Status serial2.dll + HTC + WM6?

[Erel]

Months. It will only be available after next version release.

[ClarkVent]

Originally Posted by Erel

Months. It will only be available after next version release.

Months? Ok, that seriously sucks. You should really warn buyers that on some HTC devices the serial interface doesn't work. The single reason I bought Basic4PPC is because I needed (to write) a simple GPS application for my HTC Touch Diamond.

[agraham]

That's a bit unfair! Basic4ppc is not specifically a GPS application builder, it is a general purpose development environment. The problem is not of Erel's making, it is general to the .NET SerialPort class and the HTC devices. Unfortunately HTC don't support third party development of GPS apps on their devices other than a chosen few (like TomTom) so they are unlikely to offer a solution in the short term. Other .NET based applications have the same problem on HTC devices.

[Phil2]

My HTC Touch Cruise with gps, works just fine with other serial port applications, maybe HTC resolved there issue.

[agraham]

Originally Posted by Phil2

My HTC Touch Cruise with gps, works just fine with other serial port applications, maybe HTC resolved there issue.

If you mean GPS serial port applications they are probably not .NET applications but native code.

[ClarkVent]

Originally Posted by agraham

That's a bit unfair! Basic4ppc is not specifically a GPS application builder

I never said that. I said he should warn potential buyers that the serial interface doesn't work on some HTC devices. And I really don't see what's unfair about that. It's in fact common practice. It's unfair to not mention that.

Originally Posted by agraham

Unfortunately HTC don't support third party development of GPS apps on their devices other than a chosen few (like TomTom)

Care to share where you got that information from (since I doubt it's true)?

[Erel]

Serial2.dll (unlike the older SerialDevice.dll) is just a wrapper above .Net SerialPort class.
The problems you encounter with this device are not specific to Basic4ppc.

We are currently working on the next version which has some very important new features.
A wrapper to the GPS Intermediate Driver is also planned but as I wrote it will only be available afterward.

We do have a "100% satisfaction or money back guarantee" policy.
Please send me an email to erel@basic4ppc.com if you like to return your license.

[agraham]

Originally Posted by ClarkVent

Care to share where you got that information from (since I doubt it's true)?

Details of a message to HTC, and their reply, regarding the problems between the Compact Framework and their GPS are in post 6 here GPS Tuner :: View topic - Jal Port splitter doesn't work on P3300 (or yes?) Also other developer places on the net.

[ClarkVent]

Originally Posted by Erel

Serial2.dll (unlike the older SerialDevice.dll) is just a wrapper above .Net SerialPort class.
The problems you encounter with this device are not specific to Basic4ppc.

Really, I understand it's not a problem specific to Basic4PPC. That still doesn't mean you don't have to warn people about it. You advertise your product as working on all WM6 devices while it doesn't. And whether or not the problem is specific to Basic4PPC doesn't matter.

We do have a "100% satisfaction or money back guarantee" policy.
Please send me an email to erel@basic4ppc.com if you like to return your license.

Sigh. I'm not asking a refund. Sure, it sucks that I can't use the current version for what I actually bought it for, but I believe you that will be solved in the next version.

I'm just saying you should warn people the serial interface used by Basic4PPC doesn't work with some HTC devices. Why is it so difficult to show a little honesty?

[agraham]

Originally Posted by ClarkVent

Why is it so difficult to show a little honesty?

If I were Erel I would take extreme offense at the suggestion that there is any dishonesty involved. In computer software (and hardware) incompatibilities abound and is part of the "game". You try it, you hit a problem, you move on and try something different. Take your refund and try some other solution - at least you got the offer of a refund. More than I have experienced under similar circumstances in the past when a product didn't meet my expectation, and was a lot more expensive!

For the price Basic4ppc is a try and throw away product compared to Visual Studio. If you had bought Visual Studio (I have!) to develop a .NET GPS app. for HTC and found the problem then Microsoft wouldn't refund but would merely tell you it is an HTC problem. If Microsoft don't tell you that their SerialPort class (which is what the Serial2 library exposes) doesn't work with HTC devices why should you expect Erel to.