Raymarine e7, a major refresh!
The Raymarine e7 being announced today may be the most important launch of the year, because it's not only a hot new 7-inch MFD design but it also marks a complete refresh of Ray's multifunction display software. While it wisely retains the "HybridTouch" mix of touchscreen and keypad controls introduced in the E Wide Series -- though with notably fewer and bigger buttons -- I understand that the underlying code began at zero several years ago. And I see a lot of fresh interface ideas in the many product photos you'll find after the break. But while the e7 will network with up to five other e7s and all sorts of existing Raymarine sensors and black boxes, it apparently will not network with existing Ray MFDs, which may be the downside of a complete software rewrite {correction: will network with E Wide and G series MFDs, see comment}. But then again, it surely can make some interesting new connections...
The e7 has built-in WiFi and when shipped in October there will purportedly be a free Raymarine app available that lets you stream whatever is on the e7's screen to an iPad. What's more, the Plotter Sync feature of Navionics Mobile -- version 2.0 just came out, by the way, and is looking very good -- will work directly to the e7 instead of needing an onboard WiFi router. So, plan a fishing trip or cruise at home on the iPad and sync up when you get aboard; then let the crew use the pad to see what you're doing during the day, or to keep an eye on how they're doing at the helm; and, finally, take your track ashore for bragging time. Are people going to like this, or what?
The e7 also has Bluetooth and can use it to control audio tracks on an iPhone or similar Bluetooth-equipped player that might be plugged into a stereo below. And the e7 can also take commands via Bluetooth...
...with the RCU-3 control that Raymarine is also introducing. It's designed to be clipped to a wheel as shown below or hung on a lanyard. I'm not sure just what it will do yet, but understand that audio control is one possibility.
Judging from the photo below, the e7 also seems to offer pretty complete autopilot control, though I'm not sure it can completely substitute for a dedicated head unit like the Simrad NSO/NSE/NSS series can.
And doesn't the screenshot below look like a new and improved route making routine (not to mention how much easier that chore is with a touchscreen)?
I'm a little dubious about this final shot of e7 video, wondering if isn't more a product of Photoshop than actual video resolution (though the LED LED backlit display is 800 x 480 pixels). But the image does speak to my day, which included nearly seven hours of making wakes in the good Gizmo. Now we're moored in Five Islands, I'm finishing up this entry on the boat's wondrous new computer system, and there a steamed lobster in my near future!
But you can keep exploring the new e7 because Raymarine has just put up loads of information. And get this: Today they're also introducing new i70 multifunction instruments and p70 autopilot heads. I think it's safe to say that Ray is very much back in the game.
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I forgot to mention the pricing, and that's more good news: The e7 will retail for $1,500, and the e7D with digital sonar will be $1,800.