If you use Jepp charts on the ipad, there's a button on the top right of the Jepp app that lets you dim/brighten the screen within the app itself.
Beefitarian wrote:The ipad GPS works off the 3G network. If you're flying you'll probably want to add an external unit that uses nav sattilites.
This is not accurate. The Ipad (and Ipad 2) internal GPS comes in 2 flavors: the wifi-only model has an assisted GPS, which means it's not a 'real' gps unit and requires an internet connection to function. The 3G ipad has a 'real' gps built-in, which works with no data connection required (ie at altitude). That being said, the 'real' gps on the ipad isn't the strongest receiver and likely could benefit from the addition of a bluetooth standalone GPS unit.
One other thing to note is that in order to have GPS functionality, you need to make sure that "airplane mode" is OFF (in the settings menu). If airplane mode is on, it shuts off the 3g, wifi AND gps.
I'm waiting for Jepp to add airborne weather capability (through a bluetooth XM receiver) and geo-referencing on the approach charts to make it perfect - once that happens we'll be able to throw away our finicky tablet computers and go straight ipad in the cockpit.
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