New Android Sailing App : SailFreeGPS

[StuM]

My thoughts:
FWIW, I've raced and organised races and regattas for many years. I currently use a watch with a countdown timer.

The Good:
Great timer display and sound signaling!
I really like the way you have implemented the Port/Stbd mark setting and display!
I also really like the concept of the "Allow adjustments... switch, but see below for a further comment on this.


The not so good:
Race starts are all about synchronising with the start signals and counting down from them
Race signals are given by flags at 5,4,1, and 0 minutes.

The ability to re-sync at 5,4,and 1 minute is essential to any racer in the event that they don't get the initial signal(s) right (i.e. view of start boat blocked by another boat).
You need to be able to start/restart your countdown exactly at one of those points when you see the flag signal. You should NEVER need to adjust by 1, 30 seconds etc.
You should never need to Pause either.


Also:

The easily pressed adjustments, Stop/Reset, Pause buttons are a danger. Once you start the countdown on a flag signal, you should not be able to do either of these by a single accidental click.


If the "Allow adjustments... switch controlled ALL time control buttons and was turned off automatically every time a reset is done, it would go a long way to preventing accidents.



Please look at my post #118 again

[jmh2002]

Originally Posted by Fred31

Hello,

Here it is, I have released aversion (1.7.1) containing a regatta menu
And now, you can add a waypoint by a long click on the map.

Fred

Merci Fred!!! I just wanted to thank you and give you a big for continuing to develop this free app.

Regarding the latest update, I agree that you should consider @StuM's posts and thoughts.

THANKS again for your work

[Fred31]

OK,

I take the point.


and I think I will be able to add the remaining distance to departure line.


Fred

[ben373]

I like your app and it is getting much better, thanks.

Could I ask for the map to retain its zoom level when you go to another menu then back again please.

Be nice to retain the position as well.

Thanks again. Well done..

[Fred31]

Hello,


I will retain zoom level also.




https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ic.sailfreegps


Fred

[Fred31]

Hello


New version (1.7.3) with :

• simplification of the countdown buttons
• add "distance to line" + SOG

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ic.sailfreegps


Fred

[StuM]

Very nice.


Just a couple of points:


1. Not many people use the word "Larboard". Suggest you call it "Port Mark".
2. Dist to Line does not say what units. Is it feet? meters? Is it dependent on distance and speed units in Settings? (I suggest you actual show the units after the words "Dist To Line"

[Fred31]

Originally Posted by StuM

1. Not many people use the word "Larboard". Suggest you call it "Port Mark".

Will be done in next release (Port mark + Star mark) ... Thank you

2. Dist to Line does not say what units. Is it feet? meters? Is it dependent on distance and speed units in Settings? (I suggest you actual show the units after the words "Dist To Line"

I did not selected the distance unit from the Settings because most of us select nautical miles which is not the more confortable unit for departure line distance.

So it is meter and it is already displayed (hope it works for you).


https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ic.sailfreegps


Fred

[StuM]

Sorry, I missed the m and Kt, on my phone they are semi- obscured by the curves on the corners of the bounding boxes. (As is the D of Distance and the S of Speed.)



Another minor point:


I just fired it up without enabling GPS.


The message says "Localisation not enabled".
"Localisation" generally means setting appropriate display options such as date format, currency/numeric format etc.


I would suggest changing that to "Location not enabled" or "Location service not enabled" or even "GPS not enabled".

[Fred31]

Hello,


I have released some bug fixes...


https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ic.sailfreegps


Fred

[Fred31]

Hello,


Here is a new release (1.8.0) where you can manage the waypoints from a list
* sort them
* filter then
* ...


Fred

[Fred31]

Hello,


New release with automatic orientation of the screen according to the device position.


Merry Christmas
Fred

[StuM]

It just keeps getting better and better. Thank you!

[Fred31]

Hello,


Last release of the year (1.8.2) with :

1. possibility to import waypoints from GPX/KML files
2. possibility to share the regatta marks to your challengers/friends via a GPX file

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ic.sailfreegps



Bye, Fred

[Fred31]

Hello,


I have just created a new FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/SailFreeGPS/
You can like it, if you want to have access to latest news (including video!!!).


Fred