Hema Navigator vs iPad / Android Hema app - is the actual software any different?

[Young Angus]

So devices aside, is the actual product and information contained within the software any different between the dedicated Hema Navigator and the app that you get on your iPad or Android tablet? What's the difference??

[Fubar]

I put the app on my phone and was dissapointed with the performance.

It glitched out in the high country this year and didn't live up to expectations when it did work. I fell back on my hardcopy maps and basic phone gps.

The dedicated unit must be a lot better to actually sell and from memory it has information not available to the Android app.

[trout1105]

I have just recently installed the ap on my Samsung7 and my impression so far is that it isn't as good as the HX7 unit.
However I find that with the ap installed on my laptop it works the same as the HX7 unit but with bigger clearer maps, I needed i buy a GPS dongle to make this happen though.

[Chops]

I still haven’t got the S7 organized properly yet, so on a whim we got offered a super cheap Hema , so grabbed that. Still have to hook up the S7 as I can’t read the Hema at all whilst on the run,,’a right pain in the arse as it’s too small.

[Rok_Dr]

As far as I can tell from investigating the same earlier in the year there wasn't a lot of difference functionality wise, and what these was was due to the way things were laid out (eg where to find settings etc).

if you’re working to a budget go android, the hardware is cheaper and almost always has a gps fitted. If you like the Apple ecopsphere, remember only iPads that have 3/4g sim slots have a gps, wifi only models don’t. The apple Bluetooth stack is also different to the others and not all Bluetooth gps units will pair to an apple device so do your research.

The only other cost saving tip is it’s often easier to find iTunes cards at 15-20% off from the major retailers.

cheers

Steve

[Young Angus]

I actually prefer Android every time when it comes to phones, I have an iPhone now but I'm so sick of Apple and how selective they are with what kinds of things they are compatible with etc. etc. I just can't stand how they continue to force people to spend money on newer devices because they purposely make older (but still extremely capable) devices run slower so you have no choice but to upgrade...anyway, if I can avoid running Apple I will! Having said that I've never run an Android tablet so I know next to nothing about them and if they're any good.

I have no issues with getting the Hema device, but if the software is pretty much the same and there are no actual advantages to having the Hema dedicated device then I don't see why people wouldn't just get a tablet and put on the app.

Is it maybe that the Hema always has all maps and information loaded up in it's memory and nothing ever has to be loaded from the web, where as all Android/Apple app based versions need to load up maps when you have coverage just like when you're using Google Maps...would that be it?

[Tins]

I actually prefer Android every time when it comes to phones, I have an iPhone now but I'm so sick of Apple and how selective they are with what kinds of things they are compatible with etc. etc. I just can't stand how they continue to force people to spend money on newer devices because they purposely make older (but still extremely capable) devices run slower so you have no choice but to upgrade...anyway, if I can avoid running Apple I will! Having said that I've never run an Android tablet so I know next to nothing about them and if they're any good.

I have no issues with getting the Hema device, but if the software is pretty much the same and there are no actual advantages to having the Hema dedicated device then I don't see why people wouldn't just get a tablet and put on the app.

Is it maybe that the Hema always has all maps and information loaded up in it's memory and nothing ever has to be loaded from the web, where as all Android/Apple app based versions need to load up maps when you have coverage just like when you're using Google Maps...would that be it?

I'm fairly sure your original post said "devices aside", and then you go into an unsubstantiated rant against Apple? Why didn't you say so in the first place so I wouldn't waste my time reading this thread?

[Young Angus]

I'm fairly sure your original post said "devices aside", and then you go into an unsubstantiated rant against Apple? Why didn't you say so in the first place so I wouldn't waste my time reading this thread?

Lol I don't actually care about devices, I am purely interested in the software side of things, it just seems like some people think an Android device is the cheaper option and I'm not sure why that is when all devices seem kind of equal these days.

This thread is trying to figure out if there is any difference between information contained and available on the dedicated Hema device vs the Android/Apple app, but hey if I can squeeze in a dig at Apple I'm gonna!

[loanrangie]

Just get a Samsung Galaxy tablet and the hema app.

[Charliektm400exc]

I actually prefer Android every time when it comes to phones, I have an iPhone now but I'm so sick of Apple and how selective they are with what kinds of things they are compatible with etc. etc. I just can't stand how they continue to force people to spend money on newer devices because they purposely make older (but still extremely capable) devices run slower so you have no choice but to upgrade...anyway, if I can avoid running Apple I will! Having said that I've never run an Android tablet so I know next to nothing about them and if they're any good.


Its not that they purposely make them run slower. It’s that people want new capabilities in new updated system software, and that needs more grunt. Older models don’t have the extra grunt so they get slower.

The alternative is dont update, but then you run more risks because of security updates.

personally I treat phones, tablets as consumables with a life of a only a few years, then upgrade and sell the old one for more money then I think it’s worth on eBay.

If if you go Android then most people don’t upgrade software, but that has its own risks and disadvantages.

but YMMV

[cjc_td5]

Love my 8" Samsung tablet. At least if you went the tablet way it opens up the opportunity of a number of othe nav apps such as Memory Map and Aus Topo Map etc.

[cjc_td5]

Also if you go tablet & apps, you can load the same apps and maps onto your phone as a backup system if the primary tablet fails. On my boat I run a nav app (Navionics) on the tablet with a duplicate on my phone for redunancy if required.

[Bytemrk]

Also if you go tablet & apps, you can load the same apps and maps onto your phone as a backup system if the primary tablet fails. On my boat I run a nav app (Navionics) on the tablet with a duplicate on my phone for redunancy if required.

The other thing I like about using Memory Map in this situation - many of the map packs - including the hema maps, are licensed to be able to run them cross platform.

So I run an ipad mini 4, and Android phone and only had to buy the map once.... For many maps I can run 2 mobile devices and 2 pc/laptops all on the one purchase [thumbsupbig]


Memory Map has very similar functionality to the Hema app too.

[Young Angus]

Overwhelmingly I think I'm seeing most people run tablets with the apps on them, so they can't be that much worse, if at all, than the dedicated devices.

I actually just learnt this morning that the new Hema dedicated HX-1 is in fact a locked Android tablet with the software on it, but with a better screen and memory etc. etc.

Too many options!

[Rok_Dr]

I actually just learnt this morning that the new Hema dedicated HX-1 is in fact a locked Android tablet with the software on it, but with a better screen and memory etc. etc.

Indeed and it's running a pretty old version of android, v4.4 that is close to being unsupported by Google, whereas the current android release is v8. As to hardware it sits between smartphones and tablets in capability.

My personal preference is to decouple the software from the hardware so you can upgrade either independently, at least in the same ecosphere.

Cheers

Steve