Two related topics that are worth reading:
I’ve been able to use iNat in “Airplane Mode” on my android phone too, with GPS enabled. I agree with @DanielAustin’s comments about editing, identifying and uploading too. I find that auto-sync leads to new users doing things like:
- Multiple species per photo
- App performance decrease with spotty reception
- Separate photos for different angle of single species
All of which can be frustrating for identifiers (see: Classes uploading large quantities of poor observations). Granted, this seems like a design decision so that people don’t forget to upload their observations if they are one-time app users (see: “Duress” and “Contest” users).
My recommendation is to encourage folks to make a few observations before the event with some guidelines for how to make good observations. A great example is: iNat or iNot: A quiz to check understanding of captive/cultivated.