DivePhone: A Promising Technology

[Thalassamania]

At least on of the versions I've heard about (different company) has a hoseless model.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

There is another company (ScubaCapsule) with a very simliar product also on here. Let's have a shootout.

Your product is considerably larger than theirs. Theirs also offers the use of the video/still cameras in the iPhone. Does yours?

Your web site indicates that it is possible to order the base model now. That's nice, but the question I have is: is it actually SHIPPING now, or is this a pre-order?

I understand that your product disables all other functions while diving. That's a good and necessary thing. However, how does your product handle SI and NoFly times when you return to your resort and exit the app? How about during the SI, if I decide to make a call?
If I have not entered a next dive, does the software scroll through the current adjusted NDL for various depths, like my Suunto does?

Are the app and desktop software available now? Like many others, I'm sure, I'd very much like to see the real interface before dropping a bunch of cash.

Does the desktop software support importing old logs from other computers? Which ones?

And finally, an important point not mentioned anywhere on your site: how much does it cost?

 

[dmoore19]

The other one I have read about does have the capability along with being able to use the camera and capable of playing music through underwater headphones.

I agree Thal, I think this is probably a technology that has a lot of potential.

 

[DiveNav]

I believe there are at least three companies working on this approach, .....

which one is the third one?

 

[Thalassamania]

There are two on the board and one that I know about from a confidential source. Like a lot of things, it may turn into vaporware. They are talking about some neat stuff, wireless, HUD that can be used with most masks, compass in the HUD, etc.

 

[DiveNav]

..... They are talking about some neat stuff, wireless, HUD that can be used with most masks, compass in the HUD, etc.

The only HUD I saw at DEMA was from Shearwater. Neat stuff.
But I don't recall it was for an iPhone.

I better get moving then

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[Innovasub]

There is another company (ScubaCapsule) with a very simliar product also on here. Let's have a shootout.

Your product is considerably larger than theirs. Theirs also offers the use of the video/still cameras in the iPhone. Does yours?

Your web site indicates that it is possible to order the base model now. That's nice, but the question I have is: is it actually SHIPPING now, or is this a pre-order?

I understand that your product disables all other functions while diving. That's a good and necessary thing. However, how does your product handle SI and NoFly times when you return to your resort and exit the app? How about during the SI, if I decide to make a call?
If I have not entered a next dive, does the software scroll through the current adjusted NDL for various depths, like my Suunto does?

Are the app and desktop software available now? Like many others, I'm sure, I'd very much like to see the real interface before dropping a bunch of cash.

Does the desktop software support importing old logs from other computers? Which ones?

And finally, an important point not mentioned anywhere on your site: how much does it cost?

Hi

I've read SCUBACAPSULE's website. Honestly and not only to promote our product over theirs, it seems like a project more than a product -with better PR than ours though-, and some of its promises are really hard to keep. We just began introducing our product to people because we keep it realistic, not promising anything we have not yet developed. Anyway, I'll answer your questions one by one:

Use of iPhone camera: Currently it takes a dangerous amount of battery to use the camera, reducing the reliability underwater. Other than that it would require a non-monobloc housing with penetrations, which risks the smartphone. We worked a lot on developing a trustable water proof housing. Lastly it would require a unique housing for each smartphone model since most of them have different camera locations. Therefore we think camera support is a non-realistic promise to keep right now, but if this method of dive computing becomes popular, then we believe one day it will provide us with cameras.

Size: There are some reasons for DivePhone to be bulky. The external module reading ambient data takes a significant space. Our wish to produce a universal device for most of the phones, PDA's and palms also make it large. Space inside the housing is larger than an iPhone. Lastly it is not that easy to develop reliable water-proofness for a housing in smaller sizes (just imagine the size of a camera housing compared to the camera itself.). Yet we think it is not that large to make your underwater experience uncomfortable.

Availability for Shipment: We recently began shipping some modules to neutral testers. It means that we have more than a few complete modules ready -which the other model seems not-. Though for conclusive shipping information it is better to consult us via our website.

SI and NoFly Timers: While you are making your call you need to close the application. For security reasons we can't allow it to work during calls and etc. Though it keeps the SI and NoFly times in memory, after your call you can reopen the application and see the SI and NoFly times from your previous dive.

Desktop Application: It is available on iTunes for apple devices for free. Its called Deco Monitor and it has many surface applications like dive simulations. It has reached many hits so far. Though we will be charging a small fee for it soon. For Windows Mobile devices I would recommend filling the contact information in our website if you are interested in the application.

Cost: Is around 420 Euros in total with the application and housing. This price is not yet a conclusive one, but the conclusive price will be close to this amount.

Other Questions: I will answer the ones that I left unanswered asap.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Availability for Shipment: We recently began shipping some modules to neutral testers. It means that we have more than a few complete modules ready -which the other model seems not-. Though for conclusive shipping information it is better to consult us via our website.

So short answer is no, it's not shipping yet. I can't order one and expect to take it diving next week.

SI and NoFly Timers: While you are making your call you need to close the application. For security reasons we can't allow it to work during calls and etc. Though it keeps the SI and NoFly times in memory, after your call you can reopen the application and see the SI and NoFly times from your previous dive.

So if I return to the resort and exit the app for 4-5 hours, then reopen it, will it have the correct SI/NoFly times, or merely start the counters over again from the point at which they were turned off?

Desktop Application: It is available on iTunes for apple devices for free. Its called Deco Monitor and it has many surface applications like dive simulations. It has reached many hits so far. Though we will be charging a small fee for it soon. For Windows Mobile devices I would recommend filling the contact information in our website if you are interested in the application.

Well, the desktop application wouldn't be on iTunes. That would be the iPhone app. However, I cannot find "Deco Monitor" or "Dive Phone" on the iTunes app store. Searching for "Innovasub" does find two apps, but neither one is either free or the Deco Monitor app. Can you check on this and provide information to download both the iPhone app and the desktop dive logging software? As I said, I'd very much like to see the actual interface/usability prior to dropping close to $600.

Thank you.

 

[Thalassamania]

...
So if I return to the resort and exit the app for 4-5 hours, then reopen it, will it have the correct SI/NoFly times, or merely start the counters over again from the point at which they were turned off?
...

My read is that when reopened the calculation of SI/NoFLy times will be updated based on the real-time clock, so what the devices would display would be exactly the same as it would have been had it not been exited.

 

[Peter_C]

SI and NoFly Timers: While you are making your call you need to close the application. For security reasons we can't allow it to work during calls and etc. Though it keeps the SI and NoFly times in memory, after your call you can reopen the application and see the SI and NoFly times from your previous dive.

What happens if the phone is turned off, due to a reboot, or due to a dead battery? I reboot my Iphone often, and the battery dies often. You make it sound like it saves it to memory, but you can confirm that please?