Switch Pros blocked me when I brought up their Android Bluetooth issues

I don't have a dog in the race here - I don't even have a SwitchPro (I bought a cheap Chinese knock-off version for 1/4 the price).

BUT.....here are the FACTS

SwitchPros is falsely advertising their product's compatibility and misleading consumers....plain and simple.

I realize that consumers needs to be diligent with their research beforehand and they are ultimately responsible for their own purchases, but SwitchPros has not made their consumers aware of the "Samsung Incompatibility" issues and continue to market their products as being compatible "using any device with the Android platform". Only by reading the (bad) reviews in the Play store from other consumers would one learn about potential issues with Samsung devices.

They (SwitchPros) could save themselves some headaches and (additional) bad reviews by owning up to that fact and publicizing it on the website and app listings. Nothing on their website, app page(s), documentation, FAQs, or Installation instructions indicate anything about compatibility issues with Samsung Devices (or any device for that matter).

 

People were adamantly defending Pelfrey and @mahaloTaco as well, how'd that work out for them...

 

Hey OP, if you want to solve the issue, go spend $700+ on a iPhone just so you can use your $500+ Switch Pro to control the lights on your truck!

 

Also if we want to get into the nitty-gritty of phone usage by manufacturer statistics...

 

What's the deal with the Mahalo taco?

 

wait... So If I buy the product expecting it to work with my Android, a very common os for mobile phones, and it DOES NOT work.. I am an entitled weenie?

I am not a switch pro user, I have considered it... just never dug into there site and products much yet as it was not a priorty item for the truck just yet. So I am unaware if they mention this flaw in there system not working with android, or is it just some flavors of android?

what permission issue are they having, that needs worked out?

 

It’s not even Friday.

 

Check out the message they sent me, their words exactly "we have our developer working on hacking the Samsung security permissions"

 

years ago, I had a semi-successful business venture, it was doing well. just not well enough to support itself and pay my house bills yet. inside 3 years, the business was project to turn a profit. at the 2 year mark, my day job went away and I change career paths and had a 6 hour commute.

my wife was going to ship the product, and handle the day to day aspect, I was going to spend my off days making a ton of product so it was in stock ready to go.

well, my wife started to have issue shipping orders. Once I got wind of it from a several people. and realized I would have to handle everything related to the business even though that was impossible. I CLOSED the doors and shut it down. it was not yet at the point I could hire anyone to do it. and I was dam sure not going to get a bad reputation by not shipping.

hard choice to make, but I do not regret it... to much. one day it may return, or it will just go back to friends and family only like before it became a business.

 

Damnnnn

 

Crazy

 

I saw something similar on Judge Judy. Scumbag meets a girl, borrows 100.00 bucks from her till next Friday. He pays her back. Then he asks for a grand until he gets his check at the end of the month. Since he paid back the last loan, she trusts him and gives him the cash. Bye bye money.

 

Sorry but, Their product does work on Android. They can’t possibly test every single version of android out there. Also.... Apple has a much more thorough approval process for apps in their store, where as android is a free for all. Open source has its down sides, and Samsung software is trash.


Additionally - what’s the actual issue with the Samsung devices?

 

BLUF: something smells about this situation. Read on if you want some juicy ranting.

Hot take from a computer scientist with no professional Android or iOS experience but professional experience in other languages and use cases. Take my words for what you will. Or with a grain of salt. Or whatever.

Android is...weird with a wide spectrum of versions coupled with custom features from phone vendors. That said, I'm having a difficult time reconciling the fact that the fault lies exclusively with Samsung here. Properly developed applications should be robust, dynamic, responsive, intuitive, and a lot more things. But that takes time and money from whomever is hiring the developer. Also requires experience in the language, good specifications, and the desire to be a professional and ethical developer vs one that only does what's necessary to meet the bare minimums.

All that said, vendors and API producers aren't in the clear, either. There's a lot to be said for very simple things those companies can do to make their product and code better. I could rant a lot about this stuff.

Anywho, I'm inclined to think the developer of the switch pro app isn't being required (read: paid enough) to make some of the puzzle pieces fit together. Bluetooth is a standardized medium with specific and published rules for its utilization. How one goes about using that on a phone will change with the operating system, maybe the manufacturer, but it's not like Samsung phones are notorious for forcing developers to jump through hoops just to get at the Bluetooth turns out Samsung phones do have BT issues, could be relevant. Or forcing consumers to root their damn phone, a process that, worst case, bricks the phone. Something smells here. I'm not qualified to say for certain what that smell is or where it's coming from.

Deleting a consumer criticism like that is poor form in my book. Far better to provide facts that correct/clarify or even simply acknowledge the criticism than try and bury it. I would've handled it differently than OP but I stand by my assertion that the vendor handled things from their end rather poorly. And if someone says their product does XYZ, I damn well expect it to do XYZ. If I don't read instructions or expect something beyond the capacity of XYZ, that's on me. But if I can't even do XYZ, that's on them. I don't care how trivial XYZ are, I paid for the ability to do XYZ and I want that ability even if I'll never use it. It's just unethical otherwise. Call it complaining if you want. It is.

I'd rather make my own setup like this using a raspberry pi and custom PCB and write my own software.

Edit: sorry for the essay and my lack of MLA citations.

 

Reasonable expectations.


I was curious about what people are saying:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...itch_pros_sp8100&hl=en_US&showAllReviews=true


Also - Samsung is notorious for Bluetooth issues related to apps. Take a look a Stackoverflow.... there is an extraordinarily long list of devs complaining that their programs work with every other device, except a samsung device.

 

I did not know they actually are notorious. My assessment was based on personal experience which is rather limited. Wonder if the BT issues I have with getting it to auto-connect to Entune are related...

 

I really want to have a conversation and troubleshoot the issue with an android owner who has issues with a switchpro.
I am sure there are a few things that we could try.
I am also sure this is something switchpros SHOULD be doing... but we also don't know the background. Who knows how many of their customers have reported the issue.
I am in the Technology field and issues are reported every day for many things - They need to be prioritized, and some stuff you let burn... this one item may be burning. IDK





3750 results lol. It's a problem.

 

I chose the Switch Pro over another option largely due to the Bluetooth connectivity. It works half the time as long as I restart my phone (iPhone X) and stand next to the front driver's side fender. FWIW my N2 remote start with cell connectivity cost me less and works throughout the U.S. Even when there were issues we could go to a thread and work with the guy to get the product to do what he said it would do when he sold it. The Switch Pro is currently in a box in my storage unit and for sale, right next to the #1 worst product I bought for my truck.

 

The switch pro is pending pickup, along with the power tray it was mounted on after they told us it couldn't be installed horizontally after the fact...….

The #1 worst product was an HID kit that was useless with automatic headlights, even on a relay harness. Lessons learned.

 

I try to do my research before making claims but got complacent. Samsung can be a real butt head sometimes (says the guy who has had a Samsung phone for over a decade). Thanks for the fact check. I feel bad for all the developers who get shafted for issues like these.