Ozrunways and other Apps - A warning

[Sunfish]

I am trying to get a simple answer to a simple question - how to turn off the display of effing IFR GPS waypoints which clutter up my screen, being a very simple VFR pilot.

The ozrunways website asks me to " log in" to communicate, or offers me the option of creating a " discussion" about this simple question, but without explains where the aforesaid " discussion" once created, is to be found!

Furthermore, I suspect that this feature ( turning off the display of unusable crap from a VFR point of view) is/was available somewhere, at some time but is now either removed or hidden where I, being mentally challenged, can't find it.

Now the warning. I have seen plenty of applications over the years become totally unusable due to the initial highly intuitive versions succumbing to the requests for "more features" from "power users" and the application builders, not wishing to clutter up their menus, responding by adding "shortcuts", you know, left click three times then right click twice when facing south with the cursor on this or that.

Frankly every time you add one of these "shortcuts" you run the risk of alienating the non "power user" like me who could barely cope with the initial iterations of Ozrunways and, since I don't use it every day, can barely remember the simplest operations.

I suspect that the simple menu choice "choose what the **** to display on the screen" has either vanished of been subsumed into a shortcut that I can't find.

To put it another way, in my opinion, The danger for ozrunways as a business is that it becomes so "feature rich" as to be unusable by mere mortals and/ or positively dangerous to rely on in an emergency because it is too complicated for a stressed pilot to use.

There are at least Two fixes for this problem. One is the creation of expert and non expert modes to cater for the casual and power user separately, the latest dynon skyview software does this for its autopilot functionality. Secondly the creation of an emergency menu that is the equivalent to the garmin "direct to function" - perhaps the Closest ALA distance and direction and the area frequency in big red letters - and this to be available on one click, not hidden. My tom tom navigator has this type of function.

Without consideration of basic useability this excellent App has a limited life because at some point it will become too " feature rich" for mere mortals to use efficiently. Furthermore, the developers and programmers, being totally familiar with the product, are the last people who can gauge useability. You need to talk to mugs and idiots like me.

[uncopilot]

On the upper left side of the "map view page" you will find a quick access little grey tab with three dots. Slide this tab to the right and deselect the stuff you don't want to see on your map.

[VH-XXX]

Do you always have to be so dramatic Sunfish? The title of the post is hardly appropriate just because you don't know how to use the product. There is a long running thread on the product on here where you could simply ask the question without making a federal case out of it.....

[megle2]

Dramatic or not, he has a worthy point

[Sunfish]

Thank you uncopilot. Found it. Fixed it. The " three little dots" tab is easy to miss, it should be a menu item instead of/as well.

VH - XXX unfortunately I do have to make a dramatic case about it. The alternative is to STFU and watch a great App turn into a useless POS through too much complexity as has happened to a lot of other software in the past. ....And don't simply say "RTFM".

To put that another way, if I didn't care I would have simply shut up and wouldn't have bothered renewing next year. After all, the Dynon, has virtually the same functionality and I will have continue buying paper until there is no prospect of any argument with brain dead CASA people and our CFI tells me that a paperless trip is permitted. That requirement cost me about $80 yesterday.

[Capt Fathom]

As with most things, it's not that it's too feature rich, it's just people will not spend time to RTFM.

Usually only affects the younger generation! :confused:

[Homesick-Angel]

The thing is- if your going to use this in the aircraft, you'd wanna put the time in( not much required) to be all over the technology.

Unlike a lot of in aircraft nav equipment, you can sit at home an play with the ipad all night if you so wish..

You wouldn't plonk yourself down in an aircraft with a 430 and have no idea how to turn it on?

Or be wondering what that red switch was to your lower left?

Why should this technology be any different ?

When the app is updated, it has newsletters you can access with information on the changes. Check the site or email them direct.

The very issue you've had was discussed In a previous update letter.

[Sunfish]

Unfortunately fathom, there is no information on the "three dots" in the user guides available in the documents section of the App, nor is there a comprehensive "help"or "how to" available in the App itself, just some PowerPoint presentations. Surely having to carry a paper manual for Ozrunways defeats the purpose doesn't it?

..and don't get me started on RTFM.


....but we don't want to go to the other "Microsoft extreme" for example: starting with a screen saying: "Hi! Where do you want to fly to today?".

[VH-XXX]

You could have just asked in the OZRunways thread rather than the warning for all pprune readers of which 98% have all worked out how to do what you are trying to...


Why Sunfish are you almost the only pilot out there who believes that you still need to carry paper maps with you when others have long since moved on?

[Shagpile]

For the record you emailed me at 0431h this morning then wrote this post at 0436h. I answered your question at 0900h.

There are some help videos here which may help people, and yes there's already a thread for this discussion:

OzRunways Documentation / Getting Started / Knowledge Base - OzRunways Support (http://help.ozrunways.com/kb/getting-started/ozrunways-documentation)

[andrewr]

Why Sunfish are you almost the only pilot out there who believes that you still need to carry paper maps with you when others have long since moved on?

I carry paper maps. I'm a software developer, and I do not trust PC, Ipad etc. software enough to rely on them as a sole source.

Have you turned off automatic updates on your Ipad? If not, there is no guarantee that your software works the same tomorrow as it does today (or works at all) after connecting it to e.g. the hotel wifi. I have seen enough apps with major problems after updates to be very wary.

Incidentally, I also agree 100% with Sunfish's original points. They should be printed out and stuck on every software developers wall.

[gileraguy]

Shag

was that UTC?

[Shagpile]

Sydney time and yes I actually agree with Sunfish's points.

Last few releases I have been:

- Removing items from menu's
- Added an 'Adv Options' in Settings->Preferences
- Auto enabled or disabled things that aren't commonly changed
- Added pictures in some of the menu's

For each email I get from people like this ('please keep it simple') I would probably get 20 emails asking for more features, and politely responding No, that it would add too much complexity.

Cannot please everybody, but we are doing the best we can.

[Sunfish]

Thank you for your reply Shaggy, the "three dots" thingy is grey and not easy to spot but now is obvious. I agree with your attitude to useability and the "power user" crowd who seem to think that everyone, like them, has the time to go into the most intimate details, contained in software manuals, of obscure software functions that 90% of users will never need.

As for the GNS 430, I'm not instrument rated, what I want to know about is that devices functionality as it pertains to VFR flight, not the finer points of coupled approaches. In the military our instructional priorities were summed up by grouping things into "must know", "should know" and "could know" categories and I wish all software developers did the same as you seem to be.

[VH-XXX]

The GMS430 is an amazing piece of kit with a lot of beatures, IF you know how to use it. I know a *bit* about computers and I struggle with the menu system on the right knob, like for finding the actual wind speed etc. I enjoyed my time with my 430 when I owned it but I wasn't upset to see it go.

[Capn Bloggs]

The " three little dots" tab is easy to miss
Copycats! :}

[Captain Nomad]

Give me a GNS430 over a smart phone any day...

Those knobs are easier to work than touchscreen buttons a quarter of the size of my little fingernail...

[Avgas172]

Hey neat! I'm one of those chaps that won't read an instruction manual and just play with the thing, I just discovered the three dots tab, however being from a distant past I do still carry my maps, VOR, NDB, spare compass, and basic mechanics kit ... Maybe I just don't trust anything? I have a Garmin or two in my bag and still fly IFR ( I follow roads ) nearly everywhere I go. Gotta love new technology though, I remember when I used to use a refedex to get to places in the capital cities and now I just use a Garmin ... Go figure! :E

[Jack Ranga]

Ah huh, you're from Brisbane!

[Mr.Buzzy]

Buckeeeeerk buckeeeeeerk buckeeeeeerk!!
The sky is falling down!! The sky is falling down!!!
Buckeeeeerk! Buckeeeeeeeerk!

[Avgas172]

Brisbane
Nope but I have spent plenty of time lost there while driving a Yellow Cab :ok:

[Atlas Shrugged]

WTF does RTFM mean and WGAF anyway! :ugh::ugh::ugh:

[Capn Bloggs]

WGAF? If you don't RTFM (read the effing manual), you might not pass your next IRT! :}

[Capt Claret]

WGAF = Who Gives A Flying-fig?

[ralph1]

Brilliant. I was in need of a good laugh. :ok: :D

[Flying Binghi]

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via andrewr:
I carry paper maps. I'm a software developer, and I do not trust PC, Ipad etc. software enough to rely on them as a sole source...

Thats a worry..:confused:








.

[andrewr]

Thats a worry..

I suppose it's like a LAME who believes engines sometimes fail....:)

[VH-XXX]

In reality if your life depended on it, you wouldn't depend on an iPad. The software could crash, battery go flat, auxiliary power lost, aircraft electrical failure, gps not working accurately...

Versus getting lost with no GPS, dropping the maps behind your seat, blowing out the door or window....

Take your pick :ok:

[Flying Binghi]

Take your pick...

via VH-XXX:
...getting lost with no GPS...

VH-XXX, could i suggest you get yerself a good instructor and relearn the basics..:p










.

[Flying Binghi]

via andrewr:
I suppose it's like a LAME who believes engines sometimes fail....

While back an airline driver were telling me about his latest recreational flying gadget with one of them aviation apps installed. He were so enthusiastic about it, just had to show me. Turns it on and up comes "subscription expired"......;)











..

[Shagpile]

Do you turn on your engine without checking the oil or amount of fuel in the tanks?

Electronic flight bags are great in that they displace a whole bunch of disadvantages of paper such as weight & awkwardness. But they come with additional limitations. If you are using the iPad as a safety critical extension of the aircraft, then it needs to be treated with the same respect as the aircraft. Things to check:

- Battery Level
- All the maps & charts are downloaded that you'll need
- Your subscription is valid

Lets see what you have to check with paper:

- You have bought the latest copies
- They are in-date

I cannot see any great hassle with EFB's. They just need to be treated with the same respect as the function they are performing.

[Ultralights]

i have had more GPS failures with garmin installed TSO'd stuff recently during night VFR than Ipad/phone gps. Garmin would lose GPS lock, but pad and phone worked fine. of course i was navigating on the VOR as primary and NDB.