FINALLY !! OPENCPN ON ANDROID!! HURRAY !!

[sinbad8]

OK, I know it´s been around for a while,but for ME, it happened TODAY..

I wanted to wait until most of the bugs were removed,as I am no tec specialist.

Installed on my Galaxy 5 phone,it´s looking good. Placed the chart directory on my extSdCard via USB.

Looking forward to test it out. Thanks everyone involved in it´s creation, great job !!

Tore

https://goo.gl/photos/T8FA83CS2sTPpXaB7

[Yens]

Good to see that you're using the free version

[sinbad8]

Was the only version on Google Play.
Gladly contribute.

FIRST problem: worked fine at first,maps in external card. Suddenly ,trying to access OpenCpn Setup just flashes past the setup page and only basic world map available?

Triet resetting,but problem remains,can not display my .kap maps.

Help anybody?

Tore

[Yens]

I've just posted links to tutorials on another thread. Just follow them and see if you can get the settings right.

[sinbad8]

Opencpn does NOT work on the Setup page. It just displays for 1/2 sec and disappears.

Tore

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by sinbad8

Opencpn does NOT work on the Setup page. It just displays for 1/2 sec and disappears.

Tore

Search Play Store.. The free version is not the only version. The free version is not officially supported!

There is a supported version that is $10.

[Yens]

Assuming you have no important data stored: Go into your device settings > applications. Find OpenCPN. Delete the app's data and cache. Then try to reconfigure.

[yachtvalhalla]

Originally Posted by sinbad8

Opencpn does NOT work on the Setup page. It just displays for 1/2 sec and disappears.

Tore

Tore ...
The 'official' app has been corrupted by this guy 'Yens' somehow so you don't see it on Google Play now.

It is/was only $9.95 and a bargain since it comes with full support from Dave. But this yahoo took it upon himself to first offer a 'free' version then changed it to the same name as the official one and has put Google Play in a tailspin. BTW he has NEVER contributed one line of code nor one penny to the development of this program.

Dave is trying to sort things out so my recommendation is to delete this clone and wait for the official one to get posted on Google Play again.

Please help us to get rid of this guy .. perhaps ignoring him is a start!

Best to follow things at OpenCPN Android Forum - OpenCPN for Android Version 1

And if you want to see my 'first cut' at a tutorial you can download it from https://www.dropbox.com/s/ub7mjfdclt...5%29.docx?dl=0

Thanks for your support.

Terry

[Yens]

Nonsense.

Originally Posted by yachtvalhalla

Tore ...
The 'official' app has been corrupted by this guy 'Yens' somehow so you don't see it on Google Play now.

It is only $9.95 and a bargain since it comes with full support from Dave. But this yahoo took it upon himself to first offer a 'free' version then changed it to the same name as the official one and has put Google Play in a tailspin. BTW he has NEVER contributed one line of code nor one penny to the development of this program.

Dave is trying to sort things out so my recommendation is to delete this clone and wait for the official one to get posted on Google Play again.

Please help us to get rid of this guy .. perhaps ignoring him is a start!

Best to follow things at OpenCPN Android Forum - OpenCPN for Android Version 1

Terry

[Afrinus]

Nonsense?? Care to elaborate?

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

[rgleason]

Tore
I'd wait until Dave's version is back up. Its your cell phone.

I actually don't know if I should run O on my phone now because I do not want it updating to this off-stream version. Perhaps I should turn off software updates at settings. What a disservice to users! Its unfortunate.

[Yens]

Originally Posted by Afrinus

Nonsense?? Care to elaborate?

I did already, but read/think/write isn't some people's strength.

This discussion is not about Dave's contribution to the project or the Android port and it's neither about being willing to pay $10. If Dave (or anyone else) wants to add 3 versions on Play Store, with $10, $100 and $1000 price tags, they're free to do so. However, they are not free to restrict the user's rights in free software, i.e. to pass it on to others.

In detail:

As Dave has confirmed somewhere else, the "Maison Automatique" version of OpenCPN is his, with the following changes:

• Dave's "licensing strategy" has been removed
• The icons and capitalization of the app name have been changed to distinguish it from his version
• It has been "repackaged" for distribution on the Play Store from a different account

As the software is otherwise identical to Dave's version, it can't be any more or less harmful or buggy than his version.

Dave has also confirmed that this republishing is legal.

The License Check and GPL Compliance

By adding a license check into the software and thereby restricting the user's rights to freely pass on OpenCPN to others, Dave is violating the OpenCPN "GPLv2" license (see section 6 of GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE | Official OpenCPN Homepage).

With this license check removed, the Maison Automatique version is currently the only GPL-compliant OpenCPN app on the Play Store. If you want to be on the safe side and pay Dave for his work, use the free version and use this link to send Dave $10 (or even more!): http://sourceforge.net/donate/index.php?group_id=180842

Background & Motivation:

The main idea behind the GPL is to keep free software free, i.e. that whenever someone has obtained a GPL licensed program (no matter how!), they also receive certain unrevokeable and unrestrictable rights, mainly the rights

• to redistribute it freely and in any form,
• to modify it as long as they document the changes and
• to obtain the source code to the program from the original author.

Examples? The GPL is also used by the Linux kernel and the majority of the programs forming the ecosystem used to develop and furnish OpenCPN. Your Android phone wouldn't exist without GPL'ed software. Embedded devices like your WiFi router or Blueray player? Powered by GPL'ed software. This website? Delivered to you by GPL'ed software as well.

If you want to join the discussion, read the OpenCPN license first.

As much as I appreciate the work of Dave and everyone else's contribution to the project (as a developer, tester, document author, community supporter, OpenCPN evangelist, etc), we have to keep in mind that OpenCPN is also based on code written by many, many, many others. It's not just the source code and check-ins you see on GitHub. OpenCPN is incorporating millions of lines from third party modules to do the heavy lifting, some of which are licensed under exactly the same terms as OpenCPN. By incorporating the license check, Dave is not just ignoring other author's contribution to OpenCPN, but he's also violating their rights and the license given to him (and passed on to you).

In summary:

By buying Dave's current version, you're buying into unlicensed software and are encouraging software piracy.

As to some various accusations by yachtvalhalla about me having "corrupted [..] the official app" and "putting Google Play into a tailspin", you may want to ask him for the facts (it's not his strength, I know). All I can say is that I'm neither practicing voodoo or any other rites, nor have I contacted Google or any other party about the license violations or encouraged anyone to do so.

If you would ask me to make a guess, I would point to companies like Qt. Their software is used as the foundation of OpenCPN and they operate a dual licensing scheme, i.e. you can either use their software for free if your project is fully GPL compliant, or you can pay them $$$$ if it's not. They probably scan every new submission to the Play Store in an attempt to (rightfully!) monetize their work.

Looking Ahead:

I'll continue to publish free, GPL-compliant OpenCPN builds for Android, and if necessary, other platforms, even if it's for my own pleasure. If they work for you, be my guest. If you're not happy with that, I'll ask you politely to STFU and move on. I really do appreciate that users will have the option to buy into Dave's (or anyone else's, for that matter) extended support plans - for whatever they would like to charge for their services and I encourage everyone to contribute to the project, be it as a developer, financially or by installing the software and maps on your mates devices and supporting them in getting started.

[Yens]

Originally Posted by rgleason

I actually don't know if I should run O on my phone now because I do not want it updating to this off-stream version. Perhaps I should turn off software updates at settings. What a disservice to users! Its unfortunate.

As a service to users, I can assure you that using Dave's software or leaving updates enabled won't switch you to the Maison Automatique version.

If you believe this or is up to you, but check the facts before you spread any rumors. Thanks.

[Yens]

The good news is: Dave has removed the licensing checks and all dependencies to Google Vending from the OpenCPN source and included an offer to supply the source code, making the app fully GPL-compliant. The app was also renamed to "OpenCPN Mobile". Stay tuned for some 'official' announcements...

[z.stadler]

Originally Posted by Yens

The good news is: Dave has removed the licensing checks and all dependencies to Google Vending from the OpenCPN source and included an offer to supply the source code, making the app fully GPL-compliant. The app was also renamed to "OpenCPN Mobile". Stay tuned for some 'official' announcements...

Resurrecting an old thread to ask for a clarification of the above.

On Google Play I can find

• A paid version of OpenCPN by "Dave Register", which was last updated on July 8, 2016
• A free version of OpenCPN by "Maison Automatique", which was last updated on November 3, 2015
• No "OpenCPN Mobile"

What is the current status of the free, GPL-compliant, Android OpenCPN app?