Multitool.org Forum
+-

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.


Earl - The backcountry survival tablet

comis · 13 · 4839

spam Offline comis

  • *
  • *
  • Zombie Apprentice
  • ********
    • Posts: 11,149
Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
on: July 16, 2014, 08:31:56 AM
When I first read the title, I thought it might be a silly idea to lug around an ipad-lookalike to the outdoor.  But more that I read into it, it does seem to make quite a bit of sense, I particularly like the idea of having a solar panel at its back so hopefully it will be recharged in reasonable time.



http://www.meetearl.com/#features


Spec:

Android 4.4 • Flexible 6" E-ink screen (1024x758) • Sunlight viewable with lunar lantern mode • Glove friendly capacitve touchscreen • Waterproof shell • Solar charging • i.MX 6 DualLite 1GHz Cortex A9 • 1GB ram • 16GB memory + microSD • Wifi b/g/n • BT 4.0 • ANT+ • NFC • VHF/UHF transceiver (FRS, GMRS, PMR446, UHFCB) • GPS + GLONASS • Accelerometer • Gyroscope • Magnetometer • Temperature • Barometer • Humidity • AM/FM/SW/LW/WB • 20+ hour battery • 3.5mm TRRS headphone/microphone jack • Micro USB • Military grade secure lanyard • 400 grams (14.1 oz) • 178mm x 125mm x 15mm


no Offline Grathr

  • *
  • Absolutely No Life Club
  • *******
    • Posts: 7,681
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #1 on: July 16, 2014, 10:14:32 AM
That looks like a pretty cool gadget.
I want one :D



Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


nl Offline Reinier

  • *
  • Zombie Apprentice
  • ********
    • Posts: 10,293
  • \o/
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #2 on: July 16, 2014, 10:21:33 AM
Nice gadget :)
E-ink... so not very good for watching pictures of MTs and SAKs :(
You should seriously visit vicfan.com. All the hoopy froods are doing it.


gb Offline AimlessWanderer

  • *
  • Zombie Apprentice
  • ********
    • Posts: 17,517
  • I'm not a pessimist, I'm an experienced optimist!
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #3 on: July 16, 2014, 12:02:17 PM
I lost interest at "Android"  ::) but otherwise looks like it would be a decent gizmo


The cantankerous but occasionally useful member, formally known as 50ft-trad


spam Offline comis

  • *
  • *
  • Zombie Apprentice
  • ********
    • Posts: 11,149
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #4 on: July 16, 2014, 01:39:41 PM
Android ain't that bad, really.  I will love to have a google map with all my marked POI so I could find them easily.

Besides the two-way radio which could be quite useful when cell phone connection is lost, I hope this is a quality product so it will be a better option than cell phone + solar charging panel.


hr Offline enki_ck

  • Global Moderator
  • *
  • Absolute Zombie Club
  • *
    • Posts: 20,903
  • I may get older but I refuse to grow up.
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #5 on: July 16, 2014, 02:23:11 PM
Nice gadget :)
E-ink... so not very good for watching pictures of MTs and SAKs :(

I actually like that it's E-ink. :tu: Will make it much more readable in direct sunlight and resistant to damage. :tu:


ca Offline Syph007

  • Global Moderator
  • *
  • Absolutely No Life Club
  • *
    • Posts: 9,831
  • SAK Surgeon
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #6 on: July 16, 2014, 03:34:10 PM
Nice gadget :)
E-ink... so not very good for watching pictures of MTs and SAKs :(

I actually like that it's E-ink. :tu: Will make it much more readable in direct sunlight and resistant to damage. :tu:

E-ink uses less power too, which is something youd want if you need to rely on solar charging.
PM me or email sakmodder [at] gmail . com if you are looking for custom SAK work.

Modding thread : Here
Website : WWW.SAKModder.com 
Facebook : SAKModder
Instagram : robertjlessard
Youtube : www.youtube.com/robertjlessard


gb Offline daverobson

  • *
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 723
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #7 on: July 16, 2014, 04:07:59 PM
Solar charging, VHF/UHF, GPS, AM/FM/SW/LW/WB
It sounds like an excellent piece of kit.
Would be ideal for my little treks up the Cheviots or Cairngorms.  :tu:

I'm not too sure of the sunlight viewable part, not much chance to use that in the northern UK  :-\


Offline Hump

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 6
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #8 on: July 18, 2014, 01:02:18 AM
Now that actually sounds cool. Thought it's gonna be crap, but on paper everything seems pretty alright. What's the problem with Android? Are you talking about Android 5 years ago or Android now?

Oh but where's 3G/4G connectivity, getting online on a pinch is pretty handy. Have doubts about the solar charging, I guess it can work ok.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2014, 01:12:57 AM by Hump »


us Offline detron

  • *
  • Absolutely No Life Club
  • *******
    • Posts: 7,546
  • Tool Carrying Linux User
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #9 on: July 18, 2014, 01:31:58 AM
I lost interest at "Android"  ::) but otherwise looks like it would be a decent gizmo

to me the reason android is a good choice for this is that it can be taylored to  fit the designers need.

Windows can be customized, but by paying Microsoft, and hoping you get what you want, and you will not have the source code to know if you REALLY got what you wanted.

Apple is also closed source (you do not know what happens under the hood), and relies heavily on a connection to iTunes or cloud services these days to be completely self sufficient right away.  this could work, but not without a computer or internet connection.  Imagine an iPod, (old one, not one with internet) if you did not have a computer.  it can be loaded by someone else, buy if you get it new, you can do nothing with it without a computer

If I can help, let me know 


us Offline Lynn LeFey

  • Absolutely No Life Club
  • *******
    • Posts: 7,917
  • Any tool is better than nothing. Some not by much
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #10 on: August 06, 2014, 06:22:16 PM
This looks like a good set-up. The topo maps 2-way radio and weather band radio make this really nice for hikers.

 :tu:


spam Offline comis

  • *
  • *
  • Zombie Apprentice
  • ********
    • Posts: 11,149
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #11 on: August 07, 2014, 12:55:52 PM
yeah, I really did hope they could bring it to market in reasonable time, and be able to continue to sell and provide support afterwards.  Looks like a decent device with enough deviation from a usual tablet, but with good outdoor related features that hikers may like.


us Offline ironraven

  • *
  • No Life Club
  • ******
    • Posts: 3,071
  • American Clandestine Materials Executive (ACME)
Re: Earl - The backcountry survival tablet
Reply #12 on: August 11, 2014, 06:22:16 AM
I'm going to let it hit the market and give it a while. Then, maybe, I'll buy
"Even if it is only the handful of people I meet on the street, or in my home, I can still protect them with this one sword" Kenshin Himura

Necessity is the mother of invention. If you're not ready, it's "a mother". If you are, it's "mom".

"I love democracy" Sheev Palpatine, upon his election to Chancellor.


 

Donations

Operational Funds

Help us keep the Unworkable working!
Donate with PayPal!
March Goal: $300.00
Due Date: Mar 31
Total Receipts: $379.86
PayPal Fees: $19.62
Net Balance: $360.24
Above Goal: $60.24
Site Currency: USD
120% 
March Donations

Community Links


Powered by EzPortal