Thank you!
I've passed it to my Android developer.
He already had a quick look at the log file, and saw that we definitely ask android to connect to the device in firmware update mode, but then there are no further steps. He has some theories to test, but "unfortunately", it just works on all the Android devices we have here - even the older ones, which makes it difficult to fix an issue we cannot reproduce.
One thing you can try is while the Unleashed's LED is red, kill the app and restart it, then try to update the firmware from there. If it also doesn't connect, you can also unpair the Unleashed and see if you can pair with it while the LED is red as in the video.
The Unleashed will restart automatically after 2 minutes of turning red, and not starting a firmware update, so don't take too much time to restart the app.
Unleashed '22 M doesn't work with Z fc
-
birnaofthenorth
- Posts: 45
- Joined: October 9th, 2023, 9:04 am
The Unleashed app 3.2.1 fails to update the '18N2. Same behaviour as with the other '22M devices. The update hangs at 0% then bombs out.
I did send a log file, but there was no way I could attach a description of the problem. So another bug apparently. This was with the '18N2 on the Z5.
I did send a log file, but there was no way I could attach a description of the problem. So another bug apparently. This was with the '18N2 on the Z5.
-
birnaofthenorth
- Posts: 45
- Joined: October 9th, 2023, 9:04 am
After hectic trials I managed to update one of the '22M. For what purpose???. Still nothing works as it should. Tried on Z30 and Z fc with same result. There is no GPS recorded even the camera obvious receives data --shown by a steady turqoise LED. Even worse, the former bug of making it impossible to re-enable GPS once it has been turned off, pops up again. This in turn requires M reset and full configuration repair. Meanwhile, batteries are run down rapidly exactly as before, thus again the "fix" is just a waste of time. Our money have been wasted already. Now, we are asked to waste our time as well. This has crossed all red lines there are. Please, understand customers cannot be treated like this.
I think it is about time for Foolography to understand this project is a pipe dream that never will work and accept that customers just want to have their money back. We want reliable tools, not a bag of bugs. Foolography should not sell more of these flawed devices. It should be removed from the list of products. Otherwise the company in fact is ripping new customers off by selling defective devices. Paying customers cannot be treated as alpha testers. Can I express myself clearer than this?
I think it is about time for Foolography to understand this project is a pipe dream that never will work and accept that customers just want to have their money back. We want reliable tools, not a bag of bugs. Foolography should not sell more of these flawed devices. It should be removed from the list of products. Otherwise the company in fact is ripping new customers off by selling defective devices. Paying customers cannot be treated as alpha testers. Can I express myself clearer than this?
-
birnaofthenorth
- Posts: 45
- Joined: October 9th, 2023, 9:04 am
To illustrate the points I made in the previous post: the only difference in behaviour with the '22M and the (finally) updated firmware 3.4 so far is that my Zf now depletes the battery in 1 hour 55 min instead of the former 4-5 hours.
I would hardly call that an improvement.
I would hardly call that an improvement.
-
birnaofthenorth
- Posts: 45
- Joined: October 9th, 2023, 9:04 am
The company finally decided to refund my '22M, which I bought after the Kickstarter project. That leaves me with the '22M from the Kickstarter time, which I cannot get refunded. Thus I'm stuck with a defective unit that only has a single reliable function, viz. to rapidly drain the battery of my camera. For this 'feature' I have paid hard-earned money.
I have had a closer look at these units, and it is plainly obvious that the build quality is abysmal. Thus, not only do we have to struggle with the crappy and buggy software and firmware, there is also malfunctionality built into these devices. The advertising blurb about 'German qualitity' is pure nonsense,
The construction issue is with the contacts for the magnet USB pin. The contact pins rapidly begin to come out of alignment, moving laterally, or even fall out. Examples are show here, below. NB: these are different units. In addition, I have returned, and got replacements, for non-working device twice. One of the replacements went to a very early grave, whilst tte other might work for a few minutes if it is tired of draining my camera battery. However, it's the latter task it excels in, and also prefers.
Was there any field testing of this design before it went into production? Quality control apparently is non-existent. I have received 3 out of 4 units with hardware errors, and a fourth unit that is malfunctioning, although no pins have fallen out -- yet.
I have had a closer look at these units, and it is plainly obvious that the build quality is abysmal. Thus, not only do we have to struggle with the crappy and buggy software and firmware, there is also malfunctionality built into these devices. The advertising blurb about 'German qualitity' is pure nonsense,
The construction issue is with the contacts for the magnet USB pin. The contact pins rapidly begin to come out of alignment, moving laterally, or even fall out. Examples are show here, below. NB: these are different units. In addition, I have returned, and got replacements, for non-working device twice. One of the replacements went to a very early grave, whilst tte other might work for a few minutes if it is tired of draining my camera battery. However, it's the latter task it excels in, and also prefers.
- _DSC2054_v1.jpg (110.69 KiB) Viewed 6138 times
- _DSC2053_v1.jpg (138.28 KiB) Viewed 6138 times
Was there any field testing of this design before it went into production? Quality control apparently is non-existent. I have received 3 out of 4 units with hardware errors, and a fourth unit that is malfunctioning, although no pins have fallen out -- yet.
-
birnaofthenorth
- Posts: 45
- Joined: October 9th, 2023, 9:04 am
Most users would think that a firmware update implies bug fixes, better functionality or enhanced performance of a device. Now, since we are dealing with the company 'Bugography', that assumption is not usually encountered with.
The latest 3.5.1 firmware of my 22'M devices might give a hope that the several hundreds of Euros I have sunk into flawed M units finally meant they would be useful (?). Such hopes were quickly squashed as we have come to expect from 'bugography' products. True, the 22'M doesn't drain my camera batteries in < 2 hours, it takes approx. 6-8 hours instead, but that is hardly a game-changer I'd surmise.
Worse, the only 22'M that, on a whim now and then, would work with my Zf, for a while until it went down the rabbit hole, no longer functions at all after the firmware "upgrade". It is therefore not surprisingly that the 22'M for Z fc also refuses to operate.
I have uninstalled, then re-installed the Android app, I have upgraded firmware to the latest version as of 10 August 2024, I have reset my M units to factory serttings then paired them with the respective cameras, and the external GPS receivers (Qstarz BL-1000 and Transystem GL-770M) have been set up to feed the respective M unit. I get "green" LED showing the accessoiries connect, I can see their LEDs start to blink as the 22'M accesses them, the M LED is merrily turqoise, the Unleashed app shows there is a GPS present, and that's it. No GPS data is ever received. Period.
I have tested both external receivers with the 18'N2 on my Z5 and sure enough, they immediately transmit the GPS data as they should. These setups indeed work even when the mobile is turned off, or the Unleashed app is killed (because it, too, true to 'Bugography' traditions, eats the battery of my phone). I still get the GPS data and that's all I need.
Needless to say, with the Zf and the Z fc, Nikon's Snapbridge app works immediately and provides GPS data as well. However, geotagging accuracy is lower and for my purposes in the field, I don't want to rely on a power-thirsty phone, or there is no signal in the outback. Thus the obvious solution is the external GPS receivers.
I have said before, and it bears to be repeated over and over again, the new 22'M devices and the Unleashed app simply won't work. A pure waste of time and money and I cannot envision this ever will work reliably, as a professional tool. Thus, stay away, return the flawed devices for a refund, and use for example snapbridge or similar instead.
The latest 3.5.1 firmware of my 22'M devices might give a hope that the several hundreds of Euros I have sunk into flawed M units finally meant they would be useful (?). Such hopes were quickly squashed as we have come to expect from 'bugography' products. True, the 22'M doesn't drain my camera batteries in < 2 hours, it takes approx. 6-8 hours instead, but that is hardly a game-changer I'd surmise.
Worse, the only 22'M that, on a whim now and then, would work with my Zf, for a while until it went down the rabbit hole, no longer functions at all after the firmware "upgrade". It is therefore not surprisingly that the 22'M for Z fc also refuses to operate.
I have uninstalled, then re-installed the Android app, I have upgraded firmware to the latest version as of 10 August 2024, I have reset my M units to factory serttings then paired them with the respective cameras, and the external GPS receivers (Qstarz BL-1000 and Transystem GL-770M) have been set up to feed the respective M unit. I get "green" LED showing the accessoiries connect, I can see their LEDs start to blink as the 22'M accesses them, the M LED is merrily turqoise, the Unleashed app shows there is a GPS present, and that's it. No GPS data is ever received. Period.
I have tested both external receivers with the 18'N2 on my Z5 and sure enough, they immediately transmit the GPS data as they should. These setups indeed work even when the mobile is turned off, or the Unleashed app is killed (because it, too, true to 'Bugography' traditions, eats the battery of my phone). I still get the GPS data and that's all I need.
Needless to say, with the Zf and the Z fc, Nikon's Snapbridge app works immediately and provides GPS data as well. However, geotagging accuracy is lower and for my purposes in the field, I don't want to rely on a power-thirsty phone, or there is no signal in the outback. Thus the obvious solution is the external GPS receivers.
I have said before, and it bears to be repeated over and over again, the new 22'M devices and the Unleashed app simply won't work. A pure waste of time and money and I cannot envision this ever will work reliably, as a professional tool. Thus, stay away, return the flawed devices for a refund, and use for example snapbridge or similar instead.
Hi all,
It is too bad that this project has gone sour. It started out good but ended up bad.
It is better to not spend more energy in this project, for it is an endless pit of misery.
Take care all those who have invested money in this project!
PapaBear out.
It is too bad that this project has gone sour. It started out good but ended up bad.
It is better to not spend more energy in this project, for it is an endless pit of misery.
Take care all those who have invested money in this project!
PapaBear out.