Navionics update - beware!

[Cardo]

Navionics have updated their iOS apps to version 7. Quite a few changes, including a completely redesigned PlotterSync. Sadly, what this means is that they've removed the ability to sync waypoints and routes between iPhone/iPad and modern Raymarine plotters. Instead, they've replaced it with the New and Improved PlotterSync, which does nothing but copy sonar logs from your plotter and sends them to Navionics so they can improve their charts.

I've queried Navionics about this, and all they've said is that PlotterSync is New and Improved. New features may be added in the future (which could include past features), but they can't say what they may be or when this may happen.

So for now if you use this feature, stick with version 6. I've managed to roll back to version 6 where I can sync my routes, and I'll be keeping my sonar logs to myself, thank you very much.

Total fail, Navionics.

 

[NUTMEG]

Thanks for that

 

[Lucky Duck]

Thanks for that

+ 1, was considering getting the app for the Raymarine plotter syncing functionality but won't bother now.

 

[CFarr]

I updated my iPhone 4 and lost all my anchorages and tracks.
Bloody thing now crashes after a few mins everytime.
Unfortunately I back up automatically to the cloud and didn't open the app until it had already backed up - overwriting my previous version
Not a happy bunny.

 

[Anders_P42]

Navionics have updated their iOS apps to version 7. Quite a few changes, including a completely redesigned PlotterSync. Sadly, what this means is that they've removed the ability to sync waypoints and routes between iPhone/iPad and modern Raymarine plotters. Instead, they've replaced it with the New and Improved PlotterSync, which does nothing but copy sonar logs from your plotter and sends them to Navionics so they can improve their charts.

I've queried Navionics about this, and all they've said is that PlotterSync is New and Improved. New features may be added in the future (which could include past features), but they can't say what they may be or when this may happen.

So for now if you use this feature, stick with version 6. I've managed to roll back to version 6 where I can sync my routes, and I'll be keeping my sonar logs to myself, thank you very much.

Total fail, Navionics.

How did you roll back the upgrade?

 

[BruceDanforth]

The anchorages will most likely still be in the same place: just sail there.

I updated my iPhone 4 and lost all my anchorages and tracks.
Bloody thing now crashes after a few mins everytime.
Unfortunately I back up automatically to the cloud and didn't open the app until it had already backed up - overwriting my previous version
Not a happy bunny.

 

[CFarr]

The anchorages will most likely still be in the same place: just sail there.

Thanks for that Bruce.
A majority of them were however not places I'd been to as yet but ones that I'd spent a great deal of time on searching out in the hope that one day I'd get the opportunity to sail in and drop the hook.
Ah well, hopefully it won't take me as long to find them again this time round.

Edit: except I can't save them can I, 'cause the app still keeps ruddy crashing!

 

[Cardo]

How did you roll back the upgrade?

I still have version 6 on my computer from my last sync using iTunes. I removed the latest version from my iPad and then re-synced it with iTunes telling iTunes to install the stored version.

I've been trying to put pressure on Navionics to reintroduce waypoint/route sync by posting/commenting on both the Navionics and Raymarine Facebook pages, as well as posting on other blogs (Panbo, etc.). So far Navionics are sticking to their guns, as expected.

I would urge all of you to encourage Navionics to sort this, by posting on their FB walls, Twitter, etc. Make it nice and public and show how displeased you are. If they get enough bad press, they'll have to sort it out.

 

[travlinon]

I have updated Navionics app on both my iPhone and ipad and have encountered no problems.
In settings you can turn off share tracks as well as plotter sync and leave sync my data on.
I have not synced any data to my plotter yet as it is in for repairs (raymarine e7d), however routes do sync between iPhone and ipad.
All my tracks are still available and the update has made the information for these fantastic with details such as maximum speed, duration and distance all readily available and compared to your maximum attained for any route.
There is a bar graph which shows a history of your track with details of speed and position for any particular point along the track. All my anchor points are still available. So far I reckon it is a vast improvement on previous version.

 

[Cardo]

I have updated Navionics app on both my iPhone and ipad and have encountered no problems.
In settings you can turn off share tracks as well as plotter sync and leave sync my data on.
I have not synced any data to my plotter yet as it is in for repairs (raymarine e7d), however routes do sync between iPhone and ipad.
All my tracks are still available and the update has made the information for these fantastic with details such as maximum speed, duration and distance all readily available and compared to your maximum attained for any route.
There is a bar graph which shows a history of your track with details of speed and position for any particular point along the track. All my anchor points are still available. So far I reckon it is a vast improvement on previous version.

The new version still syncs between iOS apps as it did before. But I hope you're not intending to sync your routes/waypoints with your e7d when you get it back, as that feature has been removed.

 

[Anders_P42]

I still have version 6 on my computer from my last sync using iTunes. I removed the latest version from my iPad and then re-synced it with iTunes telling iTunes to install the stored version.

I've been trying to put pressure on Navionics to reintroduce waypoint/route sync by posting/commenting on both the Navionics and Raymarine Facebook pages, as well as posting on other blogs (Panbo, etc.). So far Navionics are sticking to their guns, as expected.

I would urge all of you to encourage Navionics to sort this, by posting on their FB walls, Twitter, etc. Make it nice and public and show how displeased you are. If they get enough bad press, they'll have to sort it out.

I've never synced ipad with PC, so I will have lost the old version. Strange they would take such a useful feature out in this release.

 

[Tempus]

I managed to overwrite Version 6 before I read this thread... Arrg!

Has anybody got the file for version 6 buried in their iphone library that they would be willing to share?

You'd be doing the boating world (and me) a big favour.

 

[travlinon]

Thanks Cardo . I missed the crucial point that Navionics won't now sync with Raymarine plotters as previously done and with my plotter being recalled I have not had the opportunity to test it out. Hopefully I still have version 6 of the app on iTunes so I can roll back as suggested. One of the reasons of purchasing the E7d was the ability to sync with Navionics app which I was previously using and the ability to plot routes at home and sync on the boat was perfect.
I'm not having much luck lately with the E7d being recalled which has cost me $50 to send back to Raymarine (with no refund and a turn around time of anything from 1-2 months to get back a re-furbished unit) and now this app change.
I will also put pressure on those concerned to amend the app. Thanks again.

 

[Cardo]

Thanks Cardo . I missed the crucial point that Navionics won't now sync with Raymarine plotters as previously done and with my plotter being recalled I have not had the opportunity to test it out. Hopefully I still have version 6 of the app on iTunes so I can roll back as suggested. One of the reasons of purchasing the E7d was the ability to sync with Navionics app which I was previously using and the ability to plot routes at home and sync on the boat was perfect.
I'm not having much luck lately with the E7d being recalled which has cost me $50 to send back to Raymarine (with no refund and a turn around time of anything from 1-2 months to get back a re-furbished unit) and now this app change.
I will also put pressure on those concerned to amend the app. Thanks again.

I had my e7 replaced under the screen exchange program. As soon as they received my unit, they dispatched a refurb unit from their factory/service centre. I received it, via courier, in Corfu, 2 days after they received it. For reference, using couriers, items normally take at least a week to arrive in Corfu. I was pretty impressed, I have to say.

To everyone, I would urge you all to contact Navionics and Raymarine and insist they reintroduce the feature. I have pretty much run out of ways to pester them both now. They both simply produce the same canned response, but if you show your disappointment in public (FB, Twitter), then hopefully they'll listen.
Stupid companies thinking they know better than their customers!

 

[Lucky Duck]

Have you posted here? http://raymarine.ning.com/forum

If so I can give it a 'bump'

 

[Cardo]

Have you posted here? http://raymarine.ning.com/forum

If so I can give it a 'bump'

Not yet, may be worth it.

However, I have made some progress. I brought this to the attention of Ben from the Panbo blog. He wasn't aware of this removal of feature as, funnily enough, Navionics haven't been particularly public about it. He got in touch with his contact in Navionics to find out what's going on. It seems that Navionics weren't happy with the sync mechanism, which could be a bit glitchy (this is true, to be honest. It's not the most stable piece of software engineering) so they've decided to scrap what they had and start over from scratch. This new mechanism wasn't complete in time so it was left out of the version 7 overhaul of the app. They're apparently hoping to provide an update with the reengineered feature in the next few weeks or months.

Now, why Navionics don't say that in their canned response, I don't know. Their official canned response is complete marketing fail and whoever wrote it should be sacked.

 

[Lucky Duck]

They appear to have updated or replaced the app as it now claims to include a lot of additional functionality;

http://www.navionics.com/en/mobile-pc-app?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2014_Plotter%20Sync&utm_content=NAV414_PlotterSync_UK

 

[laika]

Instead, they've replaced it with the New and Improved PlotterSync, which does nothing but copy sonar logs from your plotter and sends them to Navionics so they can improve their charts.

Can I confirm that you're saying that they're stealing data from one of your devices and using the bandwidth that you pay for, possibly very expensively if out of country, for their business ends without your consent? Let me be clear on that before I embarrass myself with a rant on this company's utter lack of a concept of data privacy and security....

 

[Cardo]

Can I confirm that you're saying that they're stealing data from one of your devices and using the bandwidth that you pay for, possibly very expensively if out of country, for their business ends without your consent? Let me be clear on that before I embarrass myself with a rant on this company's utter lack of a concept of data privacy and security....

They ask you to do it. You have to enable it on both the plotter and the app. It essentially uploads your track to them, with GPS and depth data.

As an update to this, if you check the latest update notes, they now mention that they are working to reintroduce the sync feature, and that it should be out in the "next few months".

 

[laika]

They ask you to do it. You have to enable it on both the plotter and the app. It essentially uploads your track to them, with GPS and depth data.

Good job I asked. Cancel rant if they ask permission first. I'll restrict my grumbles to other aspects of Navionics security and support