Hi guys,
I ordered my Sbrick on black Friday and I'm trying to get started now. My phone is HTC that's on Android 4.1.2 and is refusing to install system updates to get it to 4.3 or 4.4. Does that mean I'm buggered until I fix or replace my phone or is there a version that works on Android 4.1?
By the way, nice to see some familiar faces here (hi Philo, Mahjqa ;- )
I test the new version. It works very bad. Almost never works. I have only two (!) times was able to run through his work Sbrick. In other cases, I simply can not choose my Sbrick in "SBrick" item in menu. I can not even understand how it 2 times I was able to run, i can not repeat it. Firmvare SBrick - 4.4, but from SBrick Simple Control everything works correctly. (Smartphone - Explay Vega, Android - 4.4.2)
Good news! Just tested the new beta (1.9 update 5) and it seems to work fine on my Asus ME572C. No crash, no problem after stopping the app and restarting it, no unwanted disconnections.
Tried with two Sbricks, coupled channels. Worked.
I can't say for sure about lag (not tested in a real model), but it seems OK.
Actually the only glitch I noticed is that if BT is not enabled, the app says so in Hungarian ;)
As for user friendliness, it seems OK, the only thing that could probably be improved is the selection of Sbrick, the color code is not obvious (need to get back to test mode to figure out which is which).
A huge improvement!
I am also very frustaded because the hardware is amazing. It seems the iOS and windows apps are working but the android app after one year and a rewrite from crash is still a beta
If I am disapounted to not find the features I need , I was hopping that all the work done and the time spend will at leat fix the connections and upgrades problems but it seems this is still not the case
For me to improve this app, we need more versions more often and also more informations like a roadmap, change logs (bug fixed, new features, ...)
Hi Peer,
I don't understand what you means with "massive company", what's that for a statement ? Vengit Ltd is a company like any others, who sell a product, and the customer pay for it ! If the product is in that kind of stage, it's just way to early to bring it on the market, right ? If you go buying a car and the seller tell you:"Well, the car itself is ok, but the engine is not running properly, but we will fix it in a year...", you will buy it ?
The other point you mentioned (kick *ss), I just wrote, what will happens to myself, nothing more.
IMO, Vengit act not very professional, I asked Tamas 3 Weeks ago, for an approx. release date of the updates IOS-app, still no answer so far...not even a "Can't say it, we still have issues to fix"
Apropos "not very professional":
@SBrick-Team, I read in this forum e.g. from Lenard "We are working hard on it..." and his pict shows him with sunglasses, don't look very serious... Never seen it before on a comercial (company) website... Just a (marketing-) hint. ;-)
Frank
Frank Vollmer;
I get that you're frustrated. Completely. I also share your sentiment that so far, the app does not work as promised.
Yes, the development team has underestimated the time and effort it takes to get an app like this off the ground. These things happen. However, everything I'm reading here supports that they're doing their best to get this fixed, and get it RIGHT. Half-finished apps are worse than useless. But you must have been aware that this is not a product that's developed by Sony, Philips or any other massive company that has unlimited funds to throw at a problem.
Also, talking about people who "need to get their *sses kicked" may not be the best motivator. Just throwing that out there.
Update on my testing today with the beta app. Okay, I am now able to use the social login - yay! I can now use a custom profile I created with SBrick Designer from before.
Interestingly, when I test using one of My Creations, I lose connectivity about 10-15 feet away consistently. If I use the basic control option (same place where you can update the firmware), I was able to control the SBrick 25-35 feet away. I did this many times with the same results to eliminate the chance factor. Is there a difference in the code that communicates with the SBrick between the two? Again, I'm running Galaxy S6, Android 5.1.1 with firmware 4.4 on the SBrick.
Also, minor thing on the My SBrick menu option, the Firmware Version and Hardware Version fields at the top do not show anything. Should be 4.4 and 4.0 respectively.
[blockquote]Denis H said:
Tamas
I remember you and Sbrick team....that your initial and first statements was that Sbrick and app will work on 4.3+ devices, and THAT'S the reason i bought the sbrick in the first place (My phone is 4.3 and i'm not planning to purshase a new 4.4+ phone for this).
Now your comments is very disturbing, because indicate that your are not involve in the development process.....so your developers are doing what they want, and that's maybe one of the reasons that this app have 1+ year old and counting and still in beta stage.....i want to repeat: ONE YEAR OLD!!! This is too much time for an APP to develop...
[/blockquote]
Tamas
I totally agree with Denis, this is not professional !
In my case, I can't get the SBricks running with my Galaxy A5.
It was a present for my 10-year old son, he was disappointed having 8 PF-Motors, 2 SBricks and not be able to use it...
Therefore I bought an used IPhone4S. Again, spent some "not planned" money to get it working.
So, at least it works with the IPhone, but there are still issues (wrong screen ration for 4S, already posted 2 weeks ago)
I'm a software developer myself and my superior would kick my a.... if I need that much time to fix issues/bugs !
IMO, your team need some developers with more skills/experience.
Your comments are desirable.
Frank
Tamas
I remember you and Sbrick team....that your initial and first statements was that Sbrick and app will work on 4.3+ devices, and THAT'S the reason i bought the sbrick in the first place (My phone is 4.3 and i'm not planning to purshase a new 4.4+ phone for this).
Now your comments is very disturbing, because indicate that your are not involve in the development process.....so your developers are doing what they want, and that's maybe one of the reasons that this app have 1+ year old and counting and still in beta stage.....i want to repeat: ONE YEAR OLD!!! This is too much time for an APP to develop...
[blockquote]Ed In't Veld said: The login problems are over. When I want to make a profile and choose an controller hè said. Please log in[/blockquote]
This is a know bug. Our developers are wokring on that. Please try to logout and login again. It will solve the problem.
About the Android 4.3:
It seems our new application will works only with 4.4+
More info about this soon.
Basically the same results as Denis : the lag time is a big issue, the most annoying being that the app just cannot connect to the SBrick most of the time.
Tried to install v1.9 on my Galaxy 10.1 tablet (Android 4.4.2): the app just won't start, it crashes instantly.
Unfortunately, back to v1.6.1, the most stable until now.
I really hope that v1.9.1 will solve all these problems, cause it's really better looking and better designed for sure!
My test:
1) The beta version of the APP don't work with devices with android lower than 4.4 (The app DON'T INSTALL), for example Samsung Galaxy S3 that use 4.3 version will not install.
2) I use my Samsung Tab4 10" to test (android 4.4.2), a little difficult to test with a Technic Car due the big screen and controls (all my profiles were designed for a 5" phone). BUT there is my first test:
- The app still disconnect-Connect-disconnect a lot, testing about 15 minutes happens at least 3 times (at 3 meters max)
- This new app instroduce a VERY BIG INPUT LAG OR DELAY when you release a control (1 second aprox.); and sometimes when you start to press a control.....testing with one of my Technic Car (it's a fast buggy with 2 L motors), impossible to control because breaking and steeering.
- The app looks prettier and indeed the profile management is working better.
- I don't have any issues with the login.
I have only Technic Cars (sport cars, buggys, crawlers), so this app is NO GO for me due the BIG INPUT LAG.....impossible to drive with this app. So i go back to the 1.6.1 that works with my Samsung Galaxy S3 and don't have input lag.
So, i will ask again the same question i made on February of this year: When we will get a working app???? another 5 months to fix that input lag maybe?
I hate to write this, but this is the most disappointing and wanted (an the same time) products i have bought in many many years. Really disappointing!
[blockquote]Ed In't Veld said: Are there morele People with the login problems? Those the makers know the problems? [/blockquote]
Check the upper and lower case of all letters. I had to find a workaround when I typed my email address, the app just wouldn't let me type a lower case initial and it refused to connect. I had to add a dummy letter at the beginning of my Id then to clear it, and then I could connect.
Marc
I have just downloaded and installed the new APK, testing in progress.
First feeling : excellent work on the design. The profiles management is much better, the way to set-up every parameter is a huge improvement.
Created a first, basic profile: the app worked fine.
Created a second, still simple profile: worked too.
The I quit the app and that's problems appeared : the phone (Sony Xperia, Android 5.0.1) lost the connexion with the SBrick and there was no way to reconnect it. Switched back to v1.6.1: same issue. A mix of I see it, I don't see it, and nothing works, even the port tester couldn't action the motors (although the SBrick was seen).
The most annoying was that the phone just did not see the SBrick at the Android Bluetooth parameters level, and when it could see it, was unable to pair with the SBrick!!!
Switched to the tablet, the Sbrick worked fine (phew!). Did a firmware update just in case. Firmware version is v4.3 now.
Got back to the phone: I had to clear all app data, and it finally retrieved the SBrick.
What I finally have is the following:
- v1.9 can work, but it can lose the Sbrick if you quit the app.
- When it works, there's a significant lag when you release a control : with a fast car, you will sure crash it!
- When the Sbrick is lost, getting back to v1.6.1 (yes, the two apps are installed in parallel !) can solve the problem.
- The v1.9.1 port tester is strange : first, you get the voltage and temperature, but not the versions information, and the sliders won't work.
- If you manage to make the app work, and come back to the port tester, you can read the versions parameters (HW 4.0, SW 4.3 in my case)
All in all, this new app looks great and will be much better, but 1) the Bluetooth management is not reliable and 2) there's this lag issue that can be critical.
Still investigating (cache clearing, etc...) in case something can be done at the phone level.
Awesome! I did some testing with the new app and I'm able to control the SBrick from far distances 25-50ft without losing connectivity or crashing the app with over 30 minutes of testing. I am running a Samsung Galaxy S6 on Android 5.1.1 with v4.4 of the firmware on the SBrick. Great job!
I saw this previously posted, but I am unable to use my SBrick social login as well. Using guest only allows the simple control and wasn't able to access custom profiles I created with the previous version of the app. I also wasn't sure if we needed to update the firmware on the SBrick. Let us know when we can login to access the profile piece.
Thanks again for letting us run the beta!
Tamas
I found the problem.....you generate the APK compatible for Android 4.4+.....if you try to install in a android device with 4.3, for example the samsung Galaxy S3 and many others, user will have the same issue.
In my Samsung tab4 works, with a 4.4.2 version of android.
PLEASE REGENERATE THE APP COMPATIBLE WITH 4.3+ DEVICES!!!! I CAN'T USE AND I CAN'T TEST THE APP!!!
And i wonder why the app still don't work properly for about 1 year!!! silly me!!!
Tamas
Upload the same APK to google drive don't fix the damage APK. You upload the same damage file.....
I donwload the 1.6.1 APK from your site and works fine!! even the apk have the sbrick logo, but beta don't. So this is not a download issue.
Please regenerate the APK correctly and upload.
And when i execute:
"ERROR Analysis
There has been a problem when analyzing the package"
