I Pad Mini which one?

[FANTOM P38]

Hi guys,
I am considering purchase of an IPad Mini and am wondering which model I should go for.
I want to be able to get good gps reception in bush of course and be able to have a good selection of quality, high detail offroad maps onboard.
Would appreciate any advice as to mapping software/apps to get and suitable maps to suit predominately Vic maps but im sure I will require NSW /Qld etc at some stage.
Anyone already done this with some advice on what to avoid would also help
Martin :confused:

[Glennr]

Hi Martin,
I installed an ipad mini in my D3, make sure you get the cellular version as the wifi only doesn't have gps and relies on wifi hot spots or teathering to a mobile to update position. as far as maps I only have sygic which is for normal road nav and works well. Glenn (newbe)

[Didge]

Do a search on when the next models are coming out. Rumours are the next ipad minin with retina display or better and the ipad 5 could, only could come out in March but more likely October. I've been thinking the same and am prepared to wait for the next version. They reckon the ipad 5 will be around the same dimensions as the actual display on the ipad 4 with the screen display extending right to the edges of the machine which will make it half way between current ipad and ipad mini in size. Also rumours about a totally new type of display being developed by Sharp which is, if you can believe it, even better than retina ( which I haven't really noticed is any better than the display on my 17" Macbook Pro (which apparently is supposed to be a cut above all the other Macbook laptops ( perhaps it is retina; anyone know??) :)

[loanrangie]

Samsung Galaxy, apple is for pie :p. Nah seriously , if you want decent gps reception you have to have an external antenna which a tablet wont have. Maybe a hema navigator or similar would be better.

[FANTOM P38]

Thanks for comments guys, I was considering Ipad as it is much more than just GPS. hoping there is someone out there already running off road mapping on one that can advise what to go for or not to gor for if you know what I mean. Also is ther a particular type of GPS antenna I should be looking for?

[OffTrack]

GPS works fine without an external antenna on all of the current apple devices providing it is a 3G/4G model. The only reason you need an external is if its a wifi only.

[mikehzz]

Ipads have good gps reception even out in the sticks. Iphones reception in the sticks can be dodgy. I think the ipad has a bigger antenna so can receive the satellite signal better. Going on that, I wonder what a mini's reception is like, somewhere in between maybe? We need feedback from people who have gone remote with them. If they are in a mobile area then you can't tell if they are using the satelites or the mobile towers because they will use both if available.

[OffTrack]

The issue is more to do with time to get a lock on satellite signals rather than being "dodgy". I've found that the iPhone GPS will lock quickly if you have it running whenever you are moving because it store the last known satellite positions to speed up acquisition. Where the AGPS has issues is if you move a significant distance with the phone switched off. In such cases the iPhone GPS can take a while to get a fix on the satellites. I think the worst I've seen on my 3GS iPhone is about 10 minutes before it gets a lock. Later iPhones/iPads apparently have a better gps chip.


For mapping software - Memory Map or Hema would be my choice. The Hema app is essentially Memory Map bundled with complete Hema digital mapping.

It's also worth having a look at Avenza PDFMap as there are a couple of smaller map makers selling via their map store that have products that aren't available from Memory Map//Hema.

cheers
Paul

[loanrangie]

Is it a true GPS or 3G/4G reliant, if so once you lose reception you lose your GPS. Can you use a bluetooth GPS with antenna ?

[Rohan]

This comes up at a perfect time :) I am buying SWMBO an ipad for her birthday, and obviously, it's more for me than her :o:angel:
To confirm what I've learnt/heard:
Needs to be the 3g/4g model to get gps reception out in the sticks (no mobile reception)
The maps are loaded as a normal "app" (anyone know how much?)
Is the "mini" big enough for off road maps? (and stubby fingers)
Cheers.

[OffTrack]

Is it a true GPS or 3G/4G reliant, if so once you lose reception you lose your GPS. Can you use a bluetooth GPS with antenna ?


It is true GPS and works without 3G/4G coverage. If there is wifi or 3G/4G available the GPS system uses that to speed up obtaining a satellite lock.

There are a few external bluetooth receivers that have iOS support.

http://xgps150.dualav.com/

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=109827

http://www.gns-gmbh.com/index.php?id=194&L=1

None have facility for an external antenna. They designed to be positioned on the dash near the windscreen you should have a pretty clear line of sight anyway.


cheers
Paul

[inside]

The iPad mini is an expensive option. The minimum cost is $509 and that only gets you 16Gb of storage. For $295 you can get a 32Gb Nexus 7 with GPS. The iPad mini has a slower processor and has a lower ppi than the Nexus. Unless you absolutely must have Apple you are buying an inferior device at an inflated cost.

Download OruxMaps (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.orux.oruxmaps&feature=nav_result#'t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd) which is free, then load it up with all your maps.

http://aciai.me/i/G4Lr.png

[inside]

It does 3D maps as well

http://aciai.me/i/H3Woz.png

[OffTrack]

The iPad mini isn't exactly what I call an inferior device. From what I've read in test reports the nexus 7 has a better screen in paper, but suffers from the quality of cheap components used so the iPad mini has better images in practice. The mini has a GPU which benchmarks faster than that used on the Nexus 7. The Mini also has better battery life per charge.

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=43790

iPad mini vs Nexus 7 Comparison Smackdown - YouTube

Cheers
Paul

[inside]

It's over twice the price if you want 32Gb and GPS. 75% faster? Go and use one. One thing the Nexus is not and that's slow. Really the value for money is high with the Nexus. Unless you really like Apple that much or need a bit more screen size it is hard to justify another $300. We both know in a few months Apple will bring out a faster one for the same price making your $600 mini obsolete overnight.

[OffTrack]

It's over twice the price if you want 32Gb and GPS. 75% faster? Go and use one. One thing the Nexus is not and that's slow. Really the value for money is high with the Nexus. Unless you really like Apple that much or need a bit more screen size it is hard to justify another $300. We both know in a few months Apple will bring out a faster one for the same price making your $600 mini obsolete overnight.

Even Gen 1 iPads are perfectly capable GPS devices with current versions of the GPS apps so the claim that an upgrade to the Mini will somehow make current iPad Mini "obsolete" is just a load of horse ****.

[FANTOM P38]

Thanks Off Track,
I was thinking it may get clearer stronger signal with external antenna but
I guess it depends on mounting position.

[LowRanger]

I sometimes just throw my iPad 3 on the passengers seat,and it works perfectly well with the built in GPS,even down in valleys with tree cover.I have a mount on the dash,but sometimes I just can't be bothered :o

[LowRanger]

The iPad mini isn't exactly what I call an inferior device. From what I've read in test reports the nexus 7 has a better screen in paper, but suffers from the quality of cheap components used so the iPad mini has better images in practice. The mini has a GPU which benchmarks faster than that used on the Nexus 7. The Mini also has better battery life per charge.

MobileTechReview Forum, News and Reviews: iPad mini vs. Nexus 7 Tablet Comparison Smackdown (http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=43790)

iPad mini vs Nexus 7 Comparison Smackdown - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG3mmxam-9A)

Cheers
Paul

Interesting in the review,that they say that all models of the Nexus 7 have built in GPS,which means if you just want it for navigation,then you should just be able to purchase the even cheaper WiFi only model?
Has anyone here actually tested this?

[cjc_td5]

Interesting in the review,that they say that all models of the Nexus 7 have built in GPS,which means if you just want it for navigation,then you should just be able to purchase the even cheaper WiFi only model?
Has anyone here actually tested this?

Yes that is my understanding, the WIFI only Nexus has full GPS capability, can be bought for less than $300.

I am considering getting one with navionics app to use as a chartplotter in the boat, rather than paying a fortune for a new card for my existing plotter.

[Steve223]

I have 3 iPad (iPad 1, Ipad3 and iPad Mini) and do all my navigating with it (do not carry a paper map.

Software wise I use Hema Maps with the NSW Topo Maps (not cheap) as well as MudMaps (which I hardly use) also not cheap
+ MotionX GPX (mainly for recording the tracks)

I usually have the close up on the mini and the overview on the iPad 3.

If I only would to use one iPad I would definitely go for an iPad three and not for mini. I would also not be too concerned about new models coming out as the iPad 3 will last you for long time for what you want to do with it.

I still have an iPad one for the kids and as a backup and even that does the job however quite a bit slower.

With around 20.000k's off road have never gotten lost and it saved the bacon a couple of times when we had to back track our steps.

I find none of the available software perfect (but I'm pretty fussy) and all of them missing functionality in my book. I really tried to like mud maps but always find myself going back to HEMA Maps For my general navigation but often use mud maps to confirm tracks. With these combination I have been travelling quite well. You could also use memory maps which basically is the same software and Hema just licensed it.

The only really negative thing is the price I spend easy $600 on maps and software which is quite steep.