Perfect all-in-one sailing gadget, the iPhone - Part 3

So many ’Apps’ - but some are good for sailing Mark Cherrington

iPhone’s new operating system, just out © SW

Future developments:
In mid-June, Apple released the iPhone 3.0 operating system. It works with all previous generations of the iPhone, and is a significant upgrade. All the programs reviewed here work with both the previous 2.2 OS and the new 3.0 OS.

Based on the timing of Apple’s iPhone OS releases over the past two years, there’s likely to be some interim upgrades of OS 3.0 to address the inevitable bugs that will show up, and probably an OS 4 release in about a year.

Also released in June was the iPhone 3GS, which offers significant speed increases over the previous 3G, along with increased memory and storage space, a built-in compass and other enhancements.

While additional Apps will no doubt come on the market designed to take advantage of the 3GS’s capabilities, all those reviewed in this series of articles are fully compatible with the original iPhone 3G and the latest version.

So will your iPhone eventually become obselete? Yes, of course it will, but not for a few years yet. In fact, the now superseded iPhone 3G (available in 8 and 16 Gb) versions are likely to start getting quite inexpensive on the second-hand market.

If you’re looking for a very very inexpensive, yet fully functioning chart-plotter capable of doing a whole load of other things, you could do a lot worse than getting yourself a used iPhone, loading it up with the navigation and sailing Apps we’ve discussed over the past couple of weeks, and never using it as a phone.

Check out eBay for prices, but there’s now 8 Gb iPhone 3Gs for sale for less than $100. Give it another year, and prices of used 3G iPhone is likely to plummet. Many of who bought their first 3G iPhones in mid 2008 did so on two-year contracts.

As these contracts expire, you can bet a lot of people will opt to upgrade to the next-generation phones – and will be looking to offload their old ones, to family, friends or via the likes of eBay.

Aloksak - experimenting with waterproof covers © SW

iPhones and water:
Like any precision electronic device, they don't like it. Using your iPhone regularly in a marine environment will almost certainly shorten its life.

Whenever I have mine in the dinghy, on the beach or on the deck, I put it in a waterproof bag designed for mobile phones, such as those available from any boating outlet or outdoors/camping store.

They are not ideal, because the iPhone’s 'proximity' detector, which turns off the screen when you are talking (so your earlobe doesn’t inadvertently press other buttons) can make it hard to hang up calls once you are finished.

However, they do a reasonable job of protecting the iPhone (just watch for seal damage after a year or so) and allow you to activate just about all the functions.

Currently, I’m experimenting with aLoksak bags (http://www.loksak.com/products/aloksak), which are heavy duty ziplock-type bags claimed to be waterproof to 60 m.

Otterbox © SW

The other alternative is an Otterbox, mentioned in Part 1 of this series, available from PocketSolutions (www.pocketsolutions.com) for around $A50. This is a hard-case protective system that still allows you to work all buttons and screens, and also make and receive calls.

It would be handy to have the facility to plug in external power to extend iPhone battery life, and this is something I believe is being worked on in future versions.

And if everything does all turn to crap, and you get your iPhone wet so that it stops working, Apple in Australia will replace it for $A249 ($US199) – either a new or refurbished one. I believe similar services exist in other markets.

iPhone battery life:
While the iPhone will generally give you at least a full working day on for 'standard' of use, once you start using the built-in GPS function, the battery really gets chewed – you will only get 4-5 hours (these figures are for the iPhone 3G introduced in mid-2008; the new iPhone 3GS launched in July 2009 does have a longer battery life).

If your boat has 12V power outlets (and most cruising boats certainly will), it’s just a matter of getting a 12V adaptor, which are readily available at any outlet selling iPhones. However, I’ve yet to find a waterproof case that allows you to attach a power cable – although these are said to be fairly close.

The latest-generation iPhones (3G S) due out in late June 2009 are claiming significantly increased battery life.

iPhone phone calls:
As phones go, they are pretty good, certainly no worse than other mobile phones I’ve used. Of course, a lot depends on the network you are on.
In Australia, Telstra’s 3G network is universally regarded as having the best coverage and signal strength, but it’s significantly more expensive than others, particularly when you factor in data charges.

iPhone data usage:
Most mobile phone packages in Australia include various levels of data usage. Mine is 1 Gigabyte a month, and so far I haven’t got anywhere near it. I use it a reasonable amount for web surfing out of the office, as well as sending/receiving emails occasionally.

Avoid data-hungry sites such as Youtube and the like, and you should be fine.

Data usage is a consideration, because some of the uses I have talked about require a degree of web access (but nothing excessive).

Other resources:
There’s plenty of iPhone-related help and advice sites on the Web. However, there’s a very good one run by the developers of a couple of the Apps I’ll discuss here, at www.macsailing.net.
It’s primarily based around Mac-based applications for sailing and navigation, but does have an iPhone section that specifically deals with sailing and navigation issues.

Airsail - will leave you breathless © SW

Games and entertainment:
Once you’re at anchor, or sitting ashore waiting for your next sailing fix, there’s loads of games with a maritime or sailing theme. Sadly, most of them are rubbish.

Here’s a tiny selection (and I have to point out that most haven’t been tested):
Air Sail: This one will leave you breathless! You blow into the iPhone’s microphone to propel a small paper boat around a pond, tilting the device to dodge lily pads, flowers and rocks, and to navigate the course. One for the kids. Price: $A2.49

Armada – Pirate Mancala: Based on the rules of Mancala, an ancient board game, but with a pirate theme. Price: FREE

Embargo: 3D naval combat game putting you in charge of naval sailing ships of the late 18th and early 19th century, against 24 opponents. Not tested. Price: $A2.49

Pocket Pirate: Pre-recorded pirate phrases that your iPhone can repeat back to you. I guess if you could be bothered, you could maybe turn some into ringtones. Or not. Price: FREE

Points of Sail: An alternative to standard sailing diagrams, designed to help teach novice sailors how to position a boat’s sails relative to the wind. Uses the iPhone’s accelerometer to change the 'direction' of the wind. Not tested. Price: $A1.19

Sailtrac 3D Race Viewer: iPhone version of Virtual Spectator SailTrac 3D, lets you follow Volvo Ocean Race competitors around the world. As the race ends at the end of June, you won’t have much of an opportunity to use this. Price: FREE

Sextant - but not very sexy? © SW

Sextant: Oh, cool, you can use your iPhone as a sextant. Yeah, right.
This App seems to have little real point: it allows you to sigh