Beta-testing FORScan Lite for iPhone

[FORScan]

Application development for iPhone has been finished and we are starting beta-testing. So we are looking for beta testers.

General information about FORScan Lite for iPhone

“Lite” means that first version has no tests and service functions. Rest of functionality is identical to the Windows version. Tests will be added in one of later releases. As for the service functions, issue is more complex as some of service functions may require maximum of priority in terms of user attention and device resources, that’s not possible for mobile platforms (for example, an incoming call will shift the application to background). Future of service functions in mobile applications is being discussed now.

Another limitation of first version of FORScan Lite is that there is no dedicated version for iPad. Of course, application will work on iPad but only in iPhone emulation mode. We don’t know how many of our users want to use FORScan on their iPad, if there is a significant amount of requests, we will add necessary GUI.

Important: all mobile versions of FORScan are going to be paid. This is a part of new project strategy. The price is expected to be around $4. However, everyone who used to help or support us in project development all these years (and will continue to help and support as we hope) - testers, translators, any users who sent us bugreports or logs from their vehicles, tested new functions etc) – all of these people have right to use any of our software products (current and future) for free. Besides, Windows version remain free as well.

Initial requirements for application

Device: iPhone 3GS or newer (actually, this is most feeble hardware we tested it on, if someone has older hardware and wishes to try – you are welcome)

OS: iOS 6.0 or newer

Peripheral: ELM327 WiFi adapter

How to participate in beta-testing

1. Read and follow “Initial requirements for application”.
2. Optionally, read this article about WiFi adapter optimization
3. Obtain device identifier (UDID) as instructed by Apple:
   
   • Launch iTunes on your Mac.
   • Connect your device to your Mac.
   • In the upper-right corner, select the device.
   • In the Summary pane, click the Serial Number label under Capacity or Phone Number.
   
   The label Serial Number changes to Identifier and displays the device ID.
   
   
   
   • Copy the device ID by Control-clicking the identifier and choosing Copy Identifier (UDID).
   
   If the menu contains a Copy Serial Number menu item, repeat steps 4 and 5 again.
   
   • Paste the device ID in a document or an email message
   
   Procedure for Windows should be similar (you just need iTunes for Windows)
4. Send us the UDID by email
5. Wait for the application and test instructions

[mozz]

Please let us know when the Android version may become available, thanks very much.

[MOFiST]

Hello,

I'm new but would like to try your beta. I have an iphone 5c on ios 7.1.2 and also a iphone 4 on ios 7.1.1
I also have an Ipad Mini which is what I really wanted to use in the car as it is easy to read and not too big.
My wifi adaptor has been sent from China yesterday so it will still be a few days before I can do anything.
Let me know if you need any other info.

[FORScan]

Hello,

I'm new but would like to try your beta. I have an iphone 5c on ios 7.1.2 and also a iphone 4 on ios 7.1.1
I also have an Ipad Mini which is what I really wanted to use in the car as it is easy to read and not too big.
My wifi adaptor has been sent from China yesterday so it will still be a few days before I can do anything.
Let me know if you need any other info.

Please send your UDID by email, thanks.

[FORScan]

Status update:

We have decided to temporarily stop inviting new beta-testers because:

1. Number of devices/UDIDs used for beta-testing is limited to 100 (restriction of Apple), and we already close to the limit.
2. We got enough feedback and reports from beta-testers and need time to implement most important changes and improvements.

We have also decided to shift the release (submit to App Store) to the end of August, because:

1. We need to implement most important changes and improvements reported by beta-testers
2. Existing version of FORScan Lite for iOS is based on kernel v2.1.18 (official beta available on the site). We want to migrate FORScan Lite for iPhone to the new kernel v2.1.19 that has new important features, such as support of OBDLink MX WiFi adapter. In the meantime, v2.1.19 is not mature yet.
3.We will be out of business for 2 weeks

We are sorry for this delay.

[emankhan90]

I think iPhone will come truly in next couple of days? With the new demand for forcasting?? I dont even know when Apple iPhone is coming.

[FORScan]

On Mac:

1. Connect the testing device to a Mac running iTunes .
iTunes downloads the crash reports to your Mac.

2. In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.

3. Enter ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice.

4. Open the folder identified by your device’s name.

5. Select the crash logs named after the app you’re testing.

6. Choose Finder > Services > Mail > Send File.

7. In the New Message window, enter the developer’s address in the To field and appropriate text in the Subject field.

8. Choose Message > Send.

9. To avoid sending duplicate reports later, delete the crash reports you sent.

On Windows:

1. Enter the crash log directory for your operating system in the Windows search field, replacing <user_name> with your Windows user name.

- For crash log storage on Windows, type:

C:\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Roaming\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter/MobileDevice

- For crash log storage on Windows XP, type:

C:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\Application Data\Apple computer\Logs\CrashReporter

2. Open the folder named after your device’s name and send the crash logs for the app you’re testing in an email message using the subject-text format <app_name> crash logs from <your_name> (for example, FORScan Lite crash logs from Anna Haro) to the FORScan Team

[FORScan]

Before save the log:

1. Go to system Settings->FORScan Lite, set Debug to On
2. in FORScan, go to Vehicle, tap on Service button (the right button at the bottom bar), select Remove debug info (to remove old one, if it exists)
3. In the same menu, tap on Clear Cache. Attention: this will remove caches of all vehicles, it means FORScan will re-scan the vehicle configurations, that will take more time than 2nd, 3rd etc connects. Besides, the cache may keep some info, for example min max values for PIDs set by user are stored there. So it is up to you - remove it or not, but if not and vehicle is connected not first time and previous logs are deleted, the log will contain less of helpful information for analysis.

Save the log:

4. Connect to vehicle as usually. When it is connected, the information is enough for analysis. So it not necessary to specially run any functions (Dashboard etc) unless you want to show/complain on some specific functionality.

Send the log:

5. Disconnect from the vehicle
6. Go to Vehicle, tap on Service button, select "Send debug info". Mail client with a email draft will be opened.
7. Considering you have no internet (because phone is connected to ELM327), save the draft
8. When the phone is connected back to the internet, open the draft and send email.

After the procedure:

9. (recommended) Go to system Settings->FORScan Lite, set Debug to Off (if you don't need to save other logs), because this feature, when it is enabled, may eat some additional device resources.

[FORScan]

This thread is just moved to the right forum. It doesn't mean beta-testing for iOS version is reopened.

[andym]

I love apple technology an its very amazing product I would like to become a tester on all u have