its quite...errr...portly! How do you like the fire panel thing?!?!
Smok X Cube II 160watt TC Bluetooth $55.9 coupon
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its quite...errr...portly! How do you like the fire panel thing?!?!
Smok's iOS app requires iOS 6 or later, and my iPad 1 can only use iOS 5.
Well this is going well. Great work, Smok.
Well this is going well. Great work, Smok.
OK it's definitely not going to work. I just watched the TVC video briefly to be absolutely sure there's nothing else required. It should show up in the app immediately, and it just doesn't. And the app appears wonky in other respects on the Android device, for example having a Settings menu that does nothing.
And excuse me, there's nothing wrong with my version of Android
It's not hacked or messed about with, it's just perfectly a normal Samsung Galaxy S2 with official Android 4.1.something. A couple of years old but should work fine - and greater than the minimum specced version for the Smok app (which is 4.0.)
The iPad is pretty old yes, however I would be very surprised if Smok's app needs any feature that only IOS 6 can provide. It's crap and lazy development so far as I can see. And again highlights the stupidity of requiring a separate utility to enable features on the mod - if you're going to do that, at least make it as inclusive as possible.
Anyway it appears I have two options available to me. First is to re-flash my phone to a later version of Android, and just hope that it then works. I suppose it should, as I know for sure that Bluetooth on the phone works so I can't see how it could be a hardware issue.
The second option is that I've just found I can install Android in a Virtual Machine, and then use a USB Bluetooth stick that I happen to already own (if I can find it) which I can pass through to the VM to give me Android with Bluetooth. That will mean I will have a recent version of Android running, 5.x. And is a proper IT solution
Given the latter option is non-destructive and seemingly quite quick, I will be starting there.
And excuse me, there's nothing wrong with my version of Android
It's not hacked or messed about with, it's just perfectly a normal Samsung Galaxy S2 with official Android 4.1.something. A couple of years old but should work fine - and greater than the minimum specced version for the Smok app (which is 4.0.)The iPad is pretty old yes, however I would be very surprised if Smok's app needs any feature that only IOS 6 can provide. It's crap and lazy development so far as I can see. And again highlights the stupidity of requiring a separate utility to enable features on the mod - if you're going to do that, at least make it as inclusive as possible.
Anyway it appears I have two options available to me. First is to re-flash my phone to a later version of Android, and just hope that it then works. I suppose it should, as I know for sure that Bluetooth on the phone works so I can't see how it could be a hardware issue.
The second option is that I've just found I can install Android in a Virtual Machine, and then use a USB Bluetooth stick that I happen to already own (if I can find it) which I can pass through to the VM to give me Android with Bluetooth. That will mean I will have a recent version of Android running, 5.x. And is a proper IT solution
Given the latter option is non-destructive and seemingly quite quick, I will be starting there.
All that said, it could be as simple as my mod being buggered. It doesn't show up in the list of available Bluetooth devices when I scan.
Or I suppose it might be that it requires a BT 4.0 device, immediately making it usable with only recent BT hardware. That would be dumb, but then it's Smok, so..
Or I suppose it might be that it requires a BT 4.0 device, immediately making it usable with only recent BT hardware. That would be dumb, but then it's Smok, so..
Nope, they should not have.
This will be how most mods will be in a year or so. I feel comfortable predicting that.
Eric
Can I just say that I'm a damn wizard.
Mod. Bluetooth adapter.
Android x86 4.4 Release Candidate 1 running in a VM on the PC
'Smart' (AKA damned stupid ridiculous piece of crap) BEC running in Android x86 4.4 RC1 in a VM on the PC
And not just the first version of Android I installed. Oh no. First I installed the latest version, 4.4 release, and that could see the Bluetooth mod, and run the app, but then it couldn't find the mod. Nor could it connect to the mod via a normal Bluetooth pairing.
So then I tried Android 4.3 in a VM. That could pair over Bluetooth. But it couldn't run the app, because it was 'incompatible'. No problem, I'll backup the app from the 4.4 version and import into 4.3. That worked, and the app run. But oh, error "Your device no support BLE". Oh. OK, how about Android 4.4 Release Candidate 1? Oh, that works. Thanks.
So convenient, having Bluetooth connectivity on a mod!
Mod. Bluetooth adapter.
Android x86 4.4 Release Candidate 1 running in a VM on the PC
'Smart' (AKA damned stupid ridiculous piece of crap) BEC running in Android x86 4.4 RC1 in a VM on the PC
And not just the first version of Android I installed. Oh no. First I installed the latest version, 4.4 release, and that could see the Bluetooth mod, and run the app, but then it couldn't find the mod. Nor could it connect to the mod via a normal Bluetooth pairing.
So then I tried Android 4.3 in a VM. That could pair over Bluetooth. But it couldn't run the app, because it was 'incompatible'. No problem, I'll backup the app from the 4.4 version and import into 4.3. That worked, and the app run. But oh, error "Your device no support BLE". Oh. OK, how about Android 4.4 Release Candidate 1? Oh, that works. Thanks.
So convenient, having Bluetooth connectivity on a mod!
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So, how's the app? Well, mostly pretty terrible. Want an idea of the sort of detailed work and hard-nosed quality control they've put in here?
That's the Power Graph. Could be useful. Oh, except the Y access has steps of 320, 640, 960, 1280 and 1600 watts. Hmm. Either someone slipped an extra '0' in there, and then no-one noticed in any of the 10+ updates of this app they've already made, or.. they're going to be releasing a new $0.49 update that increases the power from 160 to 1,600 watts! That must be it.
OK OK I'm being picky. That's just a stupid graph. The basic functionality all works fine, right? Well.. maybe. As long as you don't want TC above 206°C of course:
Yeah, the slider won't go up past 206°C. Maybe it works properly in °F. Maybe.
Ahh, Smok. How much we missed you.
Anyway I'll update more later with first findings on TC etc.
PS. Oh, one thing - I didn't have to pay $3 for the TC. For whatever reason, it was included in the mod when I got it - hence my being able to use it earlier without the app. It was only Titanium I had to pay for, at $0.49. Paying for Titanium mode means I can now lower the TCR to 150. So no Stainless Steel support. Maybe they're going to bring out another $0.49 update for SS!? Or perhaps they just don't know about it. I will email them sometime soon.
That's the Power Graph. Could be useful. Oh, except the Y access has steps of 320, 640, 960, 1280 and 1600 watts. Hmm. Either someone slipped an extra '0' in there, and then no-one noticed in any of the 10+ updates of this app they've already made, or.. they're going to be releasing a new $0.49 update that increases the power from 160 to 1,600 watts! That must be it.
OK OK I'm being picky. That's just a stupid graph. The basic functionality all works fine, right? Well.. maybe. As long as you don't want TC above 206°C of course:
Yeah, the slider won't go up past 206°C. Maybe it works properly in °F. Maybe.
Ahh, Smok. How much we missed you.
Anyway
I'll update more later with first findings on TC etc.PS. Oh, one thing - I didn't have to pay $3 for the TC. For whatever reason, it was included in the mod when I got it - hence my being able to use it earlier without the app. It was only Titanium I had to pay for, at $0.49. Paying for Titanium mode means I can now lower the TCR to 150. So no Stainless Steel support. Maybe they're going to bring out another $0.49 update for SS!? Or perhaps they just don't know about it. I will email them sometime soon.
It ate all the pies. Who ate all the pies? The Smok XCube II ate all the pies. And then it ate the pie shop.
With the required 2 x 18650 batteries (it's series, so has to be two), it's 322 grams (11.35 ounces). That's 50g more than the IPV4.
Put an atomizer on there, and the total weight will be closing on 400g. It's 380g with an Aqua v2 clone on there, half full of juice.
The firing bar is.. interesting. It's solid, obviously very tactile, and feels very comfortable in the hand to use.
It takes some getting used to though, because it requires quite some force to activate - presumably intended to reduce the risk of accidental firing. There's also quite a fire delay as well. I will get timings on that, but I guess it could be as much as half a second. That could be quite unpopular with quite a lot of people, I'd think.
@TheBloke i missed you mate. Too funny!!
Anyway, having stopped laughing now at your rant..
great job with the jury rigging but the question is what are SMOK doing here?!?!? I guess they rushed this out to try to keep up with the DNA200 but bloody hell it looks like it needs work. Lot of potential though and it seems that the basic functionality is ok. I mean compared to the m80 its a winner!! You know another $0.49 for a 1600W powerhouse is state-of-the-art!!
Evolv, where is that DNA2000? Gotta keep up guys!!
Anyway, having stopped laughing now at your rant..
great job with the jury rigging but the question is what are SMOK doing here?!?!? I guess they rushed this out to try to keep up with the DNA200 but bloody hell it looks like it needs work. Lot of potential though and it seems that the basic functionality is ok. I mean compared to the m80 its a winner!! You know another $0.49 for a 1600W powerhouse is state-of-the-art!!
Evolv, where is that DNA2000? Gotta keep up guys!!
I was thinking that the fire bar (combined with the weight) might make the Smok uncomfortable to hold, that you'd have to hold it in a special way to not accidentally fire it. Is that the case?
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
Jeez. Topped with a full metal jacket KF4 that would weigh about a kilo!! Dont drop the damn thing on your foot!
Yeah it's so dumb. The thing is, there's almost nothing in the app that's required to use the mod, after you've used it to buy/enable Titanium mode. The mod has all options/features on-mod - something the DNA 200 can't claim, for example.
On-mod you have TCR adjustment, choice between Nickel (0.004 - 0.008) and Titanium (0.0015 - 0.005) TCR modes, memories including memory editing, choice of standard/soft/maximum/etc modes. Everything you need day to day. The app is at best a nice-to-have - it has lots of unnecessary stuff, like the graphs and "puff counts", and at most one or two "possibly useful" things, like the ability to create your own custom firing patterns; though I'm not sure they work for TC, only in VW mode - a bit like the Dicodes' extra power modes, except customisable.
So the app might be vaguely useful - if/when it works properly - but it is absolutely not essential; unlike the DNA 200 app for example, where the app is essential if you want anything besides Nickel.
But they've made it essential to get this ridiculous extra $0.49 from people - which, after Paypal fees, will will probably be about 15 cents for them. To get that ridiculously small amount of money, they make the app essential, and thus they block off access to the full TCR range unless you can get the app working.
And that's where the problems start, because the app will work on only a small fraction of devices. It definitely requires Bluetooth 4, which means a) you need at least Android 4.3 to use it (though when I tried 4.3, it didn't seem to work, though that might be the vagaries of the Android x86 system), b) you need BT 4 hardware.
That combination of requirements - which are nowhere on Smok's specs or in the app itself - means my Samsung GT2 is certainly out, but so is the S3 (only released in 2013) because even though its chip supports BT4, the latest version of Android Samsung released for the S3 was 4.1.x. If you flash a new rom, you could use the S3, so that's like 0.01% of users.
I don't know about other phones/tablets but I'm sure it's similar across the board - in practice this app is going to be limited to Android devices released in 2014 and onwards. For no reason at all that I can see.
As for Apple/iOS, a quick Google seems to suggest that it's iPhone 4S and later - again, late 2013/early 2014 in terms of when they became available.
I admit I'm more behind in my phone/portable hardware than I would normally be, and perhaps more so than the average high-tech user. But what annoys me is this is so unnecessary. They didn't need to use BT4 Low Energy. It probably saves a tiny bit of battery. OK, if that battery life is so important, then make it an option - BT4 mode if you've got the portable to connect to it, BT2 if not. Then the app can support every Android and Apple tablet and phone made in the last, well, ever really.
Again, what's so annoying here is the double whammy - if the app was a nice-to-have which didn't work for a lot of people, that's one thing; or if the app was required, but worked for the maximum of people, that's another. But having an app that works for the minimum number of users, and is also made a requirement for full functionality, is just ridiculously dumb.
I'll write an email to them soon pointing this out, and also raising a truckload of bug reports.
At least it seems they are actively working on it - I noticed that the Last Updated Date for the Android app was today, and there's some user comments/reviews saying "OK it finally works now" - so believe it or not, it's been even worse than it is now!
FYI the app as it stands is basically completely broken - unless you like counting your puffs, or seeing the live updated watts/volts. Actually the latter is OK to look at, means you can have a relaxing vape while seeing what the TC is doing without trying to watch the screen live (though that is actually possible on this mod, as it's on the top - yay for screen-on-top mods!)
I think the app has been broken by the latest firmware, 1.07, which was released in the last day or two and which I installed straight away. This FW adds a couple of new firing modes like MAX and MIN - before there were three, now there's five. It also added that Adjust Initial Resistance mode - which does look like a good idea, if it works right - and I think something related to Titanium.
I mentioned earlier the app only goes up to 206°C on the slider. I tried to use it anyway, just for lulz. So my app settings were 200°C and Normal I think. I pressed "apply", and it changed the mod to 392°F and SOFT. Hmm
200°C does = 392°F, so it got the temp right. But it converted the mod to °F mode. And it got the pwoer mode completely wrong, changing NORMAL to SOFT.
So I think they added new modes in the firmware - MIN and MAX - and haven't yet updated the app, so when it tries to set 'mode 3' or whatever it calls it internally, that now applies to a different on-mod setting. (Which would be a good indication that their coding/design is appalling. Newly added modes should have new codes, such that an old version of the app would still work fine setting the modes it understands. Ridiculous, schoolboy error.)
I don't quite see why that would also break the temp setting, but I imagine it's related.
Anyway, it's all a congealed cluster of crap at the moment, but hopefully they will keep working on it and fix it in the coming days.
At least once you have the app working once, to enable Titanium mode, you don't need to use it again - everything important can be done on-mod.
And I will say that mod usage/settings isn't too bad. I don't really like the timeout system of the menu, and it takes a bit of getting used to. But there is a fairly comprehensive menu, which has been supplemented with every possible button combination for shortcuts. So every combo you can think of for pressing buttons will activate/change something, or you can do all the same things and more via a structured menu. Evolv, take note - having multi-combo shortcuts is all fine and good, but there's no excuse for not having a proper menu as well!
I think the app has been broken by the latest firmware, 1.07, which was released in the last day or two and which I installed straight away. This FW adds a couple of new firing modes like MAX and MIN - before there were three, now there's five. It also added that Adjust Initial Resistance mode - which does look like a good idea, if it works right - and I think something related to Titanium.
I mentioned earlier the app only goes up to 206°C on the slider. I tried to use it anyway, just for lulz. So my app settings were 200°C and Normal I think. I pressed "apply", and it changed the mod to 392°F and SOFT. Hmm
200°C does = 392°F, so it got the temp right. But it converted the mod to °F mode. And it got the pwoer mode completely wrong, changing NORMAL to SOFT.
So I think they added new modes in the firmware - MIN and MAX - and haven't yet updated the app, so when it tries to set 'mode 3' or whatever it calls it internally, that now applies to a different on-mod setting. (Which would be a good indication that their coding/design is appalling. Newly added modes should have new codes, such that an old version of the app would still work fine setting the modes it understands. Ridiculous, schoolboy error.)
I don't quite see why that would also break the temp setting, but I imagine it's related.
Anyway, it's all a congealed cluster of crap at the moment, but hopefully they will keep working on it and fix it in the coming days.
At least once you have the app working once, to enable Titanium mode, you don't need to use it again - everything important can be done on-mod.
And I will say that mod usage/settings isn't too bad. I don't really like the timeout system of the menu, and it takes a bit of getting used to. But there is a fairly comprehensive menu, which has been supplemented with every possible button combination for shortcuts. So every combo you can think of for pressing buttons will activate/change something, or you can do all the same things and more via a structured menu. Evolv, take note - having multi-combo shortcuts is all fine and good, but there's no excuse for not having a proper menu as well!
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I just put the 1.7 firmware on, and if you go into the menus on the device, you can set temp coefficient on the device now. So the app being junk is irrelevant now, especially since you can do titanium temp control in "nickel" mode if you set the temp coefficient yourself.
Edit: ahh, had not seen they blocked part of the range until you pay. That's annoying. Oh well.
Edit: ahh, had not seen they blocked part of the range until you pay. That's annoying. Oh well.
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Oh, and the temp isn't broken, the device and the app just each, separately, have settings on whether to use F or C.
I think they are shooting themselves in the foot with the petty upgrade,charges. If I hadn't already ordered one, I would not buy one after learning this. I plan to contact my local consumer fraud agency as none of this BS was disclosed by the U.S. distributor of this abomination of a mod. I don't care much about the petty charges but I do care that they are trying to squeeze more money out of buyers just to provide the product already paid for, and the distributer (which is subject to U.S. consumer protection law) is complicit. Classic bait and switch type scheme.
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