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With the arrival of TZ iBoat 4, TimeZero has taken a major step forward by finally offering its application on Android. Behind this move to a new platform lies a complete overhaul of the software, its architecture and its interface. Mapping, weather, NMEA data, sport fishing, anchoring or logbook, the application now brings together most of the functions that today's boaters expect from a mobile navigation tool.
A new application that's more than just an update
For long-time TZ iBoat users, version 4 marks a break with previous generations. In order to offer an Android version, the development teams have rebuilt the application around a new software architecture and a completely revised graphics engine.
This redesign aims to offer an identical experience on iPhone, iPad and now Android smartphones and tablets. Developments have mobilized teams in Portland, Bidart and Barcelona around a common technical base designed to accommodate future software evolutions.
The application was also tested by yachtsmen, sailors and sport fishermen in various navigation zones before its commercial launch.
An interface organized around dedicated functions
The most visible change concerns the user interface. Until now, several tools could be displayed simultaneously on the map. TZ iBoat 4 now adopts a logic of specialized screens accessible from a new navigation bar, the TZ Bar.
Each function now has its own workspace. Weather, navigation data, logbook, anchorages, depth sounder, tides and sport fishing functions are grouped together in separate screens.
This organization frees up more space for cartography, while facilitating access to tools used during route planning or coastal navigation. The helm can be customized to focus on the functions most frequently used on board.
Enhanced weather forecasting to help you plan your outings
The weather is one of the major areas of development in this new version. A dedicated screen now brings together all the weather information available in the application. Forecasts remain accessible even without a connection, thanks to data download. When an Internet connection is available, information is updated in real time.
TZ iBoat 4 also incorporates a new generation of rain radar covering more geographical areas. Lightning strikes are now displayed directly on the cartography, enabling rapid identification of active thunderstorm cells. Users can overlay multiple weather layers and consult different high-resolution forecast models to fine-tune their analysis before setting off.
Better integration of NMEA instruments
Boaters who use their tablet as a navigation repeater will also find several improvements in NMEA connectivity. TZ iBoat 4 simplifies the configuration of different onboard data sources. The application can now manage several NMEA gateways simultaneously, and define a hierarchy when several devices provide the same information. GPS, AIS, navigation units or NavNet multifunction units can now be organized more easily.
Configuration of depths, probe offsets or environmental data also benefits from a clearer presentation.
A tool designed for both navigation and fishing
Like the other solutions in the TimeZero ecosystem, TZ iBoat retains a strong focus on sport fishing. It now has its own dedicated screen, just like the other main functions. Elite subscriptions give access to the ocean layers used by many anglers to search for potentially active areas: surface temperature, chlorophyll, altimetry and currents.
Community mapping is also enriched by the appearance of marinas. Users can consult information on available equipment, share photographs or assign ratings.
Position recording adapted to sea conditions
Among the more discreet new features is a special keyboard for entering geographic coordinates. Designed for use in a moving cockpit, it occupies a large part of the screen and displays only those characters compatible with the step currently being entered. Users can instantly switch between decimal degrees, degrees minutes seconds or decimal degrees and minutes, without having to modify the application's general settings.
With this fourth generation, TZ iBoat becomes a true mobile navigation center, capable of combining cartography, weather, on-board data and fishing tools in a single interface. An evolution that confirms TimeZero's determination to extend its ecosystem beyond the PC and iPad, to all the mobile terminals used on board today.
However, one function is still missing from this new generation. Despite the presence of cartography, advanced weather and navigation data, TZ iBoat 4 does not yet offer integrated weather routing. This absence has not gone unnoticed by offshore sailors. But this may soon change. In fact, TimeZero is one of the players who have made a major contribution to the democratization of routing tools in yachting over the last few decades. Several industry observers are already talking about the imminent arrival of this function within the mobile application. Pending an official announcement, TZ iBoat 4 now has most of the building blocks required to accommodate this eagerly-awaited tool for both coastal and offshore cruising enthusiasts.
