iGlide Lite app good for
The maps are pretty good! The app must have in the future the nearest function the L/D ratio to the landing field and some other features
The app could be improved by showing the track flown, i.e. both out and return in addition to the track displayed to a destination. This is would be particularly useful while flying in blue wave.
Some bad moments
Version 2.0 loads a black screen then drops on my iPhone 3GS. It is just useless.
Nice app, but limited in lite form. Go-to flights only, no drag-and-drop route planning (advertised on Butterfly iGlide editions page). Maps are huge, but gorgeous on iphone 4 Retina display, fuzzy on non-Retina iPad. Id give the lite version 5-stars if it would replay IGC files - the simulator is clunky. With a couple of revisions, it should be very nice.
The app is generally well organized, but is very buggy. Using the direct to feature, for example, reliably causes the app to crash, deleting any data about the current flight, and leaving no clear options for restarting the recording. The screen occasionally locks up and has to be reset by scrolling away and then back again. So far, I think this is the only iPhone app of this kind. But if you need something even remotely reliable, you should look for another option
This is a very good first effort at a soaring program that fully utilizes the iOS interface. The only thing it is lacking to be a competitive replacement for the popular PDA based gliding programs is a connection to pressure data from your variometer system. I am running ADV version 2.0.6 on an iPhone 4S, and have flown with it in the cockpit alongside Winpilot, SeeYou Mobile, and XCsoar for several 500Km + flights. Contrary to the previous reviewer, I have not found the app to have frequent crashing bugs. The only crashes I have seen were due to a corrupted map database, all fixed by downloading the update.
Pros:
* Very clear Retina display while slightly smaller than PDAs is never the less more legible due to the map rendering algorithms. Most competitive programs require the terrain map to be switched off to be legible in sunlight. I have not had to do this with iGlide. Maps are very detailed, in particular showing runways and taxiways of airports.
* Very easy to use task editing in flight (in ADV version) with "rubber banding" of task turn points by a single touch-and-drag. This requires between 5 and 15 button clicks in other programs to accomplish. Drag and drop reordering in the task list. Touch the task line and drag to create a new waypoint, the waypoint automatically picks up its elevation from the terrain map. If dragged close to a database turn point it will snap to that turn point, making operation in rough air easy.
* Nav boxes slide across the screen with a finger flick giving quick access to many more quickly and easily without cluttering the the screen. All are customizable for content using iOS standard interface features.
* Scrolling and zooming are very quick and smooth.
Cons:
* Manual is incomplete (at least the English one).
* No connection to serial pressure data (at least in the USA - I understand this it promised for the future). This means no vario data and no reliable wind data.
* Glides to waypoints or final glides show intervening terrain in profile, but do not calculate altitude adjustments due to terrain. Most competitive offerings have this feature.
* There is a bug in the task "rubber band" editing in which it sometimes picks up the wrong task segment to edit, rather than the one you have touched.
* Website and manual do not explain the differences between versions well. In particular, the Lite version has only a simple go to, no tasks of multiple waypoints. ADV adds this along with the really slick rubber band editing, but waypoints are exclusively 1KM cylinders and cannot be changed. PRO adds the ability to change waypoint rounding definitions.
In summary this is the first program that uses the iOS interface including gestures, and takes it to heart. The usability of the features (that have been implemented) is years ahead of other smartphone and PDA based offerings in my opinion. They need to complete the feature set and documentation, then it will rate 5 stars.
I looked at this long and hard before purchasing. Couldnt find much feedback on the Internet. However, I gave it a shot and have not been disappointed. My first indication is that it is a VERY good app. As an added bonus it works VERY well with Condor! I am looking forward analyzing it further during the soaring season!
I have been using iGlide Lite for about five months and its just what I need in the glider cockpit. Its very simple and intuitive to use, with no unnecessary features and the complexity that comes with that. I reported two minor bugs and they were promptly fixed in the next release. Im happy to see the app consistently improving. Compatibility with Condor is an added bonus so that I could get familiar with how to use it on the ground.