Thread: Apple iPad

You're right, jr4284, here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhj8S...layer_embedded

Yep that guys got talent. Unfortunately for the iPad, it cannot be charged with that adapter, it no longer fits into its custom built cradle, and the feared tangled mess of wires is starting to appear...

camera adapter > USB Male A to Male B cord > cables 2 go optical adapter > optical cord > digital amplifier > digital amplifier wiring

All of a sudden high quality audio hookup is starting to look suspiciously similar to a genuine car computer.

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Also just wanted to note the iPad uses A-GPS technology which, in my real life experience is remarkably horrible compared to an authentic GPS chipset like the SiRFstar III used in my carPC. The A-GPS technology can be off by thousands of feet at times while the SiRF is off by a foot or two at the most. There is a reason manufacturers of "real" car, boat and airplane navigation instrumentation to not use the A-GPS technology.

A few weeks ago while flying a Cessna 172, I tried to use the A-GPS technology on my iPhone at 2000 ft altitude and the results were nothing short of laughable.

I honestly think in the end that people are going to regret the iPad for trying so hard to make it something it's not.

I'll bet many dollars that your GPS unit is RARELY within 2 feet accuracy. It's not MIL-GPS, nor differential GPS. You'd be amazed to look at the NMEA data that gets spit out and see the jumps when it finds/drops satellites. I tried walking around a building and had 40 ft discontinuities.

... that's why the whole "use GPS to autonomously drive your car" thing ain't happening any time soon.

(That said, differential GPS is progressing rapidly, albeit expensively, and it is highly accurate to within a few inches consistently. You also need a network of surveyed beacon locations along your route, though.)

but on topic, yes, I agree it's way too difficult to be getting optical out of the iPad. You CAN do all of that stuff to the setup using my bezel though .

Originally Posted by blk02si

All of a sudden high quality audio hookup is starting to look suspiciously similar to a genuine car computer.

True, after all, he wants digital out...I don't use that with my carputer, my oem has no digital in...So how is that so bad? Anything against carputers?




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Also just wanted to note the iPad uses A-GPS technology which, in my real life experience is remarkably horrible compared to an authentic GPS chipset like the SiRFstar III used in my carPC. The A-GPS technology can be off by thousands of feet at times while the SiRF is off by a foot or two at the most. There is a reason manufacturers of "real" car, boat and airplane navigation instrumentation to not use the A-GPS technology.

A few weeks ago while flying a Cessna 172, I tried to use the A-GPS technology on my iPhone at 2000 ft altitude and the results were nothing short of laughable.

I honestly think in the end that people are going to regret the iPad for trying so hard to make it something it's not.

This may be true of early iPhones, but not the 3Gs. Also it's not true of the iPad 3G at all. It has a-gps, and also a regular gps chip.

I launch google earth, go to my house, the icon showing my location follows me around the house, office, kitchen, family room, etc. That's 5m or better accuracy.

It's actually better than my old USB Garmin, which was very picky inside the garage with the door open, not to mention inside the house.

BTW, my qstartz BT890 also has A-gps, it's there to make locking faster. So there's nothing wrong with a-gps per se.

I can second that. The gps on the iPhone 3G stinks but I've found the iPad gps to be better and more stable. Not incredible, but absolutely usable for what most people do-navigate using gps.

Originally Posted by RipplingHurst

True, after all, he wants digital out...I don't use that with my carputer, my oem has no digital in...So how is that so bad? Anything against carputers?

No. Wires and / or wiring harnesses do not scare me, and are the foundation of any real audio system. One of the arguments of the "greatness" of the iPad is little or no wiring required, which sound man clearly shows is just not the case if you want to push your system with something more than a headphone jack.

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About the GPS, I am just relaying what I see under normal outdoor conditions, and if you really want a good laugh, cancel your 3G service and see how good your GPS works Without the monthly service contract all of a sudden the iPad is not as attractive. Personally I cannot imagine paying $50 a month to have my car computer "just work" but to each their own.

I'm really surprised the fan base doesn't see the monthly fee's associated with operating an iPad as a serious disadvantage. (thoughts of traveling down Lakeshore rd, temporarily joining Rodgers Canada and being billed $15.36/Mb as I'm streaming Pandora and Google Maps cross my mind...)

Call me old fashioned but I like being able to navigate and listen to the radio without a bill showing up at my door every month.

Originally Posted by blk02si

About the GPS, I am just relaying what I see under normal outdoor conditions, and if you really want a good laugh, cancel your 3G service and see how good your GPS works Without the monthly service contract all of a sudden the iPad is not as attractive. Personally I cannot imagine paying $50 a month to have my car computer "just work" but to each their own.

I'm really surprised the fan base doesn't see the monthly fee's associated with operating an iPad as a serious disadvantage. (thoughts of traveling down Lakeshore rd, temporarily joining Rodgers Canada and being billed $15.36/Mb as I'm streaming Pandora and Google Maps cross my mind...)

Call me old fashioned but I like being able to navigate and listen to the radio without a bill showing up at my door every month.

I think you're confused. I don't pay for a 3G service, but that doesn't mean I don't have A-GPS helping with getting lock for GPS. Zero monthly fees, thanks.

To preempt the "then how do you listen to Pandora in the car" question, tethering. Not all of us have iPhones, and those that do can 1-click jailbreak and use MiWi. I use ~2-3 GB of data on my phone a month, so no way in hell was I doing a pay-as-you-go service, or coughing up $30 for another unlimited plan. Remember, any mini SIM will fit. I've heard people have had success with using T-Mobile data plans for $5.99/mo unlimited. I'm actually considering that, as tethering is a step I'm not very fond of.

(Edit, supposedly you can get onto T-Mobile's EDGE network w/ that plan, but not onto their 3G network.)

I think the confusion lies on your end because what you are saying is you indeed have/need 3G but you are attaining it through your iPhone tether as opposed to directly getting it through the iPad. Perhaps you can lock on a GPS signal without 3G(?), but then how does one use google maps since you need to download map data as you go. I'm just saying that without internet connectivity the iPad functionality is severely crippled.

For GPS I dont' use google maps, I use one of the several apps for the iPhone/iPad. And no, I'm not confused. The 3G chip is still active and has a signal even if you do not have/pay for a data plan. If you try to use it, it pops up, "let's get you signed up!" type crap.

You have pretty much full functionality sans Pandora without the internet on the iPad, if you define it as: audio, GPS, digital gauges + data logging.