Bloody navionics blocked access to charts on phone

[steve yates]

Pleae dont say you should use a proper chart plotter, as the apps work very well on the phone and ipad, and this issue was purely structural by navionics.

I fired it up on my phone today to compare the position with the newly installed gps unit, and I got an onscreen message asking me to log in. The signal was rubbish so kept dropping, meaning I got error messages trying to log in, not to mention I had to figure out whatemail and password I had used. It was infuriating and irritating, but happily I was tied up at the bankside mooring so din't NEED to access my charts.

There was no way to get to the charts past the message without actually logging in. That could have landed me in serious crap if I was underway in a tight situation when I fired it up.

Not clever, putting the collection of marketing data above the useability of a paid product. Bearing in mind I have been running this app on my phone for 5 years, and upgrade every year to get latest updates. They KNOW this phone carries legit charts.

(by the way, i got logged on via the wifi at home when I got back, and it wanted to update my charts as they were old, fine, but absolutely not fine that you decide I cannot access my charts until I log in.)

 

[LittleSister]

Pleae dont say you should use a proper chart plotter

OK.

You should use paper charts.

 

[steve yates]

Lol, I do actually have them, hence why the gps, I mark my position if on a sea crossing hourly, ish.

 

[Just_sayin']

I’ve just tried my new phone.

Navionics asked me to log in.

I did.

I now have Navionics on my phone.

So if I’m reading things correctly you had a poor signal and couldn’t remember your email or password.

"collection of marketing data" ?

Um.

??

 

[Ningaloo]

Certainly looks like they did a big update that needed migration of existing data.
I couldn't remember my pw so did a pw reset but the phone refused to log me back in after this. I had to go onto the laptop, reset the password there in order to clear things on the phone.
Then as soon as I logged on the phone in it asked me to restart the app and this cycled around for a minute or so before it finally completed reformatting and let me in.

It would be good of Google offered the app developers a way of notification post-download to indicate that new authentication is required immediately after downloads. In my case downloads are done automatically so it may be weeks or months before I realise I have a new version that required a data connection to proceed. I only use Navionics at home when I don't have access to a full MFD but for those that rely on it offshore, this could be very inconvenient.

 

[Sandy]

Lol, I do actually have them, hence why the gps, I mark my position if on a sea crossing hourly, ish.

Do you not do an EP as well? I quite enjoy working up an EP then comparing it with a GPS fix.

 

[steve yates]

No, but a good idea sandy.

 

[steve yates]

I’ve just tried my new phone.

Navionics asked me to log in.

I did.

I now have Navionics on my phone.

So if I’m reading things correctly you had a poor signal and couldn’t remember your email or password.

"collection of marketing data" ?

Um.

??

As mentioned, I have had it for years, I was logged in. You may have noticed you dont log in every time you use it?
Thats my point, you dont actually have to be logged in to use navionics, try it on your pc at home. ,So, as a long time purchaser, I am annoyed at being blocked from using my app UNTIL I logged in.
Poor signal? The app uses built in gps not mobile network, signal is irrelevant to it working, otherwise it would be totally useless. Poor or no signal when sailing? Yes! its very common, I dont expect to be blocked from my app for this.
Forgotten my password? Again, a VERY common thing nowadays that passwords are required for everything, and again, not something I expect to be an issue using a critical app.

Collecting marketing data? If you think any company does not use you logging in to collect data on your use and movements you are naive. Its the principal reason they want you logged in.

 

[Black Sheep]

Thanks for the heads-up.
Just trying to run it on my phone (I haven't for a while...) and it's just sitting there telling me "Loading...". How long do I have to wait before it demands logon information I can't remember? It's over five minutes now.

I agree, it's inexcusable to engineer a safety-related product such that it is designed to suddenly stop working without warning.

Edit: it came up after about 8 minutes. Luckily, I can see charts. It's offering me the option to update - I assume I had the good sense to turn off automatic updates. But for anyone not as anal as me, that could be a serious problem. I hope I'm relatively protected as the tablet I use for nav doesn't have a sim card, and my intention is only to connect to wifi very occasionally, and at home.

Sure, we should all have alternative means of nav. But with Navionics unavailable, we lose one of our alternatives. And if we can't rely on its availability, why bother having it at all?

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Very odd, mine's just started as normal, but offers me a chart update (28mb fwiw) as an option. I've now accepted that and it's carried on as usual, no password.

 

[fredrussell]

One of the reasons I switched to a chart plotter, the other being the mystifying absence of a ‘how to use Navionics’ online resource to back up the app.
That said, I still have the iPad with navionics on boat as a backup.

 

[Sea-Fever]

So you think navigation charts should be about safety and reliability? I’m sorry, you’re wrong, it’s about allowing Garmin to extract maximum dollar from your pocket and that’s the end of it. My personal experience of Garmin is that they monetise their products to the maximum at the expense of usability.

 

[requiem]

It would be good of Google offered the app developers a way of notification post-download to indicate that new authentication is required immediately after downloads.

I like that idea, or at least a notification of which apps have been updated so that basic smoke testing can be performed. (Don't even leave it up to the app developer.) Better is to control the update schedule yourself, so things don't break at inconvenient times.

My habit is to update and review charts before leaving shore, which provides some mitigation. Of course, I can see some unlucky person having an auto-update complete just as their boat sails out of range.

 

[Kilo]

Sounds v frustrating but on a slightly different point, why install gps? I've always assumed that the handheld etrex and the position on the handheld radio would be enough to give & confirm position of for any reason the tablet with navionics gives out?
Should I be rethinking?

 

[dansaskip]

Its a problem of this interconnected always on-line world and way of thinking. The developers don't live in or actually use their products in the real world where you may not have a wifi connection or phone signal.

 

[Bilgediver]

(by the way, i got logged on via the wifi at home when I got back, and it wanted to update my charts as they were old, fine, but absolutely not fine that you decide I cannot access my charts until I log in.)

There is provision to log in when no signal etc however it isnt obvilous and the print for the screen hotspot does not exactly stand out. On my Hudl it is centre lower third of the screen and that allows the choice of no updates and proceed. I forget what it actually says. You might think looking at it that it is greyed out but on the Hudl it is the way in.

FOUND IT
What it says at the bottom f the screen is Start Now

Do not touch anything else .

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

There is provision to log in when no signal etc however it isnt obvilous and the print for the screen hotspot does not exactly stand out. On my Hudl it is centre lower third of the screen and that allows the choice of no updates and proceed. I forget what it actually says. You might think looking at it that it is greyed out but on the Hudl it is the way in.

FOUND IT
What it says at the bottom f the screen is Start Now

Do not touch anything else .

That's what I remembered. There was a thread a year or two ago with the same confusion.

 

[Bilgediver]

That's what I remembered. There was a thread a year or two ago with the same confusion.

Just tried my Hudl 1 and yes it starts but there is temmptation to touch the spot above the "Start Now" But that starts the Packing process pre upgrade.

 

[steve yates]

Sounds v frustrating but on a slightly different point, why install gps? I've always assumed that the handheld etrex and the position on the handheld radio would be enough to give & confirm position of for any reason the tablet with navionics gives out?
Should I be rethinking?

It is enough, but i like a fixed gos in the cockpit.
Several reasons, the handheld etrex is my backup, if it was my regular instrument, I would lose it, or forget where i had left ot, or forget the spare batteries
I like the compass feature on the gps, so I have a backup should my boat compass be out for some reason.
its a far easier screen to read and see.
it doesnt need any hands to hold itwhen rough, and doesnt bounce around the cockpit

I find it a really useful thing to have, but its not essential ifyou already have a little etrex,

 

[Yealm]

Cockpit-mounted chartplotter for when it's cold, windy and wet (and AIS).

Navionics on iPhone/iPad for everything else.