iPhone aviation applications, what do you recommend & use?

[PompeyPaul]

Simply not true

This means that Apple can NEVER block the jailbreak unless they modify the hardware of the phone

Simply not true. Perform an unrestricted write to the phone, if it succeeds it's jail breaked, if it doesn't, it's not. I've detected whether your phone is broke or not. I then block the firmware upgrade. You're not stuck with all apps pre-blocking firmware.

Making out it's completely safe and you are garaunteed not to brick your phone is simply not true. Never say never.

I trust this post has been educational, but I'm getting rather bored of writing it now. The point still stands: there are many advantages and no disadvantages to jailbreaking your iPhone.

Ill informed maybe, but educational no.

[India Four Two]

Where would one start (assuming they have a mac) to learn how to write apps for the iPhone?

Besides Apple's official resources, this would also be a good place to start:

iPhone - O'Reilly Media

See the books by Jonathan Zdziarski

[Shunter]

PompeyPaul, I'm afraid you're incorrect - or confusing the 3G with the original iPhone. Since no permanent modifications are made to the phone it can always be restored using unmodified Apple firmware. This was not true on the original iPhone, for which unlock exploits actually modified the bootloader itself. iPhones have something called DFU mode, which essentially means that when you connect it to a computer it says to iTunes "Dude, I'm utterly hosed. Fix me". In such circumstances iTunes doesn't even bother checking what's on the phone, it blows it away and puts whatever firmware you choose onto the phone (you know you can alt-click on the restore button in iTunes and it will let you choose any firmware file you want, right? You don't have to use Apple's latest and greatest). If you've managed to really really really bugger your phone (which is spectacularly difficult) there's still a way out, but it involves some intricate disassembly and a suitable PIC programmer.

I was playing around with keyboard layouts the other day and for some unknown reason I got to a point where whenever I opened an app requiring the keyboard (Mail, Safari etc) the app would crash; a known bug. This was remedied by opening an SSH session with the phone and manually fixing the keyboard maps. If my phone wasn't jailbroken I would have had to restore it and spend all day getting everything back where I wanted it.

As far as SIP calls go, there's nothing in the iPhone which specifically prevents them. There is however plenty in the iTunes App Store policy which does; mainly under pressure from network providers. Jailbreaking allows you to run any app, whether Apple approve of it or not. Whether there exists an app to make such calls I don't know - not something I have a need for as work pay the bill for my iPhone

You *can* get officially unlocked iPhones, just not in the UK. In countries which have laws to combat monopolistic practices they are available in stores. In France you can get an unlocked iPhone from Orange, and in Hong Kong you can buy them in the Apple store. In the UK it's the operator's choice whether they offer such an option; o2 can unlock iPhones if they want to, they just choose otherwise.

When an operator unlocks an iPhone, the IMEI is placed in a database maintain by Apple. This database is checked by iTunes every time your iPhone is synced. At that point, if the IMEI is in the database, an RSA token is downloaded to an area known as the seczone. This is also where the IMEI is stored. If the key matches the IMEI (and some other stuff), the phone unlocks. Job done. This area of flash is outside that used by both the onboard operating systems so is not modified during subsequent firmware upgrades.

[moan]

AeroWeather is invaluable; PilotWiz and FlightPlan may be usefull, but CoPilot makes a perfect companion to AeroWeather.
It performs most tasks that the excellent Nav Box can (my usual flight planner) and some others Nav Box can’t.
Programming is quick and easy (once mastered that is, initially it’s not altogether intuitive) with an internet connection not needed. Rearranging destinations, waypoints wind, height etc. takes seconds only as does feeding in pre entered alternates – or for that matter, new waypoints.
Routes may be stored (but alas, not downloaded to GPS – but then, some might argue that this should be separate as a cross check.................
The database is comprehensive – airfields, VOR, NDB and a user waypoint database.
Minus points: No map – so user waypoints must be entered manually and my only real gripe, no VRP’s
Weight and balance and E6B calculators are provided.
With an internet connection, a CDI/DME is available, subject to the iphone’s GPS not having one of its periodic electric sulks
The main benefit (well to me anyway) is the ability to plan anywhere, anytime (“I’m on the train”) and to be able to amend quickly, if needed before, or even, during flight.
The help files are reasonable, but I had a poor response to an email question.
All very subjective of course, but it will only cost the price of a few minutes flying to check.

[youngskywalker]

Do all these applications also work for the i-touch? If so I might buy one when I'm in the States. The price of the i-phone with 'o2' puts me off, a 24 month contract will add up to about £800!

[PilotPieces]

So what is the windows mobile alternative to aeroweather and copilot then?

[vanHorck]

new iphone apps which could be useful for pilots

Windspeed meter
goingApps

YouTube - iPhone Wind Meter - $0.99 Anemometer

[Crash one]

Originally Posted by Planemike

I have little interest in much of this technology which just seems to be technology for its own sake. My other problem is that much of it is anything but user friendly and it is just too much trouble to bother learning how to use it.

I thought flying was about looking out the window & stuff.
What is the point of all this? what are "Apps"? why would you need to listen to millions of tunes/records or whatever they are called now? or play games whilst flying?
I have a mobile phone, I think it can take pictures as well, but I have a camera for that.
Must be an age thing, I really don't get it.
One day when the wizz kids come up with a hand held radar set that bleeps in my headset & gives me a readout on a chunk of aluminium whether or not the "target" has Mode A,C or S, then I'll buy one.

[Molesworth 1]

Good point, Crash One.

I have yet to find an iPhone app which is useful in the cockpit (apart from the GPS if I am really really lost). Aeroweather is useful for reading METARS and TAFS quickly and PilotWhizz for pre-flight planning if I can't use my computer.

[RAAus_Pilot]

Since Shagpile is doing a NAIPS app which will get widely used amongst the Australian iPhone users fraternity, I was wondering what relevant app's other iPhone users have and recommend.

I regularly use Pkt Weather as it has the BOM radars and you can set what locations you want, FlightPlan & iE6B.

So what have you got?

[Jofm5]

Not sure if your only asking about aviation apps but....

Been playing about today with V-Cockpit GPS

It not something to be used as instrumentation in a light aircraft, but it is fun to play with - I have yet to take it out in the car to compare the speed my iphone reckons compared to my speedo - I dont fly (yet) so cant compare altitude etc with real life.

On the non aviation side, I use the telegraph and sky apps for news (both free) and bloomburg for stocks. I have a few other apps installed which are uk specific (e.g. tv guide) and I use accelgolf for my score cards.

[RAAus_Pilot]

Yeah more along the lines of aviation apps, that V-Cockpit is more of a game isn't it? I can't see how it could be used in an aircraft due to the forces the accelerometer requires.

Very interesting though.

I've also got PilotWizPro which is pretty good as well.

[Jofm5]

Yeah more along the lines of aviation apps, that V-Cockpit is more of a game isn't it?

I am not so sure I would call it a game as there is no objective other than to show off the functionality of the iphone - I am not sure on accuracy as have nothing to compare to but it is most definately not meant for use in aviation as all the documentation says and quite correctly it asks you to confirm that you understand this before running it.

Will have a look at the one you suggested as would be interesting to get some useful things when I do eventually do my ppl. I looked at a couple of weather apps and the pilots toolbox but did not seem to greate/intuitive (at least for me).

[call100]

Aero Weather....Shows METAR and TAF of most airports....

[greenhorn1]

IPhone & 3Gs, recommended apps ?

This is my first Iphone and I'm dead impressed

At then moment I've got the Airport app. which is quite good for Tafs, metars etc. , but there are so many I was wondering what hardened Iphone commercial pilot users would recommend.

[Aerouk]

I'm not a commercial pilot, but I'm using:

- SafelogWeb (SafelogWeb) for my logbook
- AviationABB (Aviation Abbreviations, not sure why I got it to be honest)
- LiveATC (again, not sure why I got it)
- AirportMania (just to keep my entertained )

[AppleMacster]

Aerouk,

Here are some gems:

Aeroweather
Jet Fueling
If you are a Mac user, this is a great companion app to LogTen Pro: LogTen Mobile
For the occasional conversion and calculation: Pilot Wizz

Applemacster.

[BRL]

So what is the best phone chaps, the N97 or the iPhone?????

[liam548]

Originally Posted by BRL

So what is the best phone chaps, the N97 or the iPhone?????

can of worms there

I much prefer the Nseries devices. They can do everything and more the iphone can do imo.

[PompeyPaul]

I go iPhone

As a developer I want my software on the largest platform so I publish everything on iPhone. As the maxim usually goes, software sells hardware so if you want the richest software collection go iPhone.