NMEA Compass & ROT : support an external NMEA Compass and Rate-Of-Turn in WiFi.NMEA GPS : data support an external NMEA GPS with WiFi.ISailor now multilingual : English, Spanish, German, Russian, and even Korean (I did not know there was a market for yachting in Korea, those gaps !). It is, among others, case of iSailor ( ⁴) which presents an update offering such option. But except iNavX that, from the beginning, has fully open its application to all communication devices appearing on the market (multiplexers, AIS, etc,) incorporating a TCP / IP interface and support for NMEA0183 and NMEA2000 data, others have implemented these functions gradually, partially, and most often included paying options ( in-app). Original ideas is yet in many of these applications, the clever treatment of certain functions, or openness to communication for wireless integration with onboard instruments. Apart from Navionics, charting editor who took commercial advantage to invest all sectors of use (chartplotters, computers, tablets, smartphones), other publishers such as C-Map, Garmin, Imray charts, offer only incomplete applications, more than questionable ergonomics despite some tips, without other apparent that will be present on the tablets. The example of French MaxSea is symptomatic : announced with a lot of press in the spring 2013, the messaging app Time Zero ( ²) has not been updated since November 2013, while many functions were envisaged from the outset. I am afraid that some publishers hardly sell a few dozen copies per month, and other much less. This application can only appeal to professionals and experienced sailors who attach more importance to the technical than the aesthetic.īehind the first two applications mentioned, come… all other. Like the application iNavX, designed by a "lone developer", SEAiq ( ³) represents a special case by the wealth of features offered as standard, by the many charting formats supported (whose CM93), despite a more refined interface and some slow display. Its developer multiplies very regular updates, which assures proper positioning on the AppStore and user satisfaction, despite the questionable ergonomics certain functions. iNavX independent application remains the best-selling in the U.S., and the rest of the world through combination with Navionics cartography, particularly in France through… the strong promotion in which I contribute. In creating its new "Boating" formula supplement and / or replace "Marine" ( ¹) it probably boost sales began to out of steam. It is likely that multiple apps navigation should not favor their profitability, and the financial return on investment in development time and maintenance must not be achieved by all. After the frenzy of announcements 2013, developers seem to have stalled. The least I can say, is that the news are not rushing.
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