Is there an app for that?

[captain_dc]

I'm looking at smart phones at the moment. I've seen the usefulness of having mobile browsing up to date weather and NOTAMS in the cockpit.

I think I've decided to go with a smart phone with the android operating system so as to have access to the google apps marketplace. I'm trying to avoid the Steve jobs Cult. Any feedback or advice on useful aplications of different phones would be apreciated.

From my own research: Bell and Telus are the only service providers in my area of northern B.C. so the only options for the android O.S. on a phone is Galaxy with Bell and Hero with telus, anything else would not have acces to all the apps except for the iphone. I personaly like the Hero more, but I don't know if its enouph to switch over to telus, any coments? Any specific feedback on either of these phones or the Iphone as it relates to aviation durability and general usefulness would be apreciated.

Maybe we could start a list of useful aviation Apps.

DC

[pika]

Useful aviation apps has been done a few times. Why avoid the apple product?

[captain_dc]

I've seen a lot of discusions about the iphone aviation apps, just not a lot about android apps, most likely because its fairly new to Canada. I think there will likely be more apps in the end for the android phones since they are open source. My reasons for staying away from the Iphone include but are not limited to the cult mentality of the company, the proprietary nature of the media and the compatability isues. The Iphone is a good product, just not my joice.

[DanJ]

There's also the Blackberry Storm, with all the BB apps, if you are after the larger screen. I like mine, although the iphone on Rogers is faster. Bell keeps talking about their new HSPA network, which came out since I've had my Storm, and how fast it is. I haven't noticed any increase in speed since the fall, but maybe there is something I need to update to access the new network.

[Louis]

The BlackBerry Storm 9530 is an international and worldwide electronic communicating device, featuring CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A data, UMTS with HSDPA, and quad-band GSM with EDGE data access speed. [...] However, the BlackBerry Storm only has European, Oceania, Asia and Brazil UMTS and HSDPA frequency bands. Therefore if the BlackBerry Storm is used with GSM wireless carriers in North America, the BlackBerry Storm will only be able to access wireless internet at EDGE data speed maximum. This is because GSM carriers in North America, namely AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers and Fido do not operate on the same frequency bands for 3G as the rest of the world. If BlackBerry Storm is used in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania or Brazil, HSDPA wireless data speed can be achieved, provided that the local GSM network supports it. The phone will use the primary network technology of its intended carrier domestically, and rely upon the GSM/UMTS/HSDPA networks mainly when traveling abroad.

So unless Bell and Telus release a different Storm model that works on their new network, the older ones don't.

[captain_dc]

I've decided on the Samsung Galaxy with the android OS.
So I'm waiting for it to be deliverd up in the northern nether region of Canada in wich I live.
Any advice on google marketplace apps or other free form programs would be apreciated, otherwise I'll post them myself as I discover them.

DC