seen any 
serious discussion as to which type of display really works in the 
cockpit.
The bi-stable or "e-print" type of display, as in the Kindle, is like a 
book. It is not backlit, and is great in full sunlight. The iPad is of 
course backlit, and is useable at night, but may be hard to read in 
bright daylight. In the cockpit, of course, we do both. We fly in bright 
light and we fly at night. Statistically, we do more bright daylight 
flying, even IFR, than night. I've never used a Kindle, but I'm guessing 
at night you need to shine a light on it, just like a paper chart. My 
cockpit is set up to be able to light charts at night. I have used 
plenty of computers etc in the day, and it's true in bright daylight 
they can be hard to see.
Anyone have opinions or experience to suggest where we're going with 
this?
tscottme
December 15th 10, 12:20 PM
"VOR-DME" > wrote in message 
...
> Well JEPP has released a free app for JeppView on the iPad (free if you
> already have a subscription, of course). There are plenty of reviews out
> there for different tablets serving as EFB's, but from what I've seen
> the reviews focus on functions and navigation ease. I have not seen any
> serious discussion as to which type of display really works in the
> cockpit.
>
> The bi-stable or "e-print" type of display, as in the Kindle, is like a
> book. It is not backlit, and is great in full sunlight. The iPad is of
> course backlit, and is useable at night, but may be hard to read in
> bright daylight. In the cockpit, of course, we do both. We fly in bright
> light and we fly at night. Statistically, we do more bright daylight
> flying, even IFR, than night. I've never used a Kindle, but I'm guessing
> at night you need to shine a light on it, just like a paper chart. My
> cockpit is set up to be able to light charts at night. I have used
> plenty of computers etc in the day, and it's true in bright daylight
> they can be hard to see.
>
> Anyone have opinions or experience to suggest where we're going with
> this?
>
I haven't used the Jepp product but I've had my Kindle for about a year. 
It's awesome for books and free internet surfing at no additional charge. 
The display is very comfortable to stare at for long periods.  You are right 
you would need a light to read the Kindle at night.  The most widely used 
accessory light for Kindles are the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 clip-on light. 
It runs on 3 AAA batteries for approximately forever.  This version, versus 
the Mighty Bright Flex, has 2 bright LEDs and the ability to shine one, two, 
or no light.  I typically always use the high setting.  The Kindle does 
better the more light you throw on it, like paper.  And if the old eye elves 
visit you you'll really appreciate the extra light.  I tried using some of 
my collection of cockpit flexible neck flashlights and the Mighty Bright2 is 
much better suited for the Kindle.  Virtually everyone, including me, 
underestimates the readability and comfort of the screen until they use one. 
It's far more comfortable to look at for long duration than a laptop since 
it reflects light and doesn't project light.  I have the Kindle2, prior to 
this current version, and the current model's screen is widely reviewed as 
being a bit better in contrast and clarity by a small amount versus my model
If anyone else is considering a Kindle, I'd highly recommend the wi-fi/3G 
model unless you are absolutely 100% sure you will never be out of wi-fi 
range.  The $139 wi-fi only model is being bought in larger numbers than the 
wi-fi/3G version and new users are being surprised that it only downloads 
books and surfs the web near a wi-fi hotspot.  This is the first year a 
Kindle version is available that doesn't include the cellphone connection so 
older users are raving about their Kindle and neophytes are buying the 
cheapest version and getting surprised.  BTW, it connects to the Sprint data 
network.  I surf the web about 2 hours per day on mine including places 
where there are more cows than cellphones and data is easy to come by.  Did 
I mention no monthly fee or data charge?  It is awesome to get a new book in 
about a second after you press "buy."  You can carry the FAR/AIM plus any 
text files you want to download.  If you have a aviation weather site you 
prefer tell me and I'll give you my impression of what the radar map looks 
like on the Kindle screen.  Kindle is only greyscale and some of the weather 
radar maps show up essentially as monochrome, some others have sufficent 
color gradient to work on the Kindle.
It is about as heavy, minus the light, as one or two of the old TV Guide 
magazines.  It's is about as think as a yellow legal pad.  Battery life with 
"wireless" turned off is a week or two.  The one thing I'd want to change is 
the labels on the keyboard keys are small.  In turbulence I'd expect I'd 
have some difficulty, with my old prescription glasses, seeing the qwerty 
keyboard as readily as I'd like.  I suspect the new model is a bit better in 
this regard since it has a graphite grey case with white letters while my 
model is off-white with grey letters.
-- 
Scott
What's the difference between California voters and the passengers on the 
Titanic?
 - The passengers on the Titanic didn't vote to hit the iceberg. (Dennis 
Prager)
Gulfside
December 16th 10, 04:27 PM
I've been using the iPad 3g with Foreflight for the last six months. 
Check out the Foreflight web site for features.
    Tried many "PFD's" over the years, The iPad/Foreflight is miraculous. 
Annnndddd, for only $75.00 per year for Foreflight subscription,  my Jepp 
days are finally over!  My charts / plates now update automatically rather 
than hunt and tear; that alone is priceless.  The other features are simply 
too numerous to list.  The cost of iPad and Foreflight subscription is 
considerably less than annual Jepp subscription. Charts are finally becoming 
a commodity.
"tscottme" > wrote in message 
...
> "VOR-DME" > wrote in message 
> ...
>> Well JEPP has released a free app for JeppView on the iPad (free if you
>> already have a subscription, of course). There are plenty of reviews out
>> there for different tablets serving as EFB's, but from what I've seen
>> the reviews focus on functions and navigation ease. I have not seen any
>> serious discussion as to which type of display really works in the
>> cockpit.
>>
>> The bi-stable or "e-print" type of display, as in the Kindle, is like a
>> book. It is not backlit, and is great in full sunlight. The iPad is of
>> course backlit, and is useable at night, but may be hard to read in
>> bright daylight. In the cockpit, of course, we do both. We fly in bright
>> light and we fly at night. Statistically, we do more bright daylight
>> flying, even IFR, than night. I've never used a Kindle, but I'm guessing
>> at night you need to shine a light on it, just like a paper chart. My
>> cockpit is set up to be able to light charts at night. I have used
>> plenty of computers etc in the day, and it's true in bright daylight
>> they can be hard to see.
>>
>> Anyone have opinions or experience to suggest where we're going with
>> this?
>>
>
>
> I haven't used the Jepp product but I've had my Kindle for about a year. 
> It's awesome for books and free internet surfing at no additional charge. 
> The display is very comfortable to stare at for long periods.  You are 
> right you would need a light to read the Kindle at night.  The most widely 
> used accessory light for Kindles are the Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 clip-on 
> light. It runs on 3 AAA batteries for approximately forever.  This 
> version, versus the Mighty Bright Flex, has 2 bright LEDs and the ability 
> to shine one, two, or no light.  I typically always use the high setting. 
> The Kindle does better the more light you throw on it, like paper.  And if 
> the old eye elves visit you you'll really appreciate the extra light.  I 
> tried using some of my collection of cockpit flexible neck flashlights and 
> the Mighty Bright2 is much better suited for the Kindle.  Virtually 
> everyone, including me, underestimates the readability and comfort of the 
> screen until they use one. It's far more comfortable to look at for long 
> duration than a laptop since it reflects light and doesn't project light. 
> I have the Kindle2, prior to this current version, and the current model's 
> screen is widely reviewed as being a bit better in contrast and clarity by 
> a small amount versus my model
>
> If anyone else is considering a Kindle, I'd highly recommend the wi-fi/3G 
> model unless you are absolutely 100% sure you will never be out of wi-fi 
> range.  The $139 wi-fi only model is being bought in larger numbers than 
> the wi-fi/3G version and new users are being surprised that it only 
> downloads books and surfs the web near a wi-fi hotspot.  This is the first 
> year a Kindle version is available that doesn't include the cellphone 
> connection so older users are raving about their Kindle and neophytes are 
> buying the cheapest version and getting surprised.  BTW, it connects to 
> the Sprint data network.  I surf the web about 2 hours per day on mine 
> including places where there are more cows than cellphones and data is 
> easy to come by.  Did I mention no monthly fee or data charge?  It is 
> awesome to get a new book in about a second after you press "buy."  You 
> can carry the FAR/AIM plus any text files you want to download.  If you 
> have a aviation weather site you prefer tell me and I'll give you my 
> impression of what the radar map looks like on the Kindle screen.  Kindle 
> is only greyscale and some of the weather radar maps show up essentially 
> as monochrome, some others have sufficent color gradient to work on the 
> Kindle.
>
> It is about as heavy, minus the light, as one or two of the old TV Guide 
> magazines.  It's is about as think as a yellow legal pad.  Battery life 
> with "wireless" turned off is a week or two.  The one thing I'd want to 
> change is the labels on the keyboard keys are small.  In turbulence I'd 
> expect I'd have some difficulty, with my old prescription glasses, seeing 
> the qwerty keyboard as readily as I'd like.  I suspect the new model is a 
> bit better in this regard since it has a graphite grey case with white 
> letters while my model is off-white with grey letters.
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> Scott
>
> What's the difference between California voters and the passengers on the 
> Titanic?
> - The passengers on the Titanic didn't vote to hit the iceberg. (Dennis 
> Prager)
>
>
>
tscottme
January 21st 11, 12:31 PM
"Peter" > wrote in message 
...
> As far as I can see, the Kindle has no directory (folder) support, so
> it is no good for organising any data.
>
> If one could connect it to a PC (using wifi perhaps) and drag/drop a
> directory structure onto it, it would have a lot of uses.
>
> As it stands, it is useful only with dedicated apps, or with data
> organised as indexed PDFs and not too many of them...
>
It has folders, they are called "collections".  You create, delete, and 
access them through the Home page, just as you would pick a book to read.
You can also make AZW files that link to other locations and files and 
transfer the AZW file to the Kindle.
-- 
Scott
The big surprise with the current president is not so much that he is 
incompetent, inexperienced and divisive, but the extent to which he is all 
of those things, and the extent to which anyone is surprised. It's not like 
there weren't enough warning signs on the way in, all of which were 
summarily dismissed. - Jules Crittenden
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