Mission Control Versions-are our bikes "bricked"?

[GuruUno]

The latest Mission Control application on Apple IOS is v3.17.0 Build 164, released May 11, 2023.
As referenced in previous postings, "Smart Control" is no longer functioning.
The LBS manager validated this with the reply upon inquiring (on 5/20/23), "I reached out to my BDM (brand development manager) who has the new globe, and he is having the same experience. He was in the store, and we set his bike up with the same issue. No matter how we adjust the distance and elevation it still states 10%. He believes it is an app issue and I am waiting to hear back".

Well, I figured I'd try a previous release, and my old iPhone 7 which I dedicate (at times) to riding still had v3.4 Build 135. So, I immediately inhibited any Apple/application update procedures to keep it at that version without it updating to anything else to be able to perform this test.

Same results. Smart Control is hosed, it no longer functions as it previously did.

So, in my opinion, it is not an 'app' problem, it is possibly a firmware issue.

We need to find out if the firmware(s) can be rolled back to a previous release to validate the results.

It seems nobody really cares (at the 'Mother Ship'), as it is a very simple test, of course maybe if it can't be rolled back, we have bricked devices that no longer function as advertised.
For those who need to understand the term:
A piece of equipment that has been programmed or configured into a hung, wedged, unusable state. Especially used to describe what happens to devices like routers or PDAs that run from firmware when the firmware image is damaged or its settings are somehow patched to impossible values. This term usually implies irreversibility, but equipment can sometimes be unbricked by performing a hard reset or some other drastic operation. Sometimes verbed: “Yeah, I bricked the router because I forgot about adding in the new access-list.”.

It is an odd occurrence. With a 100% fully charged battery, when enabling Smart Control, the % in the distance area of the display on the app jumps to 70 miles and battery remaining at end of ride percentage jumps to 85% and Smart Control level stays at 10%, regardless of sliding any of the controls for any of the other options.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Can you ride normally without the Smart Control?

 

[GuruUno]

Absolutely. Everything else is functioning normally with exception to Smart Control.

 

[PedalUma]

I eliminate all unnecessary functions. Those are like distractions in a casino. "Gee Wiz, It is flashing and beeping and telling me what to do next!" I would rather go for a bike ride where I provide the smarts in control. A bike ride is not a video game or a Pelaton.

 

[gpburdell]

No, the bikes aren't bricked -- that means something completely different than you imply; the term refers to a device that is completely nonresponsive/nonfunctional and (usually) cannot be returned to a usable state.

Is the issue due to a firmware bug? Maybe. Is it due to a Mission Control bug not properly interacting with the bike? Maybe. I don't use the feature so I've paid it no attention.

I see no evidence that either Mission Control or the bike firmware cannot be updated with a future fix, and everything else is functional, so while may have lost some functionality due to a bug, they're not bricked.

 

[bobf]

"Bricked" seems like an overreaction to me. I don't use smart control, so I don't know if it still works on my Creo. That said, I can agree that it's disappointing to lose a feature without any notice. I was frustrated when I found that Mission Control no longer supports update of the Turbo Connect Display.

Specialized giveth and Specialized taketh away. Their documentation sometimes describes things that are not there and sometimes fails to mention things that are. Seems like their hardware, software, and documentation are out of step with each other, which can be worrisome. Still, I like my bike, and its core functions (i.e. run the motor and charge the battery) have been solid.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I would stop using Smart Control were I you, Guru. The only use of Smart Control for either of my Specialized e-bikes is an emergency situation when my last available battery is only partly charged but I have to reach my destination still on the battery. Otherwise, I know the battery consumption for my e-bikes at given assistance level and can predict the range easily. I do not think your rides are as long as you should resort to using Smart Control.

 

[GuruUno]

No, the bikes aren't bricked -- that means something completely different than you imply; the term refers to a device that is completely nonresponsive/nonfunctional and (usually) cannot be returned to a usable state.

Is the issue due to a firmware bug? Maybe. Is it due to a Mission Control bug not properly interacting with the bike? Maybe. I don't use the feature so I've paid it no attention.

I see no evidence that either Mission Control or the bike firmware cannot be updated with a fix, and everything else is functional, so the bikes aren't "bricked".

"firmware image is damaged or its settings are somehow patched to impossible values"
Um, how many times have you, in your life, interacted with a support representative regarding an unresponsive feature or other abnormality of a digital device and they say, "You possibly got a bad flash, we'll try it again". (as an example, Apple...have they ever told you that?)
My point is, it is a roll of the dice when the features are bundled in a flash update. Maybe the TCD display firmware doesn't play nice with the battery firmware. Nobody knows. But more importantly, it seems like nobody cares. The problem appears to fall upon deaf ears. No responses, no attempts, no nothing to address the problem.
To some, it may be a moot point, others may concur.
I've been an IT Support person for over 35 years. I know how things work, and when they don't, I know how to attempt to troubleshoot. Unfortunately, Specialized software is a closed system, proprietary, and not much is around without reverse engineering it to find out where the problem lies.
I have become extremely reliant on the function of "Smart Control" and would like to see it rectified, in an acceptable period of time. But obviously, if it's not high on the totem pole, it gets pushed back to the bottom of the pile.
So, with that said, maybe the word "bricked" is an over exaggeration of the meaning I'm attempting to convey.
How is this.
The firmware is possibly screwed up.

 

[GuruUno]

I would stop using Smart Control were I you, Guru. The only use of Smart Control for either of my Specialized e-bikes is an emergency situation when my last available battery is only partly charged but I have to reach my destination still on the battery. Otherwise, I know the battery consumption for my e-bikes at given assistance level and can predict the range easily. I do not think your rides are as long as you should resort to using Smart Control.

I as well as my wife rely on it as it is one of the "Smartest" features associated with Mission Control. Set it, forget it. If I plan a ride for 30-35 miles, and I set it as per the configuration offerings, I ride like I'm on a magic carpet ride. It is one of the best features ever, once you understand it, learn it, and rely upon it. Of course, your opinion may vary, and so be it, I'm just sharing my positive experience.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I as well as my wife rely on it as it is one of the "Smartest" features associated with Mission Control. Set it, forget it. If I plan a ride for 30-35 miles, and I set it as per the configuration offerings, I ride like I'm on a magic carpet ride. It is one of the best features ever, once you understand it, learn it, and rely upon it. Of course, your opinion may vary, and so be it, I'm just sharing my positive experience.

Yet it does not work for you but it works for me on two different e-bikes.
Something wrong there.

 

[GuruUno]

Yet it does not work for you but it works for me on two different e-bikes.
Something wrong there.

EXACTLY! And, what about, the LBS manager validated this with the reply upon inquiring (on 5/20/23), "I reached out to my BDM (brand development manager) who has the new globe, and he is having the same experience. He was in the store, and we set his bike up with the same issue. No matter how we adjust the distance and elevation it still states 10%. He believes it is an app issue and I am waiting to hear back".
It is being replicated by others, so are YOU saying it works on YOUR bikes without issue?
That in itself would be very interesting to interrogate.
What version f/w do you have on the display/motor/battery and what version of Mission Control do you have installed, and what mobile device do you use Apple of Android?
Thanks.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It is being replicated by others, so are YOU saying it works on YOUR bikes without issue?

It does.
Cannot help you with that.

(Perhaps because I never update the firmware. Why should I fix something that ain't broken?)

 

[GuruUno]

It does.
Cannot help you with that.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thanks for the help.

Hopefully, Specialized will fix what they broke
For your information: You will easily ride 35 miles with 50/50% assistance with a good amount of the battery charge left. Whenever in doubt, return whenever the battery charge has gone down to 55%.

 

[GuruUno]

Hopefully, Specialized will fix what they broke
For your information: You will easily ride 35 miles with 50/50% assistance with a good amount of the battery charge left.

It ALL depends on multiple conditions, wind, cold, hot, elevation (hills), etc., etc.
I was an early adopter with an electric car 10 years ago (Ford Focus Electric), so I know all about range anxiety, how to plan, manage, tweak, etc., to get the most for my mile.
The current Vado is my 6th or 7th e-bike since 2007, so I consider myself well versed in the experimentation of how to test/manage the various modes to get the best "bang" for the buck (so to speak).
All I am attempting to say is that for almost 1 year of experimentation of using Smart Control, it has met and far exceeded all my my expectations and I've come to rely upon it heavily because of its spot on algorithms.

 

[gpburdell]

I've been an IT Support person for over 35 years.

That's nice.

35 years ago I was SunOS/Solaris sysadmin & network manager having upgraded our installation from BSD4.2 systems on Vax 11/750's.

So, with that said, maybe the word "bricked" is an over exaggeration of the meaning I'm attempting to convey.
How is this.
The firmware is possibly screwed up.

I think that's a more accurate description, less likely to give readers an incorrect understanding of the matter.

 

[GuruUno]

I was with AT&T/Geoplex in Silicon Valley when Al Gore invented the Internet

 

[Axis]

That's nice.

35 years ago I was SunOS/Solaris sysadmin & network manager having upgraded our installation from BSD4.2 systems on Vax 11/750's.




I think that's a more accurate description, less likely to give readers an incorrect understanding of the matter.

Damn I ran Solaris boxes back then too (much respect). I am getting ready to retire but currently running scores of k8s clusters for a fortune 50 company. I love Unix/Linux. I never had to get into management or business (I hold them with great disdain).

 

[Axis]

It does.
Cannot help you with that.

(Perhaps because I never update the firmware. Why should I fix something that ain't broken?)

My 2022 Vado 4.0 works fine. I am not updating either.

 

[PedalUma]

I run open source all the way, proprietary sucks. This gravel/adventure build is open source like Wiki & Linux. It is 90Nm, with a cargo duty motor. It has a torque sensor, cadence sensor, & supplemental throttle for just in case for emergencies, and is all through frame. Quiet, smooth, intuitive! Here it is in the process. This is how sausage gets made. It got wheels today and 45mm 650b WTB gravel tires. The ring and crank arms and pedals are on. Ready to rock with no distracting Peleton BS. Pure. Nobody has a bike that does this all at any price! Note: the seat post was just for the stand and has been since updated. This is what happens when art fuses with tech.