For a while Rich Ray was asked to add a feature button "Man overboard" in its applications. Recently, following a new topic on the website macsailing.net forum, He gave the following reasons for his refusal :
- Such a button would take up limited/valuable screen real-estate on every screen..
- Such a button , with expected behavior, would be in violation of the " Developer Program License Agreement " :
- 3.3.8 For Applications that use location-based APIs, such Applications may not be designed or marketed for automatic or autonmous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life saving purposes. Translation : Concernant les applications utilisant les API basées sur la localisation, ces applications ne doivent pas être conçues ou commercialisées pour le contrôle automatique ou autonome des véhicules, avions, ou tout autre appareil mécanique; la gestion d’envoi ou de flotte; ou dans un but d’urgence ou de sauvegarde de la vie humaine.
An emails exchange between us allowed him to find a compromise respecting the rules imposed by Apple.
With iPhone
With iNavX 3.2.9, a tap on position icon (So the instant position) opens a popup menu allowing to create a waypoint automatically located (Latitude/Longitude) at boat position.
Creation of the boat position waypoint
Two successive taps on this waypoint allow you to activate the Goto function :
Activation du waypoint
So it is necessary 5 successive taps to activate the waypoint that can materialize the position of a man at the sea. It is not ideal, But it's always better than nothing.
With an iPad
The method is much faster : a tap on position icon opens the contextual menu, select GoTo creates a waypoint at location automatically activated.
Two taps on iPad to mark the position as active waypoint
Outside of man at sea, this feature also allows to create a route from successive waypoints, each created "passing by", to be used as return route. Or to mark anchorage place used and recognized as secure, a fishing location particularly abundant, etc,…
NOTE
If position icon is not present on the screen, two successive taps on the "Chart" button in the lower banner place position icon centered on the screen.
Francis,
I apologize, The meaning of my first answer was not very clear.
I think the point of having a function to record an instant point using a simple push (and no 5 successive taps) is essential : Mark a fisherman,A drop for a diver, the crossing of two bitters etc …. The uses are multiple.
Finally this function is used for many more uses than marking a man at sea.
I understand Apple who cannot take responsibility for validating an application dedicated to an eventual aid operation. But I do not think that Apple opposes the installation of a simple button allowing the recording of the instant position. A button called SP (Save position) and not mob.
Sorry again for this first approximate answer, And I really want to see in an in aductity the pssibility of such a function (The iPad screen leaves room for such a small button !!)
MOB limits…
The effectiveness of the "MOB" function, man at sea supposes that two essential conditions be met:
The alarm is triggered at the moment of the fall of man to the sea and the drift due to the current and the wind limited to a low value: For example a return to the point of fall in half an hour in an area with a current of a knot place us as best a half a thousand of the shipwrecked. If the visibility conditions are very good and the sea calm in the strict sense of the term, It is possible to see it. Because it is necessary to find the point where the shipwrecked and not the one where it was 10 minutes, 1/4h,1h…earlier.
I think for my part that only the shipping systems of the shipwreck based on automatic triggering and the search for an emitting tag by "homing" such as the deceased wavefinder or by emission of a GPS or AIS signal, give a reasonable chance to regain bad luck, and especially in reduced crew.
It’s obviously more expensive, more bulky…but really effective!
Alain
Absolutely agree, Alain. The personal ais system seems very promising in this regard. See § The future of the AIS In this article.
At Apple we don't laugh with the "Developer Program License Agreement". It would be a shame for the application to be banned, Just for this non -respect.
Now the function exists by not bearing the name "man to the sea" and respect the contract with Apple, So everything is perfect.
Thank you for approaching this lack on Infox.
The excuse of Apple recommendations is completely phony ! Indeed, What is important is not the name of the function (Man) But the function itself.
This function exists on all navy GPS, and is not necessarily used to find a man in the sea but to record an instant position of a simple push. The uses of such a function are multiple .
So it's still a real lack of Incax as well as on Navionics …
I hope the developers will not be satisfied with this "compromise" ….!!
Your judgment is wrong. March, the Developer Program License Agreement of Apple is not a recommendation, But a legal document that developers are required to sign and respect. Failure to comply with any of its clauses causes immediate withdrawal of the application.
You have to keep in mind that the iPhone is a general public apparatus, phone-computer-benchmark, in no case a dedicated and designed device for maritime or air navigation. ni Apple, Nor developers wish to take the risk of legal responsibility due to the use of integrated functions exceeding the leisure use of the apparatus.
Americans being known to be particularly proceeded, Apple could quickly crumble under user complaints.
You are absolutely right, And you can also buy a dedicated navy GPS for a few tens of euros, Waterproof and resistant, which will be placed on the deck in an easily accessible location.