Nearly caught out by the ESS E-FLASH timebomb!

[sadiq]

I'm wondering the same thing. I just bought a new cable and installed the eFlash software on my computer, and am getting this message. Why why WHY in the hell does the release of a new version completely hamstring the old version for everyone?? That is just terrible design.

[Ezio]

its beyond me how you need to update a tune(when nothing has changed) . why would does this even exist ?

i am so confused !

[nullrouted]

As a programmer I can tell you that time bombs like that almost always add up to $$ for vendor. Seeing as how ESS gives you the new version for free, I don't really understand their logic in disabling the older versions (unless they're perhaps concerned about piracy...but for such a "specialized" product this concern should be minor at best). Maybe Roman can chime in here and enlighten us.

[sales@ESSTuning]

It's not the vehicle tune your updating it is the interface software for you computer that you are updating. This is the same process for all remote tuning customers.

[sadiq]

Yes, I understand. That's why I referred to it as the eFlash software, and not the vehicle tune software. The result is the same though isnt it. Customer downtime and additional vendor labor necessary just to roll out free updates. Why not just set up up an always-available software download page (password protected if youre worried about distribution)? Youd increase customer usability, reduce the amount of work you have to do when your eflash software time bombs, and you wouldnt have to include a usb drive with the package.

This is such a buzzkill on my software/cable purchase. I really hate when software has issues like this. Does anyone know if other vendors' flash software behaves similarly? Also, why is a NEW cable shipping out with outdated software?

[epbb]

Just for sh*ts and giggles, another solution to this issue, could be to go with BPM...

Mike's software doesn't expire, and you can update it yourself whenever you want. You can also flash back to stock, re-flash your tune, read OBDII codes, and much more. Just my $.02.

[sadiq]

I just sent a message to BPM.

[IMG]

Originally Posted by epbb

Just for sh*ts and giggles, another solution to this issue, could be to go with BPM...

Mike's software doesn't expire, and you can update it yourself whenever you want. You can also flash back to stock, re-flash your tune, read OBDII codes, and much more. Just my $.02.

All the vendors get their cables from the same source, and it's the same cable. That means the cable supplier is providing the software updates, not the vendor you bought from. There's lots of reasons the supplier provides these updates: support other car models, new capabilities, etc.
If one vendor says their software doesn't expire, then to me it says they have very limited capabilities and can't use the new
features anyways.

[sadiq]

Originally Posted by img

All the vendors get their cables from the same source, and it's the same cable. That means the cable supplier is providing the software updates, not the vendor you bought from. There's lots of reasons the supplier provides these updates: support other car models, new capabilities, etc.
If one vendor says their software doesn't expire, then to me it says they have very limited capabilities and can't use the new
features anyways.

The software is available, for free, upon request. One big issue here is, why do we need to request it, as opposed to it being available for us to download? It just adds waiting and frustration for the customer, and extra work for the vendor. But the bigger issue is, why does the software simply STOP WORKING when it "expires?"

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by img

All the vendors get their cables from the same source, and it's the same cable. That means the cable supplier is providing the software updates, not the vendor you bought from. There's lots of reasons the supplier provides these updates: support other car models, new capabilities, etc.

If one vendor says their software doesn't expire, then to me it says they have very limited capabilities and can't use the new
features anyways.

Bingo.

[sales@ESSTuning]

The interface software is updated a few times a year. We are working to have a download link available from our website but until then just send us an email if you need the latest version.

[AW M3]

Went in this morning to have an Underdrive Pulley and a ESS tune installed. The pulley was installed first, when we tried the tune we got the same message. A phone call to ESS and an email sending back the tune and about an hour later we got a reply email with the new installation software and tune. 1/2 after that I was on the road !!

Great customer service ESS, way to go!

[m33]

Originally Posted by AW M3

Went in this morning to have an Underdrive Pulley and a ESS tune installed. The pulley was installed first, when we tried the tune we got the same message. A phone call to ESS and an email sending back the tune and about an hour later we got a reply email with the new installation software and tune. 1/2 after that I was on the road !!

Great customer service ESS, way to go!

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by Roman@ESS

The interface software is updated a few times a year. We are working to have a download link available from our website but until then just send us an email if you need the latest version.

If this is the case then why wouldn't you just auto email all customers a link via email when each update becomes available?

Why would it be necessary to request the file? Seems unnecessary and a waste of time for the customer.

[sadiq]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

If this is the case then why wouldn't you just auto email all customers a link via email when each update becomes available?

Why would it be necessary to request the file? Seems unnecessary and a waste of time for the customer.

That's literally all I'm saying. For me, I had to wait 14 hours after my first email to get the link to the new file. And a little more than 2 hours after I finally called in. I'm not saying 2 hours or 14 hours is a long time to get a response from a company, but WHY is there that wait time at all? It should be 30 seconds. Putting a 2MB file up for download on your already-existing site is not a complicated thing.

[IMG]

Originally Posted by sadiq

This is such a buzzkill on my software/cable purchase. I really hate when software has issues like this. Does anyone know if other vendors' flash software behaves similarly?
Also, why is a NEW cable shipping out with outdated software?

When you sell hundreds of cables a month, updating them all before they go out is not practical. But when you only sell 3 or 4 per month, then updating them before they go our is no problem.

Looks like Roman is working on the idea of getting a server together for software updates. Good job ESS!

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by img

When you sell hundreds of cables a month, updating them all before they go out is not practical. But when you only sell 3 or 4 per month, then updating them before they go our is no problem.

Looks like Roman is working on the idea of getting a server together for software updates. Good job ESS!

totally disagree. they charge 1000 dollars for a tune which has already been developed and is basically just uploaded to each car which takes very little time (IE most of the work already done)

asking to have the proper software on the cable is not too much to ask. asking to be auto forwarded the email with the link to the updates as they come in is not too much to ask.

not good job ESS or any other company that does the same thing. this goes for evolve too, at least when I had a tune from them on my old m3.

[sadiq]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

totally disagree. they charge 1000 dollars for a tune which has already been developed and is basically just uploaded to each car which takes very little time (IE most of the work already done)

asking to have the proper software on the cable is not too much to ask. asking to be auto forwarded the email with the link to the updates as they come in is not too much to ask.

not good job ESS or any other company that does the same thing. this goes for evolve too, at least when I had a tune from them on my old m3.

Pretty much this. It also makes me uncomfortable when I am buying SOFTWARE from people who distribute it as if we were still in the 90s. I like the cute USB dongle that came with it but I would have rather saved $15 and just downloaded the software... which is what I ended up having to do anyway

[IMG]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

totally disagree. they charge 1000 dollars for a tune which has already been developed and is basically just uploaded to each car which takes very little time (IE most of the work already done)

asking to have the proper software on the cable is not too much to ask. asking to be auto forwarded the email with the link to the updates as they come in is not too much to ask.

not good job ESS or any other company that does the same thing. this goes for evolve too, at least when I had a tune from them on my old m3.

Then i highly suggest if someone is that lazy he should enjoy what he got and leave it stock

[sadiq]

Originally Posted by img

Then i highly suggest if someone is that lazy he should enjoy what he got and leave it stock

Please explain why that is lazy, as opposed to demanding that things not be done in a backwards way.

[IMG]

Originally Posted by sadiq

Please explain why that is lazy, as opposed to demanding that things not be done in a backwards way.

Because here's the way I read it...

MSRP isn't related IMO. When you get a new Android phone or tablet, the first thing it does is demand that you update it. Same thing with most laptop computers too. But here, you want it done for you and the 100's of other people who buy the cable. And
you want THEM to do it for YOU.

Let's say the vendor buys 1000 cables and they sit in a warehouse, or better yet let's say they're being drop-shipped from amazon.com, you are still expecting each box to be opened up, plugged in, and updated. Then when you receive it, you'll complain that the box looks opened and damaged and you'll demand a replacement.

Then after you receive it, you want to be able to give the vendor your email address, or you expect them to ask you for it. Then you want the vendor to maintain a database of everybody who has the device and send them an email whenever new software is
available. If you have spam protection, you probably want them to respond to every authentication request. Then when your email bounces because you closed that account or got a new one, you probably want them to track you down and get your new email address and replace it in their database. And after you sell the car, you'll still be getting these email messages and cursing them because of it. At that point, you'll demand that they take the time to remove you from the database as well -- but this time without a sale involved.

And you expect this all because they made a few bucks off of you. Basically you want everything handed to you on a silver platter and expect the vendor to do it for you because you were a one-time customer. That my friend is the epitome of lazy.

Remember, these are tuners not enterprise computer programmers. They wouldn't even know how to set up all of the infrastructure you're demanding just so they can make a few bucks off of you. Maybe you should start your own tuning company and do all of these things so you'll always be satisfied with yourself.

[FogCityM3]

Understand the need for updates given the cable and software manufacturer is increasing capabilities for other cars, but seems like distributing a link to customers is an easy way to ensure this gets done across the board. While not a huge deal given ESS' good customer support, sometimes you do need access to software on an urgent basis (ie flashing back to stock prior to dealer visit). At any rate, seems like ESS is working on fix