The Aspiring Pilot

Logbook Pro upgrade and Labor Day sale

NC Software released their latest updates, free of charge to all current users, of their Logbook Pro software for PC, 1.10.54 and iPhone/iPad, 1.0.6.  As always, as the versions are still version 1, there is no upgrade fee, all upgrades are free.  They also announced their labor day sale, 15% off ALL products, except for their data entry service, where they enter your logbook data for you.  To take advantage of the 15% off, enter Promotional Code 228 and click apply on the final checkout page to qualify for the 15% off.  

From the newsletter pertaining to the update:

How would you like to sync your device without any interaction with your computer back at home or office?  Okay, that's right, you already can due to the amazing "cloud" synchronization system.  But let's take it one step further.  What if you sync your device and while you're away, Logbook Pro at home/work also syncs, automatically?  It will pick up your data from the "cloud" (My Sync Portal) and then submit the new reports and update your currencies, etc.?  We'll call it "Scheduled Sync" (or think of it as unattended sync).  New in Logbook Pro 1.10.54 in the My Sync / Account Settings area is a new section as you can see in the image below where you can enable scheduled sync and Logbook Pro, while open or minimized, will silently sync.  You can specify the time interval from the drop down as described in the documentation.  When the scheduled sync completes you'll see the note in the status bar.

Additional changes in 1.10.54 include:

• A new "lock" button appears on the right side of the sub-toolbar in each data entry area. Click the lock button to prevent inadvertent changes to your data.  Unlock to add new information and then lock when done if you won't be flying for a while
• Logbook Pro will now prevent you from creating or using a data file in the C:\Program Files folder which could cause a conflict with User Account Control in Windows Vista or Windows 7.  Data files should be used within the default location of /My Documents/My Logbook Pro Files/v1 folder or a dedicated folder on the local hard drive (not external/removable media)
• Syncing PDA Companions to Logbook Pro PC edition or using the Import Wizard to import data will calculate the cost/hr field for you
• Default margins for reports updated to prevent needed changes when printing for binders.  This will not affect any custom page setup options already set
• My Sync / Account Settings "enable autofill" now defaults to unchecked as autofill now occurs on the device.  Leaving it on will not affect data already autofilled as autofill skips fields that already have a value

Since the last newsletter in July we have had two updates to the iPhone and iPad app with some great new functionality:

• Significant performance and stability enhancements throughout (cannot emphasize this enough!)
• When starting a new flight the last fix of the prior flight will be the starting fix of the new flight
• AutoFill now occurs on the device.  Once you enter the duration and assuming you have an AutoFill configuration for the selected A/C Type in Options/AutoFill in Logbook Pro PC edition, you'll see the autofill occur instantly
• History Date Due is now calculated immediately when the Accomplished date is selected.  A calculator button appears on the right side of the Date Due to force a calculation should you change the Event type after the Accomplished date has been selected
• Landings are now displayed in the Flights listing such as 1D/2N represents 1 day landing, 2 night landings
• Auto-Purge if optioned ON will only purge synced data after a successful sync preventing "pending flights" from being purged.
• Purge button when tapped will prompt to delete ALL or SYNCED data
• Cost/Hr is now calculated on the device as soon as you enter a duration assuming the Options/Aircraft record has a Cost/Hr value associated
• Improved tappability of buttons for iPhone 4 users
• If viewing a report in iOS 4 and resuming the app with Sync on Start, the report will refresh automatically
• We removed the "Startup Page" option as with iOS 4 the app will resume to where you were last working.  iOS 4.2 will be out for the iPad in November so the same should apply.  Launching the app when not in a suspended state will take you to the home screen
• A new "My Sync Account" dialog was added to take your Account ID and E-mail immediately on startup if you have not yet initialized your device or if you clear the sync account information such as when sharing an iPad
• Legs input has been moved up under the Route of Flight field
• Custom Columns can now be hidden (by section), i.e. if you don't want to show any custom text columns you can hide the entire custom text section to streamline your data entry screen
• Custom Text fields now participate in the recent recall.  If optioned ON the prior custom text value will be auto-entered for you for new flights
• Fixed issue regarding date/time entry
• Fixed a startup crash condition
• Fixed a crash (auto-shutdown) if you did not have an Internet connection with Sync on Start ON

Website Review - Listen to live and archived air traffic control at LiveATC.net

• by Andrew Smolenski, National General Aviation Examiner
• August 25th, 2010 4:00 pm ET

Air Traffic Control is the voice in the sky that guides airliners and small planes through the air and helps ensure their safety.  Many people rarely hear the communications between pilots and ATC, however, LiveATC.net offers the option to hear the communications live and even review archives of prior communications.

The site was founded by Dave Pascoe, a pilot and ham radio operator who has been an avid ATC listener for many years according to a post in the sites forums.  In the About LiveATC column, Dave stated stated that, 'LiveATC.Net was the first site to provide both live and recorded ATC audio transmissions with instant archive retrieval.'

The site offers a simple, easy to navigate interface.  (rest of the review at examiner.com)

New Microsoft Flight Sim 2011!

Microsoft has recently announced a continuation of their famous Flight Simulator line of games.  The studio that previously developed MS Flight Sim was disbanded and Microsoft Game Studios recently announced they are developing a new game in-house.  Per a GameCon 2010 press release from Microsoft:

Twenty-eight years after the debut of “Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0,” Microsoft Game Studios also announced the internal development of “Microsoft Flight,” a new Windows exclusive. “Microsoft Flight” will bring a new perspective to the long-standing genre, welcoming everyone, including long-time fans, to experience the magic of flight.
A teaser of the future of Flight on the Windows-based PC is available at http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight.

The preview looks good and, if those are the game graphics, looks like it will be another computer hardware resource hog.  I haven't had much opportunity to play the latest MS Flight Sim since I've been extremely busy with my work, this blog and my examiner.com articles, but I hope to get back into it a bit to help refresh some of my instrument knowledge before I actually get back into the air for real.  Once I have more info on it, I'll post it up as we approach the 2011 Beta release of the game.

Logbook Pro customer service - impressed

I previously had purchased LogBook Pro, way back in 2003 and was utilizing it in assocation with my handwritten logbook.  It was a great product at that time; however, once I stopped flying, the program wasn't used and I had a computer crash that wiped most of my data.  I figured I'd have to pony up more money for a new copy of the program; however, I checks with their customer service to see if there was anything that could be done.

I received a reply to my email within minutes! They let me know that I just had to input my information in an online form and my prior activiation key would be resent to my email and I could download the newest copy of the program.  Users never have to pay an upgrade fee which is pretty nice.

I'll download, reinstall and re-enter my times tonight and will provide a full review of the product on this blog either tonight or tomorrow.  This should be the first of many product reviews.  (Even if you see an advertisement for a product on my site, all my reviews will be unbiased.  I do not use advertising for a source of income from this page, just to hopefully offset the costs of webhosting, etc.)

Let me know what products, websites, etc. you'd like to see reviewed in the future and I will see what I can do.

Also, keep spreading the word about this blog, I'll have stats up after my blogs 1-month anniversary tomorrow to see how far we've come in only 30 days.