[ActiveCaptain]

Is anyone else excited about the iSlate rumors and the January 26th possible announcement? It seems to me that this platform would have exceptional advantages on a boat especially with the proper mounting solutions and waterproof covers. There appears to be no moving parts with a slot for an SD card.

Of course, all of this is just rumor right now.

[cyberhusky]

I'm waiting for this since years!

If the rumors are true than Richard can already begin transferring MacENC / GPSNAvX to the Mac / iPhone tablet

http://www.cultofmac.com/january-27-even...nt=Twitter

[AugustH]

Rumors are running rampant but if it's priced right and has the form factor most say it does, then it would make for a great boat nav computer.

[brak]

If it is what it appears to be - I am going on the short list of future customers A usable tablet has been my very own dream forever (and just as forever everyone bungled this one, but I have a glimmer of hope this time).

I am working on a touch-screen version of PolarView, so depending on what it runs - that should be available for it (i.e. it will be available if it runs "real" OS X, probably not if it is an iPhone OS).

[ActiveCaptain]

A touch version of PolarView would be quite nice especially if it had multitouch zoom, pan, and rotate. As I've written privately to the developer, the display engine is very good. The user-interface has some usability issues and perhaps re-doing it would make the whole app more attractive. There are also some marketing issues.

If it all came together (which I think wouldl take a lot of work) it could become the major Mac chartplotter.

[brak]

I probably should be more careful with any future-related statements I tend to avoid talking about things that are not done yet - it's a good way to turn them into vaporware.

But the tablet thing is just too exciting, even without any connection to our software, so I could not resist.

Incidentally, I've been looking at a market of netbook-sized touchscreen handhelds over the course of last year. A few devices were promised, most never materialized. Out of the whole gamut, one device that seemed most promising for my own purposes came and went (Clarion Mind). It isn't an apples to apples comparison to Apple tablet (pardon the pun), but it was an interesting device in it's own right. It looks like the device simply failed to find a market. Apple has a lot more marketing clout and builds very cohesive products of course. Still, who knows how it will turn out.

[AugustH]

the iPhone OS is a superset of Leopard and there's little difference. Some classes are missing but others are added. The main issue most likely will be that apps may be only distributed through the App Store, so you'd have to become an iPhone developer ($99/yr) and have the app approved by Apple before anyone could get it. But all of this is sheer speculation, not even the iPhone dev community knows what's going on. We're all in the dark like everyone else!

[georgelewisray]

I have been waiting years for this. Even my wife is catching the bug and we will likely be watching the online video of the announcement together, that's a first.
I'm thinking that we will get an iPad instead of an iSlate, not sure yet.

[jagasail]

I'm curious - a lot of interest here on this, but how would a 'tablet' enhance the use of MacENC vs a standard laptop? I'm not a cynic, just a bit ignorant on tablets, and right now I'm not seeing what it would do for me specifically for navigation. If it was waterproof (not likely?) and very daylight readable, I'd be very interested, but what else is there?

Scot

[GPSNavX]

Pure speculation until Apple announces a product, but tablet will more likely be a more powerful iPhone. Bigger screen, faster processor, longer battery life. So an ideal platform to run iNavX instead of MacENC. iNavX works stand alone or works as a repeater for MacENC.

[georgelewisray]

My experience with the iPhone is that plastic ziplock bags have no effect on touch screen actions and when new very little effect of viewing. If I can slip the iPad in ziplock and use it on deck in a drizzle that is a perfect thing. To use it in downpour or gobs of flying saltwater is possible but less likely.

[Jade]

"As expected, the device also can connect to the existing App Store. It was revealed that current iPhone and iPod touch applications will work on the iPad. With just a tap, existing applications can be run in full-screen mode.

Starting today, developers will be able to access a new SDK that will allow them to test their iPhone applications with a "simulator."

[brak]

Well, this is basically a big iPod Touch then?

Unfortunately (for me, because I was really waiting for this) the proprietary processor, and the iPhone OS + store pretty much mean that there is no chance of Polar Navy apps on this thing. Too bad, I was really hoping for a different configuration.

[GPSNavX]

iNavX will run AS IS on the iPad, but rest assured that the future versions of iNavX will support the native screen resolution of the iPad. Sounds like existing users of iNavX will be able to install with out any additional cost to iPad.