Multitool.org Forum
Outdoor Section => Outdoor Tech => Topic started by: comis on July 16, 2014, 08:31:56 AM
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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://imageshack.com/a/img538/6412/bd861b.jpg)
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
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That looks like a pretty cool gadget.
I want one :D
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Nice gadget :)
E-ink... so not very good for watching pictures of MTs and SAKs :(
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I lost interest at "Android" ::) but otherwise looks like it would be a decent gizmo
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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 :-\
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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.
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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
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This looks like a good set-up. The topo maps 2-way radio and weather band radio make this really nice for hikers.
:tu:
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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.
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I'm going to let it hit the market and give it a while. Then, maybe, I'll buy