User Interface Update to El Al’s Zmanim App

While there have been many technical updates to El Al’s in-flight zmanim app since it rolled out, none included changes to the visual user interface. In February, El Al rolled out a long awaited update by FlightPath3D to the user interface based on feedback received since the initial system was rolled out. The new UI has many enhancements including:

• Displaying the latitude and longitude on the main screen to allow people to more easily validate the accuracy of zmanim calculations and simplify bug reporting. This feature involved a security review by El Al. To enhance reporting even further, the app version is displayed on the main screen. I am not aware of any software that shows the version on the main app screen, but we are doing what we can to help resolve any potential issues, and knowing the version number can help. Since feedback is often in the form of a picture of the screen, displaying the aircraft location and version number on the screen simplifies debugging issues.
• A UI toggle to show a more extensive list of zmanim (not just a few past and upcoming ones).
• Avoid showing the zmanim screen before takeoff (projections on the ground are too inaccurate, since the system has no idea when it will take off). Even showing zmanim for specific cities prior to takeoff was shelved in a UX review since it would likely confuse users who would think that it reflected the flight zmanim. The icon for displaying zmanim shows up as soon as the flight is underway.
• Minor FAQ changes, including the addition of QR codes to simplify contacting us to report issues. Thank you YCS for the suggestion.
• The Halachic Datelines (the Chazon Ish and Rav Yechiel Michel Tucazinsky) were added to the flight map. Note that graira / גרירה is used in the Chazon Ish (west) date line, but not Rav Tucazinsky’s (east) date line, since he was seemingly מסופק / unsure about concept. This change was a mapping update, and not a zmanim app update.