I noticed my 2013 will drain the battery itself if left off uncharged for a week or so. Is there a way to really turn it off so this does not happen? Also, what is your favorite aviation software package for this android?
I haven't taken the time to figure out how to shut down all the background operations that slowly eat the battery. The obvious things to shut down are pretty easy to do -- turn off Bluetooth, Wifi, and location services (GPS).
Otherwise, I just lay it on my wireless charger when it needs juice.
For aviation, we use two apps:
1. GRT App. This allows your Nexus 7 to reproduce the GRT Horizon HXr's display in the back seat. It is WONDERFUL, giving the back seat of an RV-8 a complete REAL EFIS.
2. Garmin Pilot. We have run Pilot since its inception in 2012, and it has matured into a great app. The Nexus 7's ability to multi-task means you can run both of these apps simultaneously, toggling back and forth between them as needed. It's a great set up.
We have the Garmin GDL-39 ADS-B receiver as well, which gives us traffic and weather for free in Garmin Pilot (you attach the Nexus 7 to the GDL-39 via Bluetooth.). Now that we have this same (and more) capability in the GRT Horizon, this is sort of redundant, but it does allow the back seater to see weather and traffic, too. (The GRT's app currently only displays the basic EFIS, sans traffic and weather. We're hoping that they add that capability to the app, over time.)
The Nexus 7/GDL-39 combo is the best, most cost-effective navigation/weather/traffic tool on the market, IMHO.