Is V1.10 late? Is it vaporware?

[dannirr]

I know we have written much about V1.10 being available in Feb - no date mentioned.

But this is direct of Leica's web site:

Our solution: We will offer special screw-on type UV/IR filters for all Leica M lenses. With respect to the Leica M's compact build the combination of a thin absorption filter on the sensor and a screw-on interference filter on the lens represents the best technical solution. It completely eliminates the color offset caused by infrared light. When using lenses from 16 to 35mm, we suggest opting for the 6-bit coded ones, in order to prevent a color offset towards the edges. No disadvantages must be expected for the images when the LEICA M8 is equipped with the latest firmware (from 1.10; available as of early December 2006).


December 2006???

Danni

[fjmcsu]

Instructions on how to perform a firmware update with the LEICA M8
1. Format your SD card in the LEICA M8
2. Switch off the camera, remove the CD card, and insert it into your computer’s card reader slot . (An in- or external card reader is necessary to update the firmware)
3. Save the file m8-1_xx.upd to the top level of the SD card file tree. xx stands for the respective version.
Top level of the SD card’s file tree
4. Remove the SD carte from the card reader, insert it into the camera, and close the camera’s bottom cover. Turn the camera on with its main switch.
5. Confirm the query asking if you wish to update the camera firmware to version 1.xx.
6. If the battery should be depleted, a respective warning message will appear.
7. The update process takes approx. 180 sec. and finishes with the request to restart the camera with the main switch.
Notice: The firmware1.10 recommended for the use of Leica wide angle lenses up to 35mm with LEICA UV/IR filters will be available on the Leica homepage in February 2007.The following technical features are optimized by the firmware version 1.09:�� internal process optimizing
Page 1 of 1 / As at December 2006
Leica Camera AG / Oskar-Barnack-Straße 11 / D-35606 Solms / Phone +49 (0) 6442-208-0 / Telefax +49 (0) 6442-208-333 / info@leica-camera.com / www.leica-camera.com
From Leica website PDF on M8 firmware.We still have ~13 days !

[barjohn]

I know we have 13 days but I am still concerned when cameras are still being shipped at this late date without it. It seems the least Leica should be able to do is provide a date when it will be available. I manage software development for much larger projects than a camera and we can predict within two weeks when we will be ready since we have already been beta testing for months or weeks before that and made a decision about what fixes/features we will include and which ones will wait for the next release. In fact the majority of the development team is usually down the road working on the next release long before we release.

[fjmcsu]

I understand what you mean as I just received mine about 2 weeks ago still with 1.09.Oh well I will wait ,as we all have to but still enjoying using it. Just received my Elamit 28; what a nice lens!

[sean_reid]

I wouldn't be too worried...<G> Things can sometimes be late but, no, 1.10 is not vapourware.

Cheers,

Sean

[AaronJ]

These days it's possible to release it to the web and have users updating their camera in minutes. 13 days is plenty of time (though it would be nice to get an update on the Leica website if it hasn't been posted by March 1st )

[Bill Sievers]

I just want them to take their time and get everything right. Look what happens when thry rush to market.

[barjohn]

I realize that to people that aren't in the software development business what Bill is saying may make sense. The problem is that no matter how much testing you do and how clever you think you are there are just too many combinations of things people can do and will do that you didn't anticipate. Until it gets released and in people's hands they will only know about the problems that they already knew about and didn't have time to fix. People will show them a whole lot of things they didn't think of. Sorry folks but we are their beta testers.

This camera has fewer buttoms than most but if you take every combination and sequence possible (not logical) you may be surprised at waht the camera does as a consequence. I deal with this type of issue every day and so do most software developers.

[guy_mancuso]

Originally Posted by sean_reid

I wouldn't be too worried...<G> Things can sometimes be late but, no, 1.10 is not vapourware.

Cheers,

Sean

Ditto

[phong]

Originally Posted by barjohn

...Sorry folks but we are their beta testers. ...

Actually, Sean's <G> above makes me think he is one of the beta testers.

[guy_mancuso]

Reality check do you honestly think leica would just release a firmware update without some people testing it. I think the word of the day is patience

[j. borger]

Enjoy what you already have instead of longing for what is not there yet .... makes life a lot easier and more enjoyable!
I have a strong feeling those who think V 1.10 will be the holey grale will be very dissapointed!

[stunsworth]

John it correct, it's only going to be when it's released that the _real_ testing will begin - this is true of virtually any sotware development. It's also true that development and bug correction will probably go on right upto the wire. And it's also true that the developers will always want more time.

Personally I'm more than happy for the release date to slip if it means I get a more stable product. I'd rather have the bugs ironed out than have a buggy product released to meet an arbitrary deadline - that happened with the M8, I'd rather it wasn't repeated with the firmware update.

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by j. borger

I have a strong feeling those who think V 1.10 will be the holey grale will be very dissapointed!

Why's that? Do you work for the develpment team?

[j. borger]

Originally Posted by stunsworth

Why's that? Do you work for the develpment team?

No ... but it is very unlikely all "issues" will be adressed with one single firmware upgrade .... and new quircks will probably be introduced ......
Besides there is nothing that can't be already done with the camera as it is.
The M8 will not be a completely different machine after v 1.10 ...... so i think people who can't enjoy it now ... probably can't after v.1.10 ....
Perhaps i am just lucky so far .... i had no issues with respect to the stability of the m8 so far ....... so v 1.10 at most gives me some peace of mind, but wiil not change the way i use and enjoy the M8 since day 1!

[marknorton]

Any software ships with bugs in it and it's a judgement call what has to be fixed and what can slip through the net. Steve's correct they will be fixing bugs right up to the deadline but hopefully these will be of a cosmeti, tidying nature. Late changes to the fundamentals risk destabilising the software.

It must be out there with some beta testers who hopefully are finding bugs which Leica's own testers have missed. If they are not, they probably are not looking hard enough. I would rather wait for the software to exceed my (reasonable) expectations than have it now and fail to meet them with the promise of 1.2 in September.

Leica will be wanting to put the M8 to bed pretty soon, it's been a pretty gruelling 6 months and there are new priorities.

[Venkman]

How comes that this is about the 4th thread about this matter within two days?

People can't be bothered to read up anymore? Enter forum and drop your load of questions without even trying to see if this topic is already covered?

[sek]

Originally Posted by barjohn

.. Sorry folks but we are their beta testers. ..

As you (and I) know: Your statement doesn't tell anthing unknown to us. Mobile
Phones, pc os'es, rocket, Mars mobile and and .. software has shown to be buggy!

As things stand today, 100 k source code lines sw includ say more than 100 bugs .. :-(((

Svend Erik Knudsen

[stunsworth]

One bug per 1000 lines of code is being _very_ optimistic IMHO ;-)

[tom0511]

And even if it was announced as temporary 1.09beta I think they could have given us something that corrects the color cast and cyan corners when shooting with 486 filters until they get it 100% right.