Like most apps, it's really just a user interface to interact with a website or online database. So when you load it up, it needs to connect to all that to have functionality. If you load it up while in service, it gets everything it needs to operate, then can go out of service, take your inputs, and upload them once it reconnects. But it needs that initial connection to work.
I get and understand that, but my confusion is why they designed it that way. When I am offline I can open an app to write an email, create a calendar event, start up and drop waypoints in OnX…without needing an internet connection when the app opens.
Because they hired whoever submitted the cheapest bid
I think that's the underlying issue with all of these apps. Compounded by the fact that whomever wins the contract is designing an app for folks who are often not end users and often lack the tech experience and background to know what to ask for.
Buying the 40$ license + tag + "Columbia River endorsement
" in September is always a bitter pill to swallow, and I've done it multiple times. Wish Oregon would get on this 365 plan.