Navionics Updated Contour Lines

Lifeproof WAS good  +1 on that one!  Fully useable in the case, etc...

As for FF aps for the iPhone or Droid ... yes and no.  A few independent companies are playing with the idea.  Raymarine has a new unit that still requires a head but is displayed on an iPad or iPhone.  Not sure how the market is taking to that as of yet.  Time will tell I guess.  I'm sure others have stuff in works 

Do I like the idea ... not yet.  The thought of loosing an expensive phone overboard doesn't excite me.  Nor does the lack of screen size unless you go to an iPad mini or something of that nature.  My iPad links up with my Lowrance setup on the boat & doubles as a complete system but I reserve that for the boat & not the kayak.  That has been in play for a few years now.

Well said Bill,  losing or damaging an expensive phone is no fun.  I've seen 2 iPhones get trashed when the owners used them on kayak trips.  Both now use large screen fish finders.  Personally my bad eyesight can't see the small details on a phone.

Those are great info to solve some puzzles in my head. Thank you both!

Lifeproof WAS good  +1 on that one!  Fully useable in the case, etc...

As for FF aps for the iPhone or Droid ... yes and no.  A few independent companies are playing with the idea.  Raymarine has a new unit that still requires a head but is displayed on an iPad or iPhone.  Not sure how the market is taking to that as of yet.  Time will tell I guess.  I'm sure others have stuff in works 

Do I like the idea ... not yet.  The thought of loosing an expensive phone overboard doesn't excite me.  Nor does the lack of screen size unless you go to an iPad mini or something of that nature.  My iPad links up with my Lowrance setup on the boat & doubles as a complete system but I reserve that for the boat & not the kayak.  That has been in play for a few years now.

Well said Bill,  losing or damaging an expensive phone is no fun.  I've seen 2 iPhones get trashed when the owners used them on kayak trips.  Both now use large screen fish finders.  Personally my bad eyesight can't see the small details on a phone.

Mine either!

It appears as if the focus, for now, isn't on expanding FF/GPS systems to a iPhone/pad/Droid type of market as a sole unit.  As a supplement, it is a novel add on and can be useful. For the last couple of years, I've had a Lowrance wifi setup that allows an iPad/phone to be linked up to the network and see/operate as it was the fishfinder.  Fun, yes.  Necessary, no.  Makes a great teaching tool when I have others on board because they can see on the iPad what I am doing on my HDS unit & vice-versa.  For bigger boats, it would make for a FAR less expensive second station on a flying bridge or down in the cabin, etc.  Raymarine is doing something quite similar now too and I believe garmin as well.

What is the direction of this technology?  Who REALLY knows!  The fishfinder has made very minor leaps & bounds (as has GPS) over the last 20 years ... until recently (last couple years).  The players in this industry realized that people were hungry for change & marine advancements.  The big changes I have seen so far in 2015 are the ability to upload/download maps & info while OTW with your fishfinder/gps unit.  More "real time" technologies.  I think this will be the focus of direction for the players over the next couple years as the brands jockey for position in the Cloud based world of fishing/navigation.  Chart chips will become obsolete I tell ya!

The kayak use market of FF/GPS is most likely the fastest growing marine market yet represents a TINY fraction of the overall business the marine electronics manufacturers design/fabricate units for.  Im sure we could come up with a host of GREAT ideas for the kayak market but they will most likely go unheard unless the ideas cross over into the majority market of their electronics demographics.  I do see the "real time" technology being helpful though so let's all ride this & see where it goes!

You can also navigate to the web app online: http://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#@36.739182,-121.983970,8z
Then use the flyout button on the left to compare different versions of Navionics (Gold vs Platinum etc). I have this bookmarked on my phone, in case I want to explore structure etc. But it's not going to say "you are here" like the mobile app. 
I was actually considering getting a cheapo tablet to use as a GPS screen. Just put it in a waterproof case and attach it to a RAM mount, then turn on mobile hotspot on my real phone (which would be stored safely inside a drybox in the hatch).