I posted a reply to a different thread where one issue was changing the screen blackout on an iPad, and I thought I would post my recommendations regarding using the iPad on the boat. I've been using the iPad with Navionics for the past month, and the more I use it the more I like it. Here are some things I have done to make using it on my boat more convenient.
Change the timeout setting for your screen. Mine was defaulted to 2 minutes, so the screen kept going black while I was underway. I changed it to 15 minutes as follows. Go to: Settings >> General >> Auto-Lock >> and select 15 minutes. [Your Auto-Lock options are 2, 5, 10, 15 minutes, and NEVER. I'm reluctant to use "Never," as I fear leaving the iPad unattended and running its battery down.]
I was pleased to find that wearing polarized sunglasses actually makes the screen easier to read. I have had no problems reading the screen. Now that I know I like it I am going to build a shield for it to keep out direct sunlight. That should help keep it cool this summer.
Connect the iPad to your 12 volt adapter after the engine(s) is started and keep it on the boat's power. Using the GPS can really run down the built-in battery on the iPad.
Get spare chargers (DC and AC) and extra sync cables. I shopped around on *Bay and found some charger kits for iPhones and iPads. I settled on a kit with a larger 110 volt charger (the iPad needs more amps than an iPhone), plus a 2-port car charger (cigarette lighter adapter) with two additional sync cables. Make sure to look for "free shipping." These are so handy (and inexpensive) I am buying a few more. This way I can leave an adapter in each of our cars and two on the boat (one to loan to friends in need - it's amazing how many iPhone/iPad users forget to bring their chargers on a weekend trip...). Ditto with a couple of cables and a 110 adapter to use when on shore power.
Another little thing - I took address labels (we use the clear plastic ones with black type on them) and put one on every one of the power adapters. That way if we loan them out or accidentally leave them on someone else's boat, it's easy to identify and return them.
I found a waterproof iPhone case on sale, and now when I am on the boat I put the iPhone in the case and use it with an inexpensive bluetooth headset. Siri makes it easy to make and receive calls and more. I once had an iPod fall out of my shirt pocket into 25 feet of saltwater - I hope not to make that mistake again.
If anyone else has more good ideas, please post them here!
Hope you find this useful,
Rob
Change the timeout setting for your screen. Mine was defaulted to 2 minutes, so the screen kept going black while I was underway. I changed it to 15 minutes as follows. Go to: Settings >> General >> Auto-Lock >> and select 15 minutes. [Your Auto-Lock options are 2, 5, 10, 15 minutes, and NEVER. I'm reluctant to use "Never," as I fear leaving the iPad unattended and running its battery down.]
I was pleased to find that wearing polarized sunglasses actually makes the screen easier to read. I have had no problems reading the screen. Now that I know I like it I am going to build a shield for it to keep out direct sunlight. That should help keep it cool this summer.
Connect the iPad to your 12 volt adapter after the engine(s) is started and keep it on the boat's power. Using the GPS can really run down the built-in battery on the iPad.
Get spare chargers (DC and AC) and extra sync cables. I shopped around on *Bay and found some charger kits for iPhones and iPads. I settled on a kit with a larger 110 volt charger (the iPad needs more amps than an iPhone), plus a 2-port car charger (cigarette lighter adapter) with two additional sync cables. Make sure to look for "free shipping." These are so handy (and inexpensive) I am buying a few more. This way I can leave an adapter in each of our cars and two on the boat (one to loan to friends in need - it's amazing how many iPhone/iPad users forget to bring their chargers on a weekend trip...). Ditto with a couple of cables and a 110 adapter to use when on shore power.
Another little thing - I took address labels (we use the clear plastic ones with black type on them) and put one on every one of the power adapters. That way if we loan them out or accidentally leave them on someone else's boat, it's easy to identify and return them.
I found a waterproof iPhone case on sale, and now when I am on the boat I put the iPhone in the case and use it with an inexpensive bluetooth headset. Siri makes it easy to make and receive calls and more. I once had an iPod fall out of my shirt pocket into 25 feet of saltwater - I hope not to make that mistake again.
If anyone else has more good ideas, please post them here!
Hope you find this useful,
Rob
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