BUG-000171077

[necurri_VC_SSO]

It’s been five months since this bug was first logged. The status is “under consideration”. Curious to know if Esri is working on this. I have four iPad generation 7 units that I use for fieldwork with my students but I can’t use Survey 123 on them for this reason.

Thankfully, Field Maps still works but I don’t get GNSS error statistics from the Bluetooth unit I use with them. I found what seems to be the only other user in the world that has the same problem. We both posted about it here. This magically resolved itself for me a few months ago, but now I’m not getting the statistics again. 

So, bottom line, I have iPads and GNSS receivers that I can’t use, or at least in the case of Field Maps, I can use it, but I don’t have the GNSS error statistics products that I’d really like to be able to show my students as they learn how to conduct effective surveys whose accuracies they can assess in detail. 

[ChristopherCounsell]

iPad 7th generation is nearing end of support more broadly.

ESRI assess the number of users impacted among other factors when considering development.

ANYONE reading this that is impacted by the bug, or any other big they come across, needs to contact support and ask to be attached to the defect. You can then escalate through My ESRI.

The survey123 team are overhauling the development platform for the app. Big effort. They woul look at this, the number of users impacted, and the nearing end of life of 7th gen devices and maybe it's just not worth it to them. There's a solution to us - buy a device now, instead of in the upcoming months (??) when apple retires 7th gen devices.

If more users that are impacted attach to the bug and escalate, the likelier that these issues will be more heavily considered and prioritised.

I used to work at tech support and so many people would discuss or complain about defects on the forums, yet there'd be only 1-2 cases (and thereby accounts) attached to the defect.

If you are a larger organisation you can escalate with your technical account manager directly. I am at a large organisation and although we have a number of devices impacted by this, honestly it is easier just to get newer devices than push this one with ESRI. I'd rather save this energy for other defects, like when they break the keyboard and photo questions...

Not the answer you may have been looking for but hope it helps give some context from someone impacted by the same defect.

[necurri_VC_SSO]

Hi, Chris. I've also worked in tech support for many years, helped usher in computers and networking to school kids in a major city during the tech boom of the late 90s, taught GIS to community volunteers in a rapidly developing rural environment in the 2000s, and have since advocated for and overseen the expansion of GIS at the institution I work for now from a few licenses based primarily in one department to institutional access for the entire institution, with regular use across several departments, including the administrative side. I'm the sole support for them all.

You're right, of course. The 5-year life cycle for computers and mobile devices is widely accepted. That's an irresponsible standard in my opinion from an environmental and social justice perspective, but I'll save that for my TED talk. My institution is relatively small but well resourced. I can dig up the money to buy some new iPads probably before the end of the year. But we're also an environmental and social justice conscious institution, and I've also worked over the years in all my professional roles (and one or two volunteer roles) to extend the usable life of our tech, or repurpose and recycle discarded tech. And while some of the materials, manufacturing, and energy use have improved a lot over the last decade, the number of units manufactured and circulated (and then discarded) has grown exponentially, and recycling isn't keeping up. In our rush to solve all kinds of problems with tech, I'm not convinced we aren't making as many or more problems. Sorry, I just accidentally started that TED talk... 

No, I don't really expect much if any response from Esri on this one. But after so many years in the tech industry you grow weary of the constant refrain: upgrade. That makes sense when there's clear advantages, and they seem to outweigh the costs (including the environmental ones). But the capabilities of iPads and Esri's mobile apps haven't changed radically in the last 5 years. I could do everything I need to with Collector and Survey 123's xls form as they were prior to the release of 7th generation iPad. (Though I admit I'm finding Arcade expressions in Field Maps to be extremely useful.) It may be a waste of energy to grouse about it, and this isn't the right forum for that anyway, but after all my years promoting and supporting Esri products, and teaching it to lots of audiences, I reserve the right to be a grouch.

[ChristopherCounsell]

I'm one of the bigger grouches on here, say what you want!

Just please make sure you've also contacted tech support, got attached to
the defect, escalated it via My ESRI, and maybe reached out to your account
manager if you're inclined.

I'm with you on this one. Survey123 has broken core functionality - or
outright - a few too many times over the past year.

[abureaux]

It’s been five months since this bug was first logged.

Only 5 months? 😅

I reserve the right to be a grouch

Chris gave a fantastic answer, and I have nothing to add. Just here to say that I am also grouchy!

[RoxannaPassini]

We have been affected by this bug since Oct of last year. I have escalated the case and would recommend anyone else affected to do the same.