www.iFourWinns.com

You may have gotten the marketing email from Navionics touting the launch of 2.0 for the iPhone. I had no intention of getting this but at $4.99 I couldn't resist. And I gotta say, it's fantastic. It emulates the Navionics Gold charts with all the POI data including tides and currents. That was worth the five bucks right there as the free tide apps for the iPhone don't cut it for me. I already have a backup, portable GPS with all of the chart data, but having the charts and info on the device that's always on me will definitely come in handy (or let me kill time when away from the boat or a computer checking out various waterways). And as you would expect from the iPhone, if you tap on a POI like a marina and there is a phone number associated with it, you can dial directly from the app.

It seems to be a little buggy, occasionally quitting, but if you have an iPhone and want a cool, portable chart & marine info utility, it's totally worth the money IMHO.

Some screen shots:



(I have no connection to this product other than that I just bought it and I'm passing on my thoughts)

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

Has anyone found an app for the Blackberry Storm?

Which has piss-poor coverage out on the water around here. No point in even bothering with it. Since the charts HAVE to come from the network you'd be screwed when it's not available.

There's also an app from Active Captain that keeps charts on the phone. I've used it on my Windows Mobile phone and it's handy. I prefer to have the waterproof and daylight sun readable Raymarine unit in the helm for actual navigation though. Handheld stuff is too susceptible to damage and hard to see out on a boat.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Incorrect. All data lives on the phone.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

I am thinking of downloading this, but before I throw 5 bucks into the wind, I want to ask a couple questions.

1. Does it allow me to make and save a track? Say I am at an unfamiliar lake. I want to make a track (and save it on the screen) of my course from the ramp to another spot or spots on the lake. Its the end of the day, where am I? Can I just follow my track back to the marina?

2. Can I mark places (I guess they are called waypoints?) on the map? Lets say we have a normal cove we hang at. Can I go to that cove and drop a flag of where I am and name it?

I am a total GPS system noob/dork/idiot with basically no luck on the couple I have tried in the past. They seem to complicated (the portable hand held ones).

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

1. Yes

2. Yes

It will also give you a GPS speedo and your bearing as you navigate the waters.

If you are getting it for an iPhone, I'd suggest going to the app in iTunes and reading up on it there.

Biggest thing performance-wise that I've noticed is that it can sometimes get a little buggy and shut itself off. However, a restart of the iPhone has cleared that up for me any time it has happened. Other thing is that a non 3G phone signal can affect performance because it is not a "pure" GPS system. It also uses the phone signal to help triangulate your position.

Overall, I've been very pleased with it. Especially for only $5.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

I work for the evil empire (in the mobile world even) - and I'm still contemplating getting an iPhone just for stuff like this...

It'll be a little while before we give the iPhone a run for it's money. But if what I'm working on has anything to say about it, it'll definitely give the iPhone a run for it's money.


I totally dig the app store and what people are coming up with. Just amazing.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Around here the coverage for AT&T is abysmal. Thus I use a WM6 XV6800 on Verizon. There are a whole range of apps for it, including Active Captain. But other than the Live Search app I don't really need much else. No amount of advertising hype and crappy apps makes it worth putting up with a terrible network.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I agree - and thats why my iPhone is UNLOCKED and running 3.0 on T-Mobile...oh yeah, and my MMS works, unlike the "hype" ATT is telling people. Buy the phone now and we will turn on the MMS later...good luck with all that.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Its works great on my phone in poor signal areas. It does have a disclaimer stating if you are "Mr Negative" please do not download.

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Whose data network coverage is likewise abysmal is the places I'd need to use it (like out on the water).

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista