Every app has its own perspective and idiosyncrasies, and Stratus Insight is no exception. Some of the unique features and design choices work well; others are a little confusing. Here are four we really like.
After a blockbuster app update last month, ForeFlight’s June release is smaller in scale but still includes some nice additions. Here’s a review.
Apple kicked off its annual developer conference Monday with a traditional keynote presentation to show off the latest features coming to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. The latest operating system introduces a new app home screen layout for iPhone, dynamic widgets and hundreds of other new features which will debut in the fall.
High on our list of under-appreciated features in ForeFlight is track logging. The ability to automatically record your flight and then replay them in the comfort of your home can make your flying more precise and make it easier to share a memorable trip. Here’s an overview.
Securing your iPad while you fly is important for safety (to prevent your tablet from flying around the cockpit), but also for convenience (to keep it close by and easy to use). There are plenty of different mounts to choose from, but they aren’t all universal. Which one is right for you? It depends a lot on the type of airplane you fly. Let’s look at some examples.
Pilots tend to focus more on optimizing the iPad’s battery life than the average iPad user, since this is critical to keeping the device functioning in the airplane over the course of a flight. Fortunately, there’s a dedicated utility in the main iPad settings to help shed some light on which apps are using the most power, possibly while running in the background.
We’ve flown with (and previously reviewed) the Aithre Connect app and its companion line of pilot monitoring devices. This free app connects to the company’s carbon monoxide detector, pulse oximeter, and oxygen tank monitor, then provides real time status information and audio alerts. The latest version of this app adds new features that go beyond health monitoring, including voice commands.
The heavyweight fight between ForeFlight and Garmin continues. The same week ForeFlight released its biggest update in recent memory, Garmin unveiled their own app update, version 10.1. This is hardly the big overhaul that ForeFlight delivered, but it does offer some nice additions and thoughtful modifications to popular features.
Insurance might seem like a very conservative industry, one that would resist the march of technology as long as possible. That’s true in some ways (ever faxed an insurance renewal form in after filling out the same information five times?), but a new app from Starr Aviation is a refreshing change. It offers pilots the option to purchase renter’s insurance right from the app, and the ability to track flying skill over time.
With the threat of coronavirus hanging over most segments of aviation, many pilots are getting a quick education on proper cleaning procedures. Wiping down the yokes, avionics, and door handles after each flight has become standard practice at many flight schools, flying clubs, and charter companies. That focus on cleanliness extends to tablets and phones too—but what is safe?
CloudAhoy started life as a desktop app and, until recently, the user interface reflected that heritage. While the feature list is long and impressive, some of the options were a little hard to use—especially on a mobile device. The company knows that more and more pilots are debriefing on their iPads, so they have redesigned the Debrief section of the app to be easier to use. Here’s a look at the new layout.
For pilots using a tablet as their primary chart reference, keeping an iPad charged isn’t just a convenience – it’s a safety of flight issue. Fortunately, there are a whole host of solutions that can keep your battery topped off; unfortunately, many were developed for cars and not airplanes. We’ve recently been testing a new option that is made for aviation but is both inexpensive and portable.
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