The death of Active Captain

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Exile

...the confusion generated by the transition may have -- justifiably or not -- cast doubt on whether Garmin intends to keep AC going.

I don't think there is any doubt that Garmin intends to keep ActiveCaptain going. The question is whether they have the vision and passion of Jeff and Karen Siegel.

Originally Posted by Jeff - RED HEAD

I used to think that too. Nope, no longer. Successful apps and products are based on strategic thinking and doing the right thing at the right time along with having something that is unique (otherwise, it's ultimately about price).

Agree. The problem is that visionaries are in short supply. There are too many people who think they have all the answers but don't.

Originally Posted by Jeff - RED HEAD

I proved that to myself by helping an internet guitar instructor who had a wonderfully unique technique for teaching guitar to adults.

Jeff and Karen Siegel are multi-talented people. To wit, I offer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bABNN1mCzfU

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I don't think there is any doubt that Garmin intends to keep ActiveCaptain going. The question is whether they have the vision and passion of Jeff and Karenrl]

See it doesn’t matter to me if Garmin wants to improve AC (but I’m sure they have a plan for it to justify paying for it). I’m fine with it as it is !

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

See it doesn’t matter to me if Garmin wants to improve AC (but I’m sure they have a plan for it to justify paying for it). I’m fine with it as it is !

I'm glad you are happy.

I miss some of the functions we had before. Why have we lost a dynamic lat/lon read-out on the web interface on mouse hover? That's big for me. More importantly the updates and new reviews are way down. I see my three or four year old review as most useful in some places and much more out of date infrastructure data (names, phone numbers, hours, post-storm status, VHF, etc.).

I'll be clear that I have not given up but it isn't as useful as it used to be. Coming in from offshore ActiveCaptain is my second resource (after personal notes) but I have to double check data more often than I used to in order to communicate. ActiveCaptain is sinking back to the level of other resources. It is far from dead but no longer the 800# gorilla it was. That I do lay at the feet of Garmin.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Jeff - RED HEAD

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>a wonderfully unique technique for teaching guitar to adults.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Care to share? I'm an adult with three guitars!

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Auspicious

Jeff and Karen Siegel are multi-talented people. To wit, I offer:

Very funny!

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Exile

I have noticed less updating since Garmin bought it, but that may be more regional as someone else alluded to.

Originally Posted by Exile

My impression is that updates have dropped off as well, at least along the US e. coast and ICW.

I'm one of those guilty of not contributing recently. OTOH, we seldom come across any hazards that haven't already been marked... and I haven't tried to update my earlier marina reviews. Until we get onto a longer trip (as we are now), we don't often end up at someplace new to us to review.

That part should change shortly when I get squared away here soon, since we just moved over 800 miles for the winter... and we'll be adding around 15 marina reviews. (Spoiler alert: Nothing spectacular stands out.)

-Chris

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Hartings

Am I correct in saying that Active Captain was, and still is, a very US-centric app ? From a European viewpoint it never really took off ?

Pretty much. I have just had a look at my home port, Portsmouth, UK and the reviews are limited and way out of date. I tend to use pilot books first off.


Pete

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

I'm one of those guilty of not contributing recently. OTOH, we seldom come across any hazards that haven't already been marked... and I haven't tried to update my earlier marina reviews. Until we get onto a longer trip (as we are now), we don't often end up at someplace new to us to review.

My process need not be yours. I take paper notes and catch up after a trip. I mostly use AquaMaps underway and catch up with the web interface. Since planning and after action I do on a real computer with multiple heads, the deterioration of the web interface under Garmin has demotivated me. Regardless, keeping my eyes peeled for hazards that aren't anymore (missing marks, shoaling, closed businesses after weather) is part of my update process - removing a specious hazard is helpful. If my last review of a marina is more than a couple of years old I do an update.