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From: Don Parsons <parsons.don@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: iPad in the cockpit
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I just tuned in on this discussion. Since I am an iOS Developer, I thought I
would provide some information. I am just collecting parts of several posts,
quoting them, and responding...

- "I would wait for apples update before buying, the 2nd edition should be
better. Rumor is a OS upgrade is soon coming."
RESPONSE: The newest iOS revision was posted yesterday. It is 4.2.1. It is
most significan for iPads because it brings a lot of iOS 4 functionality to
iPads, such as multitasking. You can install it on all 1st Gen iPad models.
If by "2nd Edition", you are referring to un-announced future models of
iPads, I would be a somewhat surprised if we see new iPads before Christmas
2010. The next most likely introduction windows could be January, and then
June at WWDC. I can't say what such units might have above current iPad
model features, but I would hope for more system RAM. The current iPads have
256 MB, and the iPhone 5 has 512 MB. Now that multitasking is supported on
the iPad, this can have a lot of value. I don't anticipate much of a
difference regarding GPS, unless they added it to the WiFi model. Given the
Verizon iPad deal, we now have a common situation where the WiFi iPad would
be used for mobile navigation. Personally, I am waiting for the 2nd Gen iPad
WiFi because I plan on using it with some sort of MiFi hotspot unit. I would
like more memory, and built in hardware GPS.

- "...Are you positive that your unit has a built in GPS?..."
RESPONSE: The iPad with WiFi DOES NOT have GPS hardware inside. It uses
database information regarding known locations of WiFi AP stations, and
geolocation data for IP addresses. IMO, this is not good enough for most
forms of navigation, especially aviation nav. The iPad with WiFi + 3G does
have GPS hardware, more specifically it has a Broadcom BCM4750UBG
Single-Chip AGPS board. Judging from a lot of discussion I have seen
regarding AGPS, there is a lot of misunderstanding and bad information being
circulated. Assisted GPS does not mean "Instead of GPS hardware". The
"Assisted" part adds capabilities that reduces some limitations of most GPS
unassisted functionality.

- "Apple cripples it to make you buy more. Other phones like the HTC Aria do
GPS just fine without the extra payment."
RESPONSE: I am not aware of what you are referring to regarding Apple
"Crippling" the product. I would be interested in hearing specific details.
I am not sure what improved functionality that these other devices offer
that an iPad with WiFi + GPS doesn't offer. The logic behind not including
GPS hardware in an iPad with WiFi is because when mobile, you typically
won't have online map data, so GPS hardware would have limited value. Now
that people are using mobile MiFi devices, it realy messes up that logic
because the WiFi AP you are connecting to can be mobile. Now I have my
doubts about how well a MiFi assisted mobile navigation device would be for
aviation navigation at altitude. Most cell towers are tuned have a reception
pattern that is optomized for ground based mobile devices. I would
anticipate best results over land with lighter population, near majore
highways, where the towers are tuned for a more general reception pattern.
When you start flying over land with higher population density, the towers
are designed to pickup from a smaller area. You would want nav apps that
have the nav data local on the device.

- "I had to jailbreak my ipad to get the GPS to work.  I used Cydia to
jailbreak the ipad..."
RESPONSE: Of the mobile devices that have a general purpose OS (not designed
specifically for the sole purpose of aviation navigation), I would argue
that iOS devices have the deck stacked in their favor for stability. Given
the controls in place where Apps must go through the Apple App store, and
Apple exercises strict standards for App approval, and the OS is highly
restrictive on how much of the system any App can access, many possible
treats to security and stability have very litle opportunities to get into
the system. Once you Jailbreak the unit, ALL BETS ARE OFF. I don't Jailbreak
my iOS devices because of the threats they become exposed to once those
protective systems are disabled. Further... For my purposes, I am just
talking about information security. If you add the critical nature of flight
navigation and management, I cannot stress how bad of an idea it is to
depend on a jailbroken iOS device in flight. I would strongly recommend
having seperate backup solutions in place. To make sure that statement is
not taken as critisizm of iOS, I would make similar statements about all of
the other common general purpose mobile OS solutions. Also, not all
Jailbreak solutions are created equal. Some introduce their own problems.
Regardless of the jailbreak solution you use, you are greatly hampered in
being able to install new system updates from Apple, which typically address
bugs, security vulnerabilies, etc. IMHO... you loose much more than you gain
by Jailbreaking your iOS device.

Hope this helps...

DP

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<div>I just tuned in on this discussion. Since I am an iOS Developer, I tho=
ught I would provide some information. I am just collecting parts of severa=
l posts, quoting them, and responding...</div><div><br></div><div>- &quot;I=
 would wait for apples update before buying, the 2nd edition should be bett=
er. Rumor is a OS upgrade is soon coming.&quot;</div>

<div>RESPONSE: The newest iOS revision was posted yesterday. It is 4.2.1. I=
t is most significan for iPads because it brings a lot of iOS 4 functionali=
ty to iPads, such as multitasking. You can install it on all 1st Gen iPad m=
odels. If by &quot;2nd Edition&quot;, you are referring to un-announced fut=
ure models of iPads, I would be a somewhat surprised if we see new iPads be=
fore Christmas 2010. The next most likely introduction windows could be Jan=
uary, and then June at WWDC. I can&#39;t say what such units might have abo=
ve current iPad model features, but I would hope for more system RAM. The c=
urrent iPads have 256 MB, and the iPhone 5 has 512 MB. Now that multitaskin=
g is supported on the iPad, this can have a lot of value. I don&#39;t antic=
ipate much of a difference regarding GPS, unless they added it to the WiFi =
model. Given the Verizon iPad deal, we now have a common situation where th=
e WiFi iPad would be used for mobile navigation. Personally, I am waiting f=
or the 2nd Gen iPad WiFi because I plan on using it with some sort of MiFi =
hotspot unit. I would like more memory, and built in hardware GPS.</div>

<div><br></div><div>- &quot;...Are you positive that your unit has a built =
in GPS?...&quot;</div><div>RESPONSE: The iPad with WiFi DOES NOT have GPS h=
ardware inside. It uses database information regarding known locations of W=
iFi AP stations, and geolocation data for IP addresses. IMO, this is not go=
od enough for most forms of navigation, especially aviation nav. The iPad w=
ith WiFi + 3G does have GPS hardware, more specifically it has a Broadcom B=
CM4750UBG Single-Chip AGPS board. Judging from a lot of discussion I have s=
een regarding AGPS, there is a lot of misunderstanding and bad information =
being circulated. Assisted GPS does not mean &quot;Instead of GPS hardware&=
quot;. The &quot;Assisted&quot; part adds capabilities that reduces some li=
mitations of most GPS unassisted functionality.</div>

<div><br></div><div>- &quot;Apple cripples it to make you buy more. Other p=
hones like the HTC Aria do GPS just fine without the extra payment.&quot;</=
div><div>RESPONSE: I am not aware of what you are referring to regarding Ap=
ple &quot;Crippling&quot; the product. I would be interested in hearing spe=
cific details. I am not sure what improved functionality that these other d=
evices offer that an iPad with WiFi + GPS doesn&#39;t offer. The logic behi=
nd not including GPS hardware in an iPad with WiFi is because when mobile, =
you typically won&#39;t have online map data, so GPS hardware would have li=
mited value. Now that people are using mobile MiFi devices, it realy messes=
 up that logic because the WiFi AP you are connecting to can be mobile. Now=
 I have my doubts about how well a MiFi assisted mobile navigation device w=
ould be for aviation navigation at altitude. Most cell towers are tuned hav=
e a reception pattern that is optomized for ground based mobile devices. I =
would anticipate best results over land with lighter population, near major=
e highways, where the towers are tuned for a more general reception pattern=
. When you start flying over land with higher population density, the tower=
s are designed to pickup from a smaller area. You would want nav apps that =
have the nav data local on the device.</div>

<div><br></div><div>- &quot;I had to jailbreak my ipad to get the GPS to wo=
rk. =A0I used Cydia to jailbreak the ipad...&quot;</div><div>RESPONSE: Of t=
he mobile devices that have a general purpose OS (not designed specifically=
 for the sole purpose of aviation navigation), I would argue that iOS devic=
es have the deck stacked in their favor for stability. Given the controls i=
n place where Apps must go through the Apple App store, and Apple exercises=
 strict standards for App approval, and the OS is highly restrictive on how=
 much of the system any App can access, many possible treats to security an=
d stability have very litle opportunities to get into the system. Once you =
Jailbreak the unit, ALL BETS ARE OFF. I don&#39;t Jailbreak my iOS devices =
because of the threats they become exposed to once those protective systems=
 are disabled. Further... For my purposes, I am just talking about informat=
ion security. If you add the critical nature of flight navigation and manag=
ement, I cannot stress how bad of an idea it is to depend on a jailbroken i=
OS device in flight. I would strongly recommend having seperate backup solu=
tions in place. To make sure that statement is not taken as critisizm of iO=
S, I would make similar statements about all of the other common general pu=
rpose mobile OS solutions. Also, not all Jailbreak solutions are created eq=
ual. Some introduce their own problems. Regardless of the jailbreak solutio=
n you use, you are greatly hampered in being able to install new system upd=
ates from Apple, which typically address bugs, security vulnerabilies, etc.=
 IMHO... you loose much more than you gain by Jailbreaking your iOS device.=
</div>

<div><br></div><div>Hope this helps...</div><div><br></div><div>DP</div><di=
v><br></div>

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