Still in Holding Pattern on iOS 8.3 GPS bug
It's been almost 6 weeks since we alerted Bad Elf users and our partners about the iOS 8.3 bug affecting most external GPS receivers. At that time, we quickly identified the issue and filed a bug report with Apple. Several weeks later, several media outlets and forum users reported that the GPS issue was fixed in the iOS 8.4 beta releases. Unfortunately, Apple has not released any public iOS updates since early April when the issue first appeared.
The various rumors sites are claiming iOS 8.4 will go live in June; some say early June during Apple's WWDC conference, others say late June. Like everyone else, we're in a holding pattern until iOS 8.4 is released.
This has been an extremely frustrating experience for our users and for the Bad Elf team. We strive to always do the right thing for our customers. Like you, we are passionate pilots, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts that depend on Bad Elf GPS accessories every day.
Issues and gaps are normal when working in an ecosystem of ever-changing platforms (iOS/Android/Windows), apps, and our hardware accessories. We build our products so they can be updated as needed. Over the past 5 years we've been able to quickly fix or work around the various hardware, firmware, app, or OS issues that have cropped up. We work hard to maintain strong relationships with our partners to ensure our customers never get stuck in the gaps. Unfortunately, in this case there is little we can do from our side to resolve the issue.
As always, please contact us via support@bad-elf.com if we can help in any way. If you have an iOS device with Lightning connector, our Bad Elf GPS Pro+ and Bad Elf GPS for Lightning dongle both work with iOS 8.3 and are unaffected by this issue.
We appreciate your amazing patience and continued support on this issue. As soon as iOS 8.4 is released, we'll update everyone ASAP with a status update via the blog and mailing list. Hang in there!
20 Responses
DPray
iOS 8.4 notice popped up on my iphone6 yesterday. After reading all of the confusing comments I am afar aid to update to iOS 8.4. Wish people, and Bad Elf, would calm down and just fix the problem. If Garmin can do it, Bad Eld should jump on a fix too….NOW!!
Per D
8.4 Update showed up today explicitly stating a correction on external GPS. Will try it this afternoon.//Per
Mark
Could a firmware update could solve this problem? If so, why has this not been done well before now? If iOS 8.4 does not fix the problem, will you create a heavily discounted trade-in program so that users who bought the GPS Pro 2200 can upgrade to the GPS Pro+ 2300 without feeling taken advantage of? That would seem the only fair thing to do and would give Bad Elf a great boost in its customer service reputation.
Nob
Nice to meet Mr.BRETT HACKLEMAN.
This comment is I am writing by Google translation site.
I am using the BE-GPA-2200 in car navigation of iPad mini in Japan.
But it does not work with iOS8.3.
It was to contact customer service distributors from Japan of Amazon.
They issue was liked to be in the OS.
This problem does not know Japan is most users.
Do you think why?
Because there is no Japanese site.
And because there is no environment to receive direct customer support.
Please immediately improve these. Thank you all!
Klaus
New rumors release date now late June…..http://bgr.com/2015/06/05/ios-8-4-release-date-apple-music/ :(
Might be time to start looking for a alternative solution like a Bluetooth enabled Garmin…
My Badelf is dead on all my devices 30pin Ipad3. and lightening iphone6 and Ipad mini
Andy
That’s weird.
I have a BE-GPS-1000 and using an original 30 pin to lighting adapter from Apple I always have been able to connect my Bad Elf module to my Iphone 6 and my Ipad Air 2, both with IOS 8.3, and the GPS works just fine.
John
I have a pro + and a iPad 3 with 30 pin connector it does not work. I have
A iPhone 5 with lighting connector and it works just fine with the pro +.
Both are running 8.3. Apple seems to be into music & games more
Than anything else.
Scott
“2. For the GPS Pro (-2200), we CAN do a firmware update, but we have to complete the MFi product review process for this new configuration. This takes 4-5 weeks minimum and multiple 3rd parties are involved. We’ve already started the process, but are hopeful Apple will release a fix before this new firmware update is ready.”
You posted this April 26, looks like the firmware upgrade should be about ready. What is the status of the firmware upgrade for my pro -2200??
Ian
While I understand the issues with 30 pin support, I don’t understand why this is stopping firmware upgrades to the Bad Elf Pro which is Bluetooth. Why not release a firmware upgrade that brings it up to the same level of protocol as the Pro+ ? This is taking far too long.
Dazworld
Sounds like to me with Apple shuting down the support with 30 pin connector devices they want us to spend more money to go out to by the Lightning connector device new. Not me, if it comes to this I will go Android. With saying all this, I have been reading throughout the net that IAP1 protocol attached to the 30 pin connector has been discontinued in support in favour for IAP2 protocol lightning connector on the newer devices.
Jim
Thanks for keeping customers informed about the iOS GPS glitch. I’ve just held off on 8.3 and just checked back to see if there was info on 8.4. Sounds positive, thanks for continued feedback. I know from experience the frustration of dependency on other parties in an ecosystem, and good communication is the best tool for minimizing customer impact.
XAN
Hi,
You could search for iOS beta 8.4 download.
Ragards
daniel holt
How do I get 8.4 beta 3???
Xan
Hi,
I resolved the issue with iOS 8.4 beta 3. No problems at all now. Please let your customers know !!!
Kind Regards
Brett @ Bad Elf
Hi all, sorry for the tardy responses, things have been a bit hectic on our side.
Keith: Thanks for the PIREP. Can’t wait for iOS 8.4 to go live to the general public!
Rolf: SO GLAD TO HEAR IT! That’s why we sounded the alarms ASAP after the iOS 8.3 update went live and the issue was discovered. As pilots we shouldn’t be updating to the latest iOS releases for the first week or so. And most airlines have policies in place for this exact reason — it’s just too easy to breaking changes to make it into the operating system, app, or external hardware accessories.
Dazworld: correct, with the only exceptions being the (Bad Elf GPS Pro+, GPS Lightning dongle, or Garmin GLO), talking to a newer Lightning-equipped iOS device. All 30-pin iOS devices are out of luck until iOS 8.4 goes live.
Sam: Unfortunately it doesn’t look like Apple is allowing new people to join the iOS beta program — just the Mac OS X side of things. I wish this wasn’t the case.
“Notimpressed”: I replied to your comment via direct email. ICYMI, I posted some details a few weeks ago re: Garmin’s firmware update, as well as our firmware update plans. You can read my comments here, scroll down a bit: http://bad-elf.com/blogs/bad-elf/18013536-alert-compatibility-issue-with-apple-ios-8-3-and-external-gps-receivers .
As always, for the quickest response please drop an email to support@bad-elf.com. Thanks everyone for your questions/feedback.
Notimpressed
I posted a comment this morning that Garmin has provided firmware updates to their Garmin Glo GPS products -quick and easy and our units using that hardware are back in action while BadElf has done no fixes on their end so are awaiting Apple to make all the changes – so our Badelfs are dead in the water. Bad elf people removed my comment which is fair and accurate…not very transparent.
Sam
I’ve been looking for the iOS 8.4 public beta unsuccessfully — care to share a URL? Yes, I’m registered with appleseed.
dazworld
So basically what you are saying apple has stopped info from gps app being routered to any mapping app, your hands are tried
Rolf
I’m so thankful you warned me just before my journey around the Grand Canyon with a small plane. I had already my fingers searching the update button as your mail came in. So I could use my old iOS and had not a problem at all with my beloved bad elf.
Keith
I’m running the iOS 8.4 public beta and all is well on my 3rd generation iPad and iPhone6 running my BE-GPS-1000
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Brett Hackleman
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CTO & Co-Founder, Bad Elf