The latest update of the three Weather4D apps (Lite, Routing, Routing & Navigation) several user-requested improvements in the display of meteograms. But what is less obvious is a big work on the charts display in the Routing & Navigation, to better streamline the tiles overlay at different scales, during handling of zoom and slide, et de supprimer les « zones noires » qui parfois subsistaient sur les appareils les moins performants d’ancienne génération. Read more …
Label : Weather4D
Weather4D makes its (r)evolution
Hear, hear, hardy boaters, new Weather4D applications come up !
I wrote “the” in the plural. The two historical applications of Sarl APP4NAV, Weather4D (th 2011) and Weather4D Pro (November 2011 ), change to the user interface of the now famous application Weather4D 2.0, which had been the subject of a complete review of its development published in December 2015. In order to make the range more coherent, the names of the three applications are harmonized :
Calypso Ultrasonic : the latest generation wireless wind sensor
Ultrasonic anemometers-weathervanes for yachting came up just over 15 years old. Among the best known we can cite those of the American Airmar and French LCJ Sensors. Equipped with sophisticated electronics, these sensors without moving mechanical parts have the double advantage of being much more robust than traditional sensors, and provide much more precise data. They can also integrate other sensors as a barometer, gyroscope, electronic compass and sometimes even GPS.
The first ultrasonic sensors were equipped with a cable for power and data transfer. The manufacturer LCJ Sensors, building on the success of its CV3F sensor marketed since 2001, designed the CV7SF range, wireless models whose data is transmitted over a radio frequency to a receiver which converts it to NMEA (0183 or 2000). Power is supplied by solar cells on the sensor cap, and different output connection interfaces are offered depending on the models.
A new actor, Spanish Calypso Instruments, has just designed a completely new concept wireless sensor, the Calypso Ultrasonic Portable, whose characteristic is to be featured with a Bluetooth Low Energy Transmission Protocol (Bluetooth 4.1), which offers many advantages.
iOS 11 and navigation apps
Among the many new features brought by iOS 11, I particularly appreciated the improvement in the multitasking functions. The addition of a retractable "Dock" in the MacOS way, the "SlideOver" function combined with the "SplitView" function already present in iOS 10. This will greatly improve the use of navigation apps. Read more …
Digital nautical charts : purchase or subscription [Update] ?
[Update 3 th 2019]
With the multiple charts disappearances during the successive updates of iNavX, I received a number of requests for assistance in the recovery of the said charts.
Regardless of the fact that I am not supporting NavX Studios LLC (iNavX) (¹), a focus is needed on the method of charts provision by distributors for our mobile applications.
Weather4D 2.0.20 The unlimited charting
We had been hoping for it for months, were expected, We waited - or we grew impatient, it depends – well, There she is : the latest update of Weather4D 2.0.20 is finally available ! On the menu, a major improvement : Assisted charting download and unlimited storage size. To which is added a small number of highly requested features and some bug fixed…
Iridium Mail & Web app : GRIB weather files on iPhone and iPad in open sea [Update-2]
[Update 15 February 2019] The recent update of the application Iridium Mail & Web app gives me the opportunity to refresh this post originally written in December 2011.
The Wi-Fi Gateway Optimizer from RedPort allows owners of a mobile satellite phone to make requests and receive GRIB weather files from an iPad or iPhone on the high seas, into the wild, anywhere on the world.
After implementing and testing this solution On a long journey, It proved to be perfectly operational. However, it is limited to the receipt of the forecasts of the GFS weather model worldwide, and the wave pattern WW3, obtained by the American server's autoresponder Saildocs.
The Weather4D 2.0 new is arrived
No developer vacations ! J’ai évoqué les tests des nouveautés à venir lors de notre long périple from Corsica to Normandy last May. After several weeks of finalization, and mainly to adapt early to future iOS 10 disponible cet automne, here is the delivery of the new version 2.0.15 in Weather4D 2.0. Une addition de nouvelles fonctions très attendues.
Read more …
Roseanor, 2000 nautical miles against the grain around Europe
Conveying a boat from Corsica to Normandy in May, c’est un peu comme faire le tour du monde à l’envers d’Est en Ouest, en plus modeste. Two thousands nautical miles on the water against winds and tides, four and a half weeks at sea, with thirteen days forced stopover awaiting for good weather conditions, three hundreds and fifty hours of engine to support the sails, 1000 litres de gas-oil, multiple Corsican, Spanish and Portuguese wines bibs, to calm our nerves, quelques packs d’eau pour calmer la soif, et des centaines d’heures à tester les nouvelles fonctions en développement de… Weather4D Routage & Navigation !
Weather4D 2.0.11 A bunch of new features and improvements
Delivered in AppStore this morning after two weeks of revisions and contre-revisions of Apple services, Always more picky, The new version is finally available. On the menu and in bulk : AIS via internet with AISHub, direct access to Geogarage and cache memory chart management, new model of GRIB weather forecast from Meteo-France AROME HD for inshore races, mode plein-écran, advanced distance calculations, the most visible. Under the hood also a lot of optimization for routing and power consumption. Revue de détail à suivre… Read more …