LOLOL!!!
What "mature, existing codebase" did Oceanic have that they were able to leverage this project?
What other products did they already have that offered a user interface remotely like their app on iOS does? (none?)
What other mobile device app(s) did they already have? (none?)
What other products did they already have that offered the Buhlmann ZHL-16C/Gradient Factors algorithm? (none?)
Did they actually have ANY code of their own for performing decompression algorithm calculations of any type? Or did they get/use code for deco modeling under license from Pelagic Pressure Systems (owned by Aqualung, I think)?
It's just my speculation, but I doubt they had a single line of code that got re-used from any previous project in their iOS app. I further am a bit skeptical than any developer from their projects for their existing dive computers (e.g. Geo, Geo Air, etc.) was on the team that developed the iOS app.
As someone who used to use an Oceanic Atom 3.0 dive computer and the related Oceanic desktop software for Windows, my opinion is that Oceanic has zero track record of delivering high quality application software or even high quality dive computer user interfaces.
Don't get me wrong. I am fan of their dive computers. I would still recommend a Geo or Geo Air to some divers, with specific use-cases. But, that is in spite of their dive computer UI being, ummm, "not the best". The dive computers do WORK, though, and are a good value. And I like the DSAT algorithm that they offer, for recreational/sport diving.
I think someone at Apple sold some product manager at Oceanic a bill of goods on how great it would be for Oceanic if they would just develop a dive app to run on the AWU. I suspect Oceanic will eventually rue the day they decided to get on the AWU train.
If they had produced a really stellar and bug-free iOS app, then that would be different. But, they didn't. And, based on my experience of 40 years writing software for a living, including starting 2 software companies of my own, and my experience with Oceanic hardware and software over the last 9 years, I suspect that Oceanic simply did not have the corporate capability to do so.
Fortunately, I suspect that their development cost for the iOS app was relatively small (compared to their overall corporate budget). However, the app being tied to their new iPhone dive housing may completely skew that analysis. And did I mention that I got one of those new dive housings and I am returning it?
I suspect Oceanic is really struggling to continue to exist and getting in bed with Apple was a desperate attempt to find a new revenue stream. Downward price pressure from dive computers like the Garmin Descent G1 and the Shearwater Peregrine and now the Tern series is undoubtedly really hurting Oceanic's dive computer business unit. And I don't see things getting better for them.
