I'm not going to sugar coat it -- the latest Insteon app for Windows Phone is a disaster and the latest Windows 8.1 app lost existing functionality. Both updates were rolled out on 6/16-6/17, and both need to be rolled back ASAP. Some of these flaws have been noted by previous users, but to confirm my experience:
Windows Phone App v1.20
Windows 8.1 App v1.20
Simply stated, it was a complete mistake for Insteon to deploy the latest Windows Phone app. It adds no functionality that I can discern, and it is badly broken. Given Insteon's track record of bug fixes, I don't expect them to address these issues soon, so their only move is to roll it back ASAP. I'm hearing that both apps represent a new universal app, and it I get the sense that Insteon is focusing on Windows 10 and their new Hub Pro which, oddly, is LESS functional than their standard hub even though it is newer and wears the laughable "Pro" moniker. The Hub Pro inexplicably ditches compatibility with a long list of Insteon devices (http://www.insteon.com/support-knowl...s-with-insteon), so I'm concerned that the latest apps represent the future of Insteon support for a system that I deployed only a year ago. Considering that Insteon is a closed, proprietary system and that they control all the hardware and software, it is beyond comprehension that they can't make everything work together. I might expect this when cobbling together a multi-vendor solution based on loose standards, but a single vendor solution? Inexcusable.
I have contacted Insteon Support several times and they have no answers. Their support techs simply say that it's all in the developers' hands so they sheepishly say they have no useful information and they can't make any promises. Twice they've offered to have a support supervisor contact me to discuss my suggestion of rolling back these apps, but neither of the 2 supervisors contacted returned my calls. The wait times for their phone support line were quite long both times I called this week (30-45 minutes) so I have to think they are causing themselves some serious pain with these shoddy updates.
ROLL BACK THESE TERRIBLE APPS, INSTEON!
Windows Phone App v1.20
- The app no longer works remotely (i.e. over mobile data networks) at all, only over local wi-fi where the Insteon Hub resides. When connecting remotely device status is unavailable, device control does not work, and the app repeatedly pops up a "can't connect to hub" dialog box about every 10 seconds. It's completely infuriating. What is the point of a mobile phone app that doesn't work remotely?
- Even on a local wi-fi network, Insteon thermostat control is completely broken.
- Cortana voice integration/control is now completely broken.
- There's probably more, but I stopped using the app because it's so useless.
Windows 8.1 App v1.20
- I have only tried it on the local wi-fi network and Insteon thermostat control is completely broken.
- I have not tested the app much further, but I wouldn;t be surprised to find other issues.
Simply stated, it was a complete mistake for Insteon to deploy the latest Windows Phone app. It adds no functionality that I can discern, and it is badly broken. Given Insteon's track record of bug fixes, I don't expect them to address these issues soon, so their only move is to roll it back ASAP. I'm hearing that both apps represent a new universal app, and it I get the sense that Insteon is focusing on Windows 10 and their new Hub Pro which, oddly, is LESS functional than their standard hub even though it is newer and wears the laughable "Pro" moniker. The Hub Pro inexplicably ditches compatibility with a long list of Insteon devices (http://www.insteon.com/support-knowl...s-with-insteon), so I'm concerned that the latest apps represent the future of Insteon support for a system that I deployed only a year ago. Considering that Insteon is a closed, proprietary system and that they control all the hardware and software, it is beyond comprehension that they can't make everything work together. I might expect this when cobbling together a multi-vendor solution based on loose standards, but a single vendor solution? Inexcusable.
I have contacted Insteon Support several times and they have no answers. Their support techs simply say that it's all in the developers' hands so they sheepishly say they have no useful information and they can't make any promises. Twice they've offered to have a support supervisor contact me to discuss my suggestion of rolling back these apps, but neither of the 2 supervisors contacted returned my calls. The wait times for their phone support line were quite long both times I called this week (30-45 minutes) so I have to think they are causing themselves some serious pain with these shoddy updates.
ROLL BACK THESE TERRIBLE APPS, INSTEON!
Comment