Category Archives: Blog

In general, the transition of CloudAhoy users to iOS 7 has been smooth.

However, there is a setting in iOS 7, called Background App Refresh, which can hurt CloudAhoy’s logging.

Symptom: you get nice green GPS lights after tapping START, but sometime later during the flight the logging stops.

Reason: For CloudAhoy to log flights while working in the background, Background App Refresh must be enabled for the CloudAhoy app.

Solution: Please check the settings on your iPhone and/or iPad.
In iOS’s Settings , go to
    General > Background App Refresh
To allow CloudAhoy to log your flights in the background, the switch for CloudAhoy must be On (green).

Version 3.0 of our iOS app includes:

Login on any iOS device

In previous versions, an iOS device was registered to a specific pilot account. It worked well for most users, but was an inconvenience for pilots who wanted to share a device, e.g., for flight schools. In the CloudAhoy 3.0 app you can tap Logout on a given iOS device, and let another pilot login to his or her account. BTW, with 3.0 you can be simultaneously logged-in to any number of iOS devices.

Your name is already entered

Your name is always entered as either the pilot or the co-pilot/CFI.  Tap “Swap” to flip between the names in the pilot and co-pilot fields.

Sharing a flight with the other pilot

To enter a name of CloudAhoy buddy into the pilot or co-pilot field, tap the blue arrow and select the buddy.  The flight will appear in both your flight lists.  If the other pilot is not a CloudAhoy buddy of yours, you can enter his or her email, and the flight will appear also in his or her CloudAhoy flight list.

Easier account creation

CloudAhoy users have asked us to improve the new account sign-up procedure.  In 3.0 we redesigned the sign-up, and we hope that it is much easier than before.

On October 22, 2013 Apple had a media event announcing exciting new hardware and software. The media event was 80 minutes long. 62:20 minutes into the keynote Tim Cook said: “To celebrate our customers’ creativity and genius of using the iPad, we prepared a short video that I’d like to run for you this morning.”

In this video, a cool looking motorized hang glider had CloudAhoy logging the flight.

Apple

Apple Special Event. October 22, 2013. watch video :  https://youtu.be/4FunXnJQxYU?t=3826

There’s a good number of YouTube flight videos incorporating CloudAhoy debriefs.

Here is one that came to our attention recently.   I bring it here not only because it features CloudAhoy…  Through this video I got introduced to the YouTube FSX404 channel which contains more than 100 aviation videos created by the same guy.  Recommended.

Several pilots had questions about the conversion of pilot / co-pilot names during the switch from CloudAhoy 2.x to CloudAhoy 3.

In CloudAhoy 3 we require that the person who logged the flight must be listed as either the pilot or the co-pilot of the flight.   CloudAhoy 2.x did not enforce this rule.  We apply this rule during the automatic conversion from 2.x to 3, and in most cases the result is what you’d expect.  You can always edit the names if the automatic conversion did not do it right.

For more information, see this.

The Beta stage of CloudAhoy 3 is coming to its successful close, and we are getting ready to switch everybody to use CloudAhoy 3.

If you are still using CloudAhoy 2, expect to be switched automatically to 3 starting next week.  Of course, you don’t have to wait – you are welcome to switch to  3.0-beta immediately!

At this point we are unaware of  problems with 3.0-beta: neither missing features nor bugs. If there’s anything that does not work like you’d expect, please let us know ASAP.  The option to switch back to 2.x will be available for a little longer as a safety net.

Check out the new 3 features:

• Greatly enhanced flight sharing capabilities.

• Everything you can on the web’s CloudAhoy you can now do in the CloudAhoy app, except for 3D (the iOS app only supports 2D).

A Huge Thank You, dear 3.0-beta users who have sent us problem reports!   All the problems have been fixed, and we highly appreciate your help.

As alway, any feedback is most welcome and highly appreciated, either by sending an email to dev@cloudwhoy.com or by posting in the Forum.

Many pilots have reported issued related to usage of the Google Earth plugin in specific configurations, which, in the worse case, prevents the debrief.  The issues are resolved in CloudAhoy 3.0 by (a) improved hints on how to deal with the problems; and (b) a workaround if the problems persist.

a. CloudAhoy 3.0 provides better hints for dealing with Google Earth plugin issues
If you have receive a Plugin Problem message, you can troubleshoot the problem using our FAQs (and we’re always there to help).  Or you can choose to switch to 2D, and address the Google Earth plugin problem at a later time.

b. Switch to 2D mode (Google Maps) when/if the 3D mode (Google Earth) is broken
A new “3D” checkbox  lets you switch between 3D and 2D debrief on Windows or Macintosh.  Why switch to 2D?  Primarily to avoid a frustrating situation in which the Google Earth plugin issue prevents you from doing the debrief.  Some pilots have problem getting Google Earth to work in their browser; some pilots could not use CloudAhoy in the office because they are not allowed to install the Google Earth plugin.

In 3.0, whatever issue you have with the plugin, you can always switch to 2D by unchecking the “3D” checkbox.  2D debrief is also faster, which can help if you have a slow internet connection.

3.0 supports debriefing on –

CloudAhoy beta-3.0 is now back.

If you switched to 3.0-beta before we took it off the air, then your next login will be to 3.0-beta.

If you still have not switched to 3.0-beta, now is a good time to try it: after logging in to 2.x, simply click the “Switch to CloudAhoy 3.0-Beta” link on top.

And let us know how 3.0-beta works for you!  You can do it publicly in the 3.0-beta forum, or via email.

This year I’m flying in to AirVenture 2013, for the first time as a PIC. With me  will be another person from CloudAhoy, Etan Rozin.

We would like to meet as many CloudAhoy users as possible!

When: Wednesday 7/31 and Thursday 8/1, 2:00 -3:30 PM,

Where: International Marketplace South food court, K-12 on the map, located between the tower and the EAA Member Square.

Etan and I will be wearing CloudAhoy t-shirts with our cool new logo. What cool new logo? Stay tuned.

Drop me an email (chuck@CloudAhoy.com) if you’re coming.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Chuck