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Logbook Pro
February 2012 Newsletter:
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Welcome to 2012! Yes, I know, it's approaching
March already, but this is our first newsletter for
2012 since the holiday madness! Things get
chaotic starting on Thanksgiving and go through the
end of the year with great sales for you all,
amazing business for us, and we have been so
incredibly busy with new product development as well
as software updates. Our December newsletter
was the last time we published a newsletter and if
you didn't read it, it has some great information
you should definitely read.
Click here to check it out.
The planets
are aligned, things couldn't be better in the land
of NC Software. December, January, and now
February are record breaking months in regards to
sales. We know we've hit the sweet spot
providing you the products you need and pricing both
our products and services just right making them
affordable and convenient for you. Our free
app model seems to be a hit allowing you to enjoy
Logbook Pro on so many supported platforms now
including our newest additions: Kindle Fire and
NOOK.
This year is the year our
professional aviators should start seeing jobs open
up and those seeking jobs should have their logbooks
interview ready despite the rising cost of oil/gas,
don't let that discourage you - be ready! We
thank you for your vote of confidence in NC Software
as we strive to provide the best aviation logbook
software in the industry and we're always here to
answer your questions and assist you in any way we
can. We will continue to provide you
informative newsletters and video tips to assist you
in getting the most out of your software.
We've grown! Our rapidly growing business has
allowed us to increase our staff. We have some
of the best software engineers on board that are
working hard to create the absolute best software
solutions for pilots. We have a team dedicated
to the next "APDL" which will first support Apple's
iOS platform. We have a great team working
full steam ahead on the next generation of Logbook
Pro Desktop Edition and our new venture "Logbook Pro
Web Edition" our hardware agnostic solution.
Some of these efforts have been going on for a long
time and we are hoping to announce their birth this
year. We are not in a rush, our existing
products are rock solid, reliable, feature rich, and
the best on the market. We are only going to
make the best better! We will call for beta
testers in the coming months as our new products in
development reach a point where we need more input.
We already have a great team of beta testers that
work with us day in and day out.
We are
always improving as well! We're working on a
brand new web site layout making things even easier
for you to navigate and enjoy your experience online
with us. We're wrapping up the next Apple iOS
app update (iPhone/iPad) which will support iOS 4
and later devices, we will no longer be creating new
updates for iOS 3 devices. Following the iOS
release we will take the same new feature and apply
them to our Android line and release that update as
well. We are working on the "Logbook Pro API"
which will allow any and every logbook product out
there, or aviation app for that matter, to port data
to Logbook Pro PC "desktop" edition via our cloud
services. We know we can't do it all and you
have your favorite apps out there, for whatever
reason, but you use Logbook Pro PC edition as your
trusted main logbook and want that data ported in --
we are going to allow that to happen! Last but
not least, we've received some great feedback, as
always, on Logbook Pro PC edition so we'll brew up
the 1.12.1 free update for you as well incorporating
that great feedback.
In the fall of last year
we acquired FlightCentral's
Route Browser product. It is now
exclusively sold and supported by us and we have
been giving it some needed TLC and we'll have an
update to Route Browser as well in the near future.
We greatly appreciate Jeff Farris's great support
for many many years being a part of the Logbook Pro
community.
So as you can see we've been
incredibly busy and we're continuing to grow.
We're always looking for pilots that are also
software developers to join our team. We have
a great infrastructure, great products, and great
people and we're looking forward to great things
ahead. Thank you for being a part of our
community for 14 years this March and we look
forward to many years ahead and working with you to
help us bring you the best tools for pilots.
Have a wonderful 2012!
Very Respectfully,
Neal Culiner
President, NC Software, Inc. |
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Cloud Sync and Airline Schedule Importer: New services, new pricing |
Introducing Cloud Sync for Apps:
Technology these days is exhausting!
It's so hard to keep up, every day a new cell phone
is on TV, the demands on everyone are more than ever
in this connected age. Our goal is to keep
things as simple as we possibly can! We are
continually improving and changing with this goal
and as a result we've made some significant changes
to our cloud sync service.
When we first
launched our iPhone platform we pioneered an
innovative system for you to sync your data with
Logbook Pro PC edition. As you may not know,
Apple does not allow third party apps to sync via
cable/iTunes so developers have to get creative in
getting data to/from your main logbook. Some
vendors tried painful home networking, clumsy Wi-Fi
pairing of your device to your network - it's just a
mess! We created "Cloud Sync." We came
out with two tiers initially: Cloud Sync
"Device" and Cloud Sync "Universal." The
"Device" subscription was tied to your specific
device (hardware ID) and was a cheaper option.
The "Universal" option was simply tied to you as a
user allowing you to use any device. As you
know, devices break, end up in the toilet or that
one puddle in the street, or you simply buy a new
device as they come out so frequently. With
the Device subscription we allowed you to change
your device registration but it required our
interaction to do so and is a pain for you depending
on us and also increases our support load, this is
not a "win-win" situation.
With the release
of Apple's iOS 5 they are warning developers that
use of the "hardware ID" (UDID) is going away, i.e.
we should not be using it. Android was already
a pain because they don't provide a hardware ID that
remains the same regardless! We tried three
different variants and for whatever reason it would
change! With the risk of Apple pulling access
to the UDID and then the Android issue - this was
the final nail the coffin - it was time to do away
with Cloud Sync DEVICE subscription.
Effective Jan 1, 2012 we discontinued the cloud sync
device subscription and renamed "Cloud Sync
Universal" to "Cloud
Sync for Apps". We also reduced the price
to $29.99/year but also added a two year
subscription option ($54.99) for even more savings,
and less hassle to you, you won't have to worry
about your subscription for two years! As
described in the December newsletter our free app
model has many benefits which I suggest you read if
you haven't already. (click
here to read the article).
The Cloud Sync
for Apps subscription allows you to use ANY of our
free apps on any and all of your devices for one
subscription price. You can use your iPhone,
iPad, Android, Android tablet, Kindle Fire, NOOK
color, NOOK tablet, the list goes on and on and on.
As long as you have your Account ID and Username
entered into your FREE app and you have an active
"Cloud Sync for Apps" subscription you can sync!
Enjoy FREE software updates, always using the latest
and greatest, never having to purchase your software
all over again and some of you that used another
logbook product learned that lesson the hard way a
few months ago!
--Click
here to buy Cloud Sync for Apps now.
Airline Schedule Importer: New Pricing
On Jan
8, 2012 we lowered the price of the
airline schedule importer subscription to
$39.99/1-year or
$72.99/2-years. Evaluating the
success we've had across the board, the maintenance
demand on our solid schedule importer system, we
want to make sure this handy tool is being used by
everyone! We've honed this cloud app to
perfection with new time zone integrations, expanded
export options including FFDO, iCalendar, CSV, and
TAB among our app integrations, it is simply a must
have for all airline pilots and even flight
attendants - we revised the price based on your
outstanding feedback. No other product imports
airline trip data to the level we do with the
customization, integration, and accuracy. We
are considering opening up the schedule importer via
our cloud services system for potential external
clients but do not have any firm decisions on this
at this time. We hope you enjoy the great
asset this tool is for the airline community.
Click here to subscribe now and enjoy the
automation this tool will provide you in preloading
your logbook and/or calendar.
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Welcome Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's NOOK |
NC Software is excited to announce
Logbook Pro for
Kindle Fire and
Logbook Pro for NOOK
(color and
tablet). These handy tablet devices not only
make great e-Readers but also great tablets at much
lower cost that the iPad. Click the images
below to learn more about each device and how to get
your free app on these new platforms today.
Logbook Pro for Kindle Fire
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Logbook Pro for NOOK
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A hidden gem, are you using it? Hint: Summary Bar |
Need to know how many hours you've flown in the past 7 days? 28 days? You can do this in a handy feature that you probably didn't even know existed - the Summary Bar. It's the bar at the
bottom of your flight log screen (spreadsheet area) that you can actually configure! Right-click the summary bar and choose "Configure Summary Bar" or go to Options/Flight Log and then click the
Summary Bar button on the top right.
Click here for the documentation on this system.
The summary bar is not only available on the bottom
of the logbook screen but it's also available as a
report in the Reports/Miscellaneous section.
You can choose which date to "lookback" from as well
to get your summary data if you need to see where
you were as of a specific date. In addition,
these reports are transferred down to your app
(iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, NOOK) so you
can see these totals right on your device.
Give it a try. Configure it as you want and
then click "cloud sync / sync now" and then sync
your app to pick up your refreshed report. |
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Handling Instructor's Endorsements |
A question that is raised on occasion is how to
handle endorsements in an electronic logbook.
We asked the question recently on the
Logbook Pro Facebook page to get your opinions.
There are different types of endorsements such as
those that go inline with your flight log directly
and those that go in the back of your logbook.
For the sign-offs and other endorsements in the back
of your logbook, that's not a problem, we sell
various
endorsement solutions that go in the back of
your hard copy printout of Logbook Pro and work with
the Cirrus Elite binders.
The question comes
in with regs like FAR 61.51 where an instructor is
to sign off on your flight log entry and enter their
certificate number and expiration. The problem
is that these regs were written well before the
digital era when a logbook was only kept via chisel
and slate (pen and ink). We will be submitting
a request to the FAA to amend such FAR's as in our
opinion all that you should be required to do is
identify your instructor pilot. Those that fly
under rules for other countries should consider
writing your agency as well suggesting the change as
a result of the digital era.
To handle
this requirement, which is ultimately up to the
pilot to ensure compliance with the regs, we suggest
either note in the remarks or create a custom text
column (Options/Custom) to record your
instructors name, certificate number, and
certificate expiration. Check with
your local FSDO but this should suffice with the
intent of the reg.
We are looking into secure
digital signature technology for a future solution
should the FAA not amend the regulations. This
would be the correct alternative to handling this
requirement. Some vendors have come out with a
system such as capturing a persons signature - this is NOT
the way to do this!!! This is
completely reckless and a path for identity theft.
Having an image of your signature floating around
out there is not what anyone wants, overlay it on a
check, legal document, etc. and you have a problem!
An iPhone or iPad can take a screen capture of its
screen simply by pressing the Home and Sleep button
simultaneously! Be aware of the ramifications
of the complete lack of security and awareness of
such systems.
Rest assured we are aware of
the regs and requirements both you and I fly under.
Our next major release of Logbook Pro is going to
give us amazing potential to use the latest
technologies such as digital signatures to answer
such a need. We just wanted to provide you
direction to use today in your logbook that should
hold you until that time. As always, check
with your local agency to ensure your method is
satisfactory to them, they will be the ones knocking
on your door should "that time" ever come! |
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As you may not know, we have two completely separate
product lines: Logbook Pro and APDL.
Logbook Pro is NOT the replacement for APDL, the
apps we currently have for iOS, Android, etc. are
NOT to replace APDL! We realize there is no
other product available that gives you what APDL
does but of course the platforms that APDL v6 runs
on is fading fast. Not to worry, APDL v7 is in
development and has been for quite some time.
I just want you to know that, and it will come out
first for Apple's iOS. If you're an Android
user and have to buy an iOS device, which I'm sure
you'll love, keep in mind it's probably going to be
a tax write-off for you. We will consider
Android only after the iOS app is feature complete
and stabilized. This is all we can release at
this time, we don't have any timelines, features to
share, etc. for both security reasons as well as
software development is something very hard to
predict.
When the time comes we will call for
a limited group of beta testers. When we can
start sharing information publicly we will. If
you are unable to use our APDL app as you don't have
a Palm OS or Windows Mobile device I highly
encourage you to try our free Logbook Pro app in the
interim. It has a lot of features that will
help you as an airline pilot such as schedule
importing, calendar integration, FAR 121 lookback,
time calculator for logging by day instead of by
leg, etc. A lot of airline pilots actually
find the app to be suitable for their needs.
APDL is obviously much more involved with rest, pay,
duty, etc. and that is coming!
Thank you for
your continued patience.
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Product |
Version |
| Logbook Pro PC
Edition |
1.12.0 |
| Logbook Pro Universal
App for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad |
2.4.2 |
| Logbook Pro for
Android/Kindle Fire/NOOK |
1.0.9 |
| Logbook Pro Palm
Companion |
1.10.5 |
| Logbook Pro Pocket
PC Companion |
1.10.16 |
| Airline Pilot's
Daily Aviation Logbook - Palm OS |
6.0.4 |
| Airline Pilot's
Daily Aviation Logbook - Pocket PC |
6.1.4 |
| FlightCentral Route
Browser |
2.2 |
| Airline Schedule
Importer |
8.4.6 |
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Click here to download updates as required. |
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mail unsubscribe requests to: NC Software, Inc., 2711 Centerville Rd,
PMB 5115, Suite 120, Wilmington, DE 19808.
Logbook Pro is a registered trademark of NC Software, Inc.
All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their
respective owners
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