Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?

Jack van Tilburg

@Con-Hennekens said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

@HighPeakRider, I usually use the phone in landscape mode, because that's just how people see the world anyway.

That world changes at that point. Look at Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. The portrait mode is used most often there. And many video and photo applications have already adapted their technology to this. That's the way it is supposed to be. The consumer decides and the technology must serve this purpose (where possible).
And you are right that humans have a broad view. But if you want to focus on a particular faction, you may have to narrow that broad view.

Con Hennekens

I don't think my setup is very interesting, but here's just my thoughts on it:

I use a CAT S52, which is a rugged phone marketed as Caterpillar. It is sturdy, waterproof, military specced, can be handled with gloves, runs the better part of a day on battery. I acquired it for €250,- but unluckily follow-up S53 is quite a bit more expensive. I use this specifically for navigation on my motorbike, and for geocaching purposes. Why not? it is a lot cheaper then a Zumo XT. Only backdraw so far is that its brightness is a bit less, but so far it sufficed. I am planning on designing a visor for it this upcoming winter.

For the mount I use this OptiLine stuff. It fits my existing RAM ball. Because I use the CAT not for a daily phone, I have no problem sticking the adaptor plate directly to it, without an extra bumper-cover, which is bad for heat-dissipation anyway. Optiline does not offer a vibration dampener as far as I know, but a military specced phone does not need any. I chose this OptiLine because it was way cheaper than a Quadlock or SP Connect. I am very content with it.

My charger is one like this. It's fitted directly to battery with an inline fuse. I did not want to mess with the BMW canbus, and this way I can charge my co-riders stuff or my own headset, while drinking coffee without the engine running. Also it does not make much sense to have a Voltmeter only running when ignition is on. The thing can be switch off and does not leak any current. Since I ride a naked, I had to invent some mount to make it look nice. I think my 3D printed mount does a great job in that regard

I did built a BarButtons and printed the case myself. I tried to upgrade it with a magnetic mount but that was not very succesful. It wobbles while pressing buttons . I have thoughts about a powered mount instead, so that you can easily detach the unit from the bike while leaving the the powercord neatly attached to the mount. But to be honest I use the BB seldomly, so I am not sure I will go on with this idea yet.

richtea999

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

That world changes at that point. Look at Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. The portrait mode is used most often there. And many video and photo applications have already adapted their technology to this. That's the way it is supposed to be.

Phones get used in portrait for a few reasons:

Holding a phone is easier in portrait because the centre of gravity is down through your hand, not off to the side
You can't answer a phonecall without one end being near your ear and the other near your mouth
Reading text is easier in short widths because you don't lose your place so easily

But landscape generally works best for human eyes - they've evolved to scan sideways, not up and down. There's not much danger/food up and down.

Interestingly, satnavs have vertical/portrait information because that's where you're going, but to help people cope with that, the view is tipped to make it appear more 'landscape'. Funny old world!

But in terms of motorcycling setups, I suspect it's whatever doesn't block your view of the other controls.

Nick Carthew

@richtea999 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

But in terms of motorcycling setups, I suspect it's whatever doesn't block your view of the other controls.

This is the reason why I switched to landscape view after re-positioning my phone from the handlebars to above the dashboard.
Portrait view blocked some of my dashboard and therefore if I wanted my phone in a clear line of sight position for safer viewing it needed to be mounted in landscape.
I first thought and therefore preferred portrait view because more of the road ahead could be viewed and factually that is correct but the difference is negligible and makes next to no difference. I now prefer landscape view.
It's a funny old world!

Jack van Tilburg

I make no judgment about the right or wrong of portrait or landscape mode. And I'm not trying to convince anyone to use one or the other. I point to a trend that ultimately influences the user and their habits, causing portrait mode to become mainstream.
It is up to the app providers to adapt to this, or not. But ultimately the customer decides and the technology adapts (or not).
By the way, I think that suits Corjan and Joost well

Con Hennekens

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

That world changes at that point.

That world doesn't change at all. It's the smartphone that changes people. Those applications you mention work as easy in landscape as in portrait orientation, if not even better. You don't have a vertical monitor setup I suppose? And how have you positioned your TV? I don't think it's the consumer that decided this. It's the GUI makers of the first smartphones that went about it the wrong way and have set the benchmark for it. That's why we are watching amateur portrait video clips on TV with those horrible colored side panels to fill up the TV screen.

@richtea999 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

Interestingly, satnavs have vertical/portrait information because that's where you're going

Well, every satnav I know has had landscape orientation. The sides are used to display information panels without obstructing the view on the map. It's only since the later smartphone era that the XT is designed to be able to be used in portrait. And that was only after people were reprogrammed by their smartphones And the XT is the only one (I know of).

It's a funny old world indeed!

Nick Carthew

@Con-Hennekens said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:
It's only since the later smartphone era that the XT is designed to be able to be used in portrait. And that was only after people were reprogrammed by their smartphones And the XT is the only one (I know of).

Just for clarity, the TomTom can be used in portrait mode too.

Jack van Tilburg

@Nick-Carthew said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

It's only since the later smartphone era that the XT is designed to be able to be used in portrait.

My 590 could be set to portrait mode.

HighPeakRider

@Con-Hennekens XT in portrait and using it this way puts the Garmin branding in the correct orientation. But i have always used mine in landscape….

Stefan Hummelink

@richtea999 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

I expect to get problems with rain giving false presses, but it hasn't happened. Yet

For specifically this purpose I activate a TouchBlock app that blocks the touchscreen and unlocks the screen with button combinations (configurable), as soon as water starts to flow :).

Con Hennekens

@Stefan-Hummelink, Great idea! Which app ar you using for that?

Stefan Hummelink

@Con-Hennekens I utilize this one:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clstudios.screenlock

The amount of settings is sufficient for me and it works a charm. Try it out.

RetiredWingMan

@Stefan-Hummelink interesting, I tried to download it but was blocked saying it was made an older version of Android. I might try Touch Lock - screen lock.

Stefan Hummelink

@Doug-Robinson Well, maybe it works for me since I'm stuck on Android 11 due to my 5 year old dinosaur of a phone.

There are plenty of these apps available though. This was the one have a great experience with.

Maybe keep us posted how your selected one holds up?

richtea999

It works for me on Android 13, even though it initially said incompatible with my phone in the description. Odd, but it installed fine and nice that it worked.

I struggled to find how to enable it for a couple of minutes - but just long press on the app icon and there's an option to start blocking.

Thanks Stefan!

Stefan Hummelink

@richtea999 I simply enable the notification function from inside the app before I'm out riding. Then as soon as the rain falls, I can lock the screen immediately by pulling down the notification bar and tapping the notification.

No problemo! All here to help eachother right.

Con Hennekens

@Stefan-Hummelink, works like a charm! Thanks

Stefan Hummelink

@Con-Hennekens You're welcome.