News from Shearwater

[Solodiver]

Seems there is a competitor rising at the horizon - Shearwater is implementing VPM-B and started adapting the Custom Function Feature. eMail from tonight:


Predator Beta Version E8 (VPM)

We now have the Beta E8 version of the Predator firmware available.

Complete details are in the release notes, but here are some of the changes:

The biggest feature is the inclusion of the VPM-B algorithm. We have implemented VPM-B according to the Erik Baker Fortran specification. We have also included a VPM-B Gradient Factor Surfacing (GFS) option that allows VPM-B dives to be executed while ensuring that a gradient of 90% is not violated. Please refer to the release notes and VPM-B comparison notes at the links below.

We have also added an advanced configuration section that provides a lot of flexibility for those divers that want to change low level functionality like water salinity and the number of seconds on the surface before a dive ends. There are 10 items that can be changed.

http://www.shearwaterresearch.com/docum ... 0Notes.pdf

http://www.shearwaterresearch.com/docum ... lanner.pdf

[heinrichsweikamp]

Hi,

Thanks, but please stay on topic. There are better forums to discuss this then the OSTC forum.

Regards,
Matthias

[Solodiver]

Matthias, which forum would this be?

I'm not interested to discuss any stuff from Shearwater in here but just thought this is of interest for you and many other users in here. Always know your competitors and the market...

[tiefunten]

I think he has a forum like taucher.net in his mind.

I'm not sure whether shearwater is really a competitor. The software is not open source, there are only 10 Custom Functions and the units are much more expensive - for me, OSTC rocks!

[sailor]

You can't be serious !!!
Have you tried to advertise an OSTC-product on a SW-platform?
I wonder why this topic is still open ???
This forum is for discussing and asking questions about OSTC.
If you want to inform HW about news from SW just send them an email.

Just my ONE cent, Reiner



Solodiver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Matthias, which forum would this be?
>
> I'm not interested to discuss any stuff from
> Shearwater in here but just thought this is of
> interest for you and many other users in here.
> Always know your competitors and the market...

[Solodiver]

tiefunten Wrote:
> I'm not sure whether shearwater is really a
> competitor. The software is not open source, there
> are only 10 Custom Functions and the units are
> much more expensive - for me, OSTC rocks!

Not to mention this real crap what they are calling logbook software (which is the only one supporting this unit)...

[Eric]

Solodiver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tiefunten Wrote:
>
>
> Not to mention this real crap what they are
> calling logbook software (which is the only one
> supporting this unit)...

Shearwater Desktop is excellent software, please but your brain in to gear before typing!

[John_c]

I think its great that Shearwater are here shouting about their products,..... it just goes to prove they see OSTC as a true market competitor, one which they feel they have to emulate.....

It just helps reinforce my decision in buying two OSTC2N's. They are by far the best....

[Solodiver]

Guys, keep calm. This thread is not for bashing Shearwater or any other thing you think off. It is what it is: just an information! And before arguing that this is a sponsoring for Shearwater you should think about the possibility it is the other way round.

I really want to make sure that you get this right: I love my OSTC units, but i my case they are just backups anymore. I would love to cut off this Shearwater thing from my diving equipment better today than tommorow but there is just no open alternative around. Also some others in here are already forced to switch to other units and and at least I want to make sure, that there is still a strong user base in some years of time when some of you also part of the fast growing eCCR community or have other reasons to be stuck to other units. I know I've different views of marketing the OSTC than HW but in my understanding the OSTC is also a community driven project, at least this has been the main reason for me to buy my units and spread to words to many other users who bought it afterwards. So forgive me if I love my tiny part of the project.

I'd just suggest not to lay back but to watch out. Is the world is turning to VPM than also your (backup) unit should support this. Configuring the Salinity has been a USP for OSTC a long time, the same applies for the Custom Functions, the extrem Flexibility and the ongoing development progress. Shearwater is in my understanding the only "other" manufacturer showing some noteworthy progress in new features lately.

And I'm sure I'm not the only one having a slight understanding of modern internet usage. Seems that this post already attracted some people not knowing of OSTC before. Seeing that they claim a proprietary software, which is platform dependend, having quite high and many runtime environments, offering absolutely no interoperatibility and showing an "improvable" useability as "excellent software" shows that it should not be that tricky to extend the user base. How many of your diving colleguas know about the OSTC? No one? Be assured, you are not alone...

To come to an end in here: I'll leave it to others to decide what to do with this thread. I've said what I'd to say and will offer ongoing support for the OSTC in every way I'm able to give if you are interessted. If I'm the only one thinking this way, please delete this post to make sure that it is not doing any more damage.

Thx,
Jan