Active Captain Discontinued - An Opportunity?

[cagney]

Some more facts here:
https://www.panbo.com/archives/2018/...s_assured.html

[zboss]

And the worst part about the whole ActiveCaptain transition is that the new features don’t even work with chart plotter’s that are only a few years old.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by cagney

Some more facts here:
https://www.panbo.com/archives/2018/...s_assured.html

Interesting. Thanks for posting!

It's hard to say whether Garmin is doing damage control, or they're just really, really bad at communicating their intentions.

I will say that I un-installed PolarView when the license I'd bought was replaced with a subscription model. Maybe we should question their credibility, too.

[mcm]

I can access AC just fine all data there ??

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by cagney
Some more facts here:
https://www.panbo.com/archives/2018/...s_assured.html

A new owner and a new API, The new owner has already made some mis-steps although they seem to state good intentions...
Some programs are dropping support (Polar Navy). With a change from one owner personality (difficult) to a big corporation (that does not seem to be acting on a clear and accessible plan) is it worth even considering the new API? - Probably not.

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by Franziska

One if them wrote in the other thread:

"... A quick update. We are moving ahead with the integration of the NOAA charts to Zulu Waterways. It will be complete by early next week and will be displayed as a map option for the US region. We are also making some improvements to performance and increase functionality of the site/app.<br />
<br />
We have just heard the news that Active Captain will no longer supply its information to (some/all?) third party services. We are happy to step up and provide a similar service as AC did and would be interested in talking with services who are looking for a new source of information, like that which AC supplied them. We encourage boaters to give Zulu Waterways a go and test the functionality of the site/app. If you would like to see this platform grow in your region (particularly the US region) to the point where it could be applied to your other platforms, then we encourage you to start adding information to your local waterways. We are working from our side to constantly improve the performance and functions of Zulu and feel it’s a good platform which now needs support from the community to grow in the US region.<br />
<br />
Nicholas Baillie Jackson <br />
Zulu Waterways... "

And nothing about Opensource? No license either. Sounds to me like another dead end.

[Scott Berg]

I've seen a lot of poor info here and on FB/etc. Active Captain Data is FREE and will continue to be. Garmin is updating the API to be compliant with EU laws regarding data sharing. Some vendors, apparently including Polar, chose not to adapt their product to the compliant API's. And how is the AC's problem?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

I've seen a lot of poor info here and on FB/etc. Active Captain Data is FREE and will continue to be. Garmin is updating the API to be compliant with EU laws regarding data sharing. Some vendors, apparently including Polar, chose not to adapt their product to the compliant API's. And how is the AC's problem?

And apparently discontinuing all previous licenses and offering a new, not yet disclosed license. Maybe the new license will be compatible with OpenCpn

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

All you're doing is pumping what may well be the next AC, if they get a fat offer. The solution to removing all the barriers to data use is not to pick a new repository, it is to SHARE all the data.

The database needs to be able to be forked by anyone at any time. Which service allows this?

I assumed squiddio, maybe I am wrong... I would have to ask mauro to be sure.

Rather than just "sharing" I would require that anyone who forks the data, must also allow their changes to be forked. This ensures other providers like AC, may not incorporate the shared data to enhance their own database unless they too become completely free.

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

I've seen a lot of poor info here and on FB/etc. Active Captain Data is FREE and will continue to be.

Free as in what? Surely not freedom. The terms can change at any time, and garmin considers your reviews as their property.

Originally Posted by Paul L

And apparently discontinuing all previous licenses and offering a new, not yet disclosed license. Maybe the new license will be compatible with OpenCpn

And garmin will start releasing source code.

[seandepagnier]

"portions of the API need to be changed to protect the privacy of ActiveCaptain users to be compliant with GDPR. "

I don't think it makes any sense to protect privacy for this. What if all the posts on cruisers forum were anonymous?

[DotDun]

Maybe a read here would help:

https://www.eugdpr.org/eugdpr.org.html

[Scott Berg]

I think people think that GDPR compliance is optional; it isn't... I may not agree with everything in the current EU regs but do understand why companies located there or doing business there have to comply. For those who find this light reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genera...ion_Regulation

[bcn]

1. First I would expect a very clear statement and reasoning from Coupdemistral about the copyright for the data in the Squiddio context. Now and in the future.
2. That third party closed source service providers are changing their business policies and products at will is not new and shall not surprise.
3. The statements from the Panbo article promise on one side a stable API but on the other hand the policy of Garmin leaving the partners and customers in the cold with a just 10 weeks in advance announcement of canceling the API is not too encouraging.
4. Perhaps somebody here does remember still the ugly discussions with the former owner of AC about the AC integration. When the new AC API becomes available it might be an opportunity to re-evaluate the situation. Keeping in mind point 2.
5. Garmin might even offer a plug-in for OpenCPN by themselves. No hurdle for that.

[Franziska]

Yesterday I sent an email to Squiddio and asked them to provide clarification.
I also told them about the ongoing discussion here and if they like to give a statement or join in here.
Have nothing heard from them yet. But then again its weekend...

[nohal]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Yesterday I sent an email to Squiddio and asked them to provide clarification.
I also told them about the ongoing discussion here and if they like to give a statement or join in here.
Have nothing heard from them yet. But then again its weekend...

"They" already joined... http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2592894