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It seems it is much more fun to watch all of the improvements people think have been made when there really are very few. Last time there was an update problem several people downloaded and installed the exact same version they had previously, and amazingly saw AWB improvements and several other items. It is kind of a 'placebo' effect. Leica apparently thinks it is better to think something has changed rather than to let you know what little really has. With such a small change in the version number you can rest assured that not much has.

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Guest tummydoc

I made the same comment half-jokingly in regards to the placebo effect in another thread. I hadn't imagined it's actually already been proven to apply :eek:

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Guest kissov

OK Leica here is the form:

Dear loyal Leica customer we are proud to present a firmware upgrade to increase your enjoyment of the M8 included in this upgrade are: ( Leica insert upgrade improvements here).

 

Thank you loyal customer

Leica, Germany

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Why can't Leica tell us what is involved in their firmware updates, a simple list of fixes would help.

 

This is what they are saying:

 

 

Firmware version 1.107

  1. The changes within the firmware version allows Leica Camera an even saver and more efficient production process. Furthermore, by modification of internal procedures, optimisation of the general image reproduction and the functional features of the LEICA M8 has been accomplished.

From the .pdf file re: v1.107

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Let us be serious for a moment.

 

Most, well at least many, professionally produced soft/firm-ware releases have a list with specific items of changes, improvements between the current and previous versions clearly identified.

 

Some even list known bugs and envisaged future changes and improvements.

 

This helps both the users and the developers.And it is good practice.

 

Not having such a list for the M8 Firmware IMHO hurts Leica.

 

And it hurts us. For certain.

 

As many of you know, I am an old friend and supporter of Leica. But this is (again) IMHO not the best professional practice.

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As one example of good procedure and customer relations, here is the software history posted on Garmin's website for a US$3,000 aviation GPS unit, which is probably sold in more limited numbers than the M8. Leica would do well to look at the form of this web page. Leica's current procedures give the impression of incompetence. (You don't need to read the whole thing to get the point.)

 

 

GPSMAP 496 software version 3.20 as of June 29, 2007

 

This update will also upgrade the software in your GXM30 antenna to version 2.20.

 

Change History

 

Changes made from version 3.10 to 3.20:

Improved map processing to allow highlighting TMA and Class B airspace together.

Corrected external voltage alarm persistent behavior between power cycles.

Corrected state and country information for city searches.

Corrected problem deleting a user waypoint on the 'Go To' page.

 

 

Changes made from version 3.00 to 3.10:

Improvements to TAF & METAR reports for visibility and remarks.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.90 to 3.00:

Improved NMEA output.

Added support for Canadian weather data.

Daylight saving changes for United States.

Added Mexican time zones.

Corrected address and postal code searches when a datacard is present.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.80 to 2.90:

Corrected issue that would prevent trip or flight distances from being recorded.

Corrected 'persist' setting for external voltage alarm.

Improved ability to move user waypoints while editing a route.

Improved display of very large TFRs when the map is zoomed in very far.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.70 to 2.80:

Corrected issue with scaling of speed indicator on panel page.

Improved TFR highlighting when multiple TFRs of the same size with different activation times are in the same location.

Added indication of amended and corrected TAF bulletins.

Corrected item labels on airspace alarm setup page.

Improved NMEA data output.

Added capability to send routes containing Visual Reporting Points (VRP) to MapSource. Requires MapSource version 6.12.

Improved city selection operation for European address searches.

Improved operation when moving user waypoints with the map cursor.

Corrected issue with changing usage mode from the Setup tab of the main menu.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.60 to 2.70:

Corrected issue that could cause 'WorldMap' series maps from being displayed.

Increased the number of characters allowed to display map zoom status.

Corrected text translations.

Clear trip data to correct issue with previously stored data.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.50 to 2.60:

Corrected display of communication frequency displayed on Airport and Nearest pages for airports that have multiple Unicom or Multicom frequencies.

Corrected issue in previous software revision that could prevent the time zone from being changed.

Corrected issue that could cause intermittent dropouts in NMEA data output.

Corrected issue that could cause the odometer field value to become inaccurate.

Corrected occasional unit shutdown during powerup.

Improved Aviation In communication format by preventing duplicate waypoints from being added to the route when the remote unit is navigating a procedure turn.

Improved address search when using postal codes.

Updated text translations.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.40 to 2.50:

Corrected issue that could cause flights to be recorded while driving on land when the unit is in aviation mode.

Corrected issue that would cause City Navigator map data to be enabled by default in marine mode.

Added feature to automatically zoom in to view SafeTaxi charts when Auto Zoom is enabled and the aircraft is on the ground.

Added ability to adjust size of AOPA text.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.30 to 2.40:

Corrected selection of duplicate aviation identifiers.

 

 

Changes made from version 2.20 to 2.30:

Improved display of TFR times between 12:00 PM and 12:59 PM.

Improved map drawing speed when terrain shading is enabled.

Improved map drawing speed when many custom POI alerts are present.

Added 'Smart Airspace' feature, which automatically reduces map clutter by de-emphasizing airspace that is not close to your present altitude. This feature can be enabled or disabled by choosing 'Set Up Map' from the map page option menu, navigating to the 'Airspace tab', and changing the 'Smart Airspace' setting.

Improved airport tower frequency display processing for airports with more than one tower frequency available.

Instructions for using this software

Download the appropriate self-extracting archive file for your GPSMAP496 onto your hard drive.

Connect your GPSMAP496 to a free USB or serial port on your PC with the correct PC interface cable.

Turn on your GPSMAP496. If you are using USB, ensure it shows USB as connected when the cable is plugged in. If you are using serial, ensure the Serial Data Format is set to 'Garmin Data Transfer' for the port you are using. You can find this setting on the 'Interface' tab of the 'Setup' section of the Main Menu.

Open the self-extracting archive file and follow the instructions provided by the update application. During the upload, the GPSMAP496's display will indicate 'Software Loading....' The upload process should take 1-10 minutes to complete, depending on interface used for update. When the upload is completed, the GPSMAP496 will reset itself and turn on normally.

System requirements:

 

IBM-compatible PC running Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system.

PC Interface Cable for your GPS unit. The PC Interface Cable may be purchased through your local Garmin distributor or ordered direct from our Online Store.

 

 

Copyright © 1996-2007 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Site Map

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Guest kissov

George, you put it best, Leica insults us by not telling us what the upgrade involves. Would you install software in your computer without knowing its effect, or what is contained in a download? Leica NJ has had my Digilux 2 for 4 months, for the last three weeks I've sent the same e mail every day with no response, starting Monday I send it twice a day. More bad behavior.

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Richard, glad you agree.

 

But just for the record, I always had good luck with the New Jersey people. And my Digilux 2 was returned - after a long while.

 

What needs fixing though is the communications abilities of the Solms folks. They make good stuff; much of the time anyway; but this stiff upper lip attitude is from days long gone by. And it needs fixing. Now.:eek:

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