Odyssey7Q April 2014 Firmware Update

[Prendi]

I am worried, that things get worse instead of being delivered, soon. Take a look on the next promises in the pipeline:
http://www.convergent-design.com/Products/Athena.aspx

4K ProRes, DNxHD, DPX, DCI playback and recording equally versatile. Four camera field recording. Web streaming. First units to be shipped Q4.2014. Oh boy! CD cannot bring in all capacities into solving the missing O7Q-features. The next adventure is waiting, too.

See, it's stuff like this that gets my back up. They need to focus on finishing the last product rather than focusing on what they'd like to do in the future. It wouldn't surprise me if they never delivered all that they promised on the 7Q. Just like they didn't on the Gemini. But what can be done about it? Mitch has already stated that they operate an ethos similar to Red's - "Everything is subject to change". In his opinion, that absolves CD of delivering any future updates or anything that they initially promised.

For example, Mitch, one of the big reasons I purchased the 7Q was the promise of the app to control the 7Q. This would be greatly advantageous to my work as we do a lot with a cable cam. Do I dare ask how progress is coming along with the app?

Thing is, I genuinely thought that by now, we'd be at the stage where the 7Q would have all the features enabled and that now CD would just be ironing out issue (such as the awful playback). Judging by the current progress, I don't think that my predictions (about 16 months) for all promised features to be enabled will be too far off. And that simply isn't acceptable.

 

[Prendi]

If everone told those producers to go stick it up their arse, they wouldn't place unreasonable expectations and deadlines out there. But, there will always be that one spoiler who will work 24x7 that ruins the pot. Well, good luck to you.

And sometimes when the 5hit hits the fan, you have to suck it up and get on with it. No one likes whiny jobsworths on sets, moaning about what a long day it's been. It's part of the job. Don't like it? Go get a job in an office 9-5. My luck is just fine, thanks.

Having said that, I manage expectations with clients. I under promise and over deliver. That makes them happy. So why didn't CD do that? Well they had to make this appear to be all singing, all dancing so that people bought it and didn't wait for the competition. Now it's come to bite them in the ass. They need to fix that, and fast.

 

[Mitch Gross]

We understand your frustrations. We really do. Our engineers are working overtime to complete the next firmware.

I frankly don't think you want to hear anything more from me on this matter, other than when I announce the next firmware release itself. I imagine you're all sick of hearing about the process. Who cares? Just give us the firmware update.

We will.

 

[Prendi]

We understand your frustrations. We really do. Our engineers are working overtime to complete the next firmware.

I frankly don't think you want to hear anything more from me on this matter, other than when I announce the next firmware release itself. I imagine you're all sick of hearing about the process. Who cares? Just give us the firmware update.

We will.

I'd personally like to hear about the app. Has any work been done on the app that can control the 7Q? Believe it or not, that clincher for me over an Epic.

 

[ChadN]

I'd personally like to hear about the app. Has any work been done on the app that can control the 7Q? Believe it or not, that clincher for me over an Epic.

Yeah, i was pretty interested in the app as well. The day my 7Q arrived in April, first thing i did was go to my android app store to download it. I could swear it was listed on the CD website "App that controls the 7Q" (or something) No app!

Hopefully it's in the works. :cheesy:

 

[Gene Sung]

So, you're suggestion, gene, is that engineers forsake their lives, their families and their health...and for what? For the sake of a few indies' needs, like yours? I spent 35 years in a business with this ethic. I'm here to say this work ethic is really fuXXed up. No way, no how. I bow to CD for their absolute refusal to sacrifice and burnout their employees for the sake of the almighty deadline. IF CD did anything unethical, it was to advertise features before they were actually implemented. I hold them accountable for that deception. But, for protecting their employees health...kudos. There are those who will say it's ok, once in a while. The problem is, there's no such thing as "once ina while". It becomes a lifestyle, one crisis following the next. Just a bad practice to even do once.

Sorry Cuervo, no sympathy from me. With how many deadlines they've missed, I would expect nothing less than a series of all nighters. It's been expected of me numerous times in my career. If you work in entertainment (which CD is a part of), making deadlines is just something that is expected of you.

if a project is managed correctly with the correct team, deadlines should be manageable. Something is amiss.

 

[Prendi]

Yeah, i was pretty interested in the app as well. The day my 7Q arrived in April, first thing i did was go to my android app store to download it. I could swear it was listed on the CD website "App that controls the 7Q" (or something) No app!

Hopefully it's in the works. :cheesy:

Yep, it was listed on the CD site and now seems to be removed... Mitch, please could you give me an update on this?

 

[stefanhuberfilms]

We understand your frustrations. We really do. Our engineers are working overtime to complete the next firmware.

I frankly don't think you want to hear anything more from me on this matter, other than when I announce the next firmware release itself. I imagine you're all sick of hearing about the process. Who cares? Just give us the firmware update.

We will.

Mitch,
As we all stated several times, we appreciate the open communication CD offers. Your post sounds like you are frustrated too, reading our complaints? I don't think minimizing the communication will make things any better. So is there really nothing you have to share with us, that would make waiting easier? Will there be improved playback functionality in the next release, like a playback bar to quickly rush over the takes? Did you even start the coding on 4K compressed? Any updates on the 2K HFR to ProRes - what frame rates are possible, how's the testing going? What about the implementation of programmable LUT's? How does the priority list look like at the moment? Thanks!

 

[rheinturmblau]

I imagine you're all sick of hearing about the process. Who cares? Just give us the firmware update.

We will.

Straight forward, Mitch! Thank you. Yes, deliver, please.

But I recommend to nail this thread next to the coffee machine of the engineering head and his boss. The game is not over, after we got the next release. There is a long roadmap left. And processes seem to need improvements to avoid the next delay. It's not the first one and keeping the track record in mind - there are more to come. That is the reason why I bring up processes.

What about the app? What about timelapse recording? Anamorphic monitoring? Improved playback?

It's obvious. I hope, all of these developer playgrounds are dismissed until the core recording functions are implemented save and stable. 720p50/60, 1080i50/60, 1080p50/60, 2160p50/60 are main street. That should be the masterplan. Not a priority list of twenty tiny features, blocking the progress.

 

[rheinturmblau]

Yeah, i was pretty interested in the app as well. The day my 7Q arrived in April, first thing i did was go to my android app store to download it. I could swear it was listed on the CD website "App that controls the 7Q" (or something) No app!

Hopefully it's in the works. :cheesy:

Hopefully not. You know about programming?

Each of the different O7Q record modes is a separate programme, written for a field programmable gate array device. You need to write code to each of these single programmes to add an interface to an external device. You will not be happy if the App is just capable to work in one recording mode. And you need to write code to an Android, an iOS, an WindowsMobile device, which is a totally different matter. Waiting for async external commands adds another process to the processing pipeline. It slows down the device. We need speeding up, not slowing down.

Things like that cause failure risks and severe delays, if the code basis is under development for other tasks and is stressed for a higher performance = high frame rate support.

I am voting for implement it later.

 

[St3viE B!]

I am voting for implement it later.

+1

 

[Prendi]

OK, just spoke with Amber from CD. Super nice lady and very upfront.

I by no means will hold her to this but she said that a firmware update will be released within the next 48 hours. Really hope she's right!

After that, 4k ProRes is the next priority and will be a stand alone release. Following on from that HFR ProRes HD (120fps) will be released. Amber said something about HFR and 4k ProRes kinda work together hand in hand, hence the reason for the delayed 4k ProRes Release. She didn't elaborate on what that exactly means but I guess the processing power is about the same and therefore shares the same piece of code. I dunno, just guessing.

As for the App to control the 7Q via bluetooth, she confirmed that it's taken a backseat and not on the priority list. It even sounded like it might be scrapped. That would be a big disappointment for me, as it really was one of the big reasons to buy the 7Q. We use it a lot with the cable cam, so wireless control seemed like a dream... and that might just be the case.

 

[Colinelves]

Amber said something about HFR and 4k ProRes kinda work together hand in hand, hence the reason for the delayed 4k ProRes Release. She didn't elaborate on what that exactly means but I guess the processing power is about the same and therefore shares the same piece of code. I dunno, just guessing.

I suspect she means that neither involve scaling the image. Just debayering and conversion to Pro Res i.e. unlike 4KtoHD which, apparently, is quite a complicated conversion.

 

[Mitch Gross]

I'm glad Amber shared that with you. Please don't be upset if we do not stick to that to the letter. Those are internal, approximate targets.

We will NOT be releasing new firmware this week.

It is the policy of Convergent Design to only release firmware on a Monday or Tuesday. This is because we are always flooded with support calls when new firmware is released, so we like to do it in the beginning of the week so that the staff can respond during regular business hours.

Read from that what you will. More information coming soon.

 

[Prendi]

So any chance you could answer the question regarding the App that was promised please? For me this is quite an important one...

 

[Mitch Gross]

I can share more information with everyone next week.

 

[boosh]

OK, just spoke with Amber from CD. Super nice lady and very upfront.

I by no means will hold her to this but she said that a firmware update will be released within the next 48 hours. Really hope she's right!

After that, 4k ProRes is the next priority and will be a stand alone release. Following on from that HFR ProRes HD (120fps) will be released. Amber said something about HFR and 4k ProRes kinda work together hand in hand, hence the reason for the delayed 4k ProRes Release. She didn't elaborate on what that exactly means but I guess the processing power is about the same and therefore shares the same piece of code. I dunno, just guessing.

As for the App to control the 7Q via bluetooth, she confirmed that it's taken a backseat and not on the priority list. It even sounded like it might be scrapped. That would be a big disappointment for me, as it really was one of the big reasons to buy the 7Q. We use it a lot with the cable cam, so wireless control seemed like a dream... and that might just be the case.

Far too excited for all of this. This lot will really take the FS700 to the next level. Can't help but think its a long way off though...

 

[dmitrizigany]

Now if they could only allow off the shelf SSDs (for 4KtoHD at least) and drop the codec fee... Then I could almost afford one!

 

[St3viE B!]

I can share more information with everyone next week.

It's going to be a long rest of the week, very much looking forward to what you plan on sharing.

 

[jshbckr]

Now if they could only allow off the shelf SSDs (for 4KtoHD at least) and drop the codec fee... Then I could almost afford one!

Well look at it this way: Other companies that allow "off the shelf" SSDs end up dealing with headaches and cheap drives don't work well... So you probably wouldn't save much money. Second, don't look at the codec fee as an up-charge. It breaks away components you won't use, so you don't have to pay for them! I know I'd rather pay $2300 + $795 for a codec than paying $6000 for an Odyssey7Q that does everything but I won't use 80% of the features/codecs.