PINE64
Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - Printable Version

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Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - jojuma - 11-16-2020

Hi there,

I purchased a set with three PineTimes. They're really cool devices. Since I'm a bloody beginner, they actually do nothing more but show the time. I managed to set the time with "nRF Connect" app on an Android phone.

The november update now says "PineTime firmware can now be upgraded via Gadgetbridge!"

Would it be possible, to provide a step by step tutorial for people who are not deep into that? Or is there already one, someone could point me to?

Thanks!!!

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - wibble - 11-16-2020

Trying it is on my todo list, but I need to upgrade to a firmware version that gadgetbridge recognises first. I'll do some documentation if you've not had a better answer before I get round to it.

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - VMMainFrame - 11-16-2020

(11-16-2020, 01:41 PM)jojuma Wrote: Hi there,

I purchased a set with three PineTimes. They're really cool devices. Since I'm a bloody beginner, they actually do nothing more but show the time. I managed to set the time with "nRF Connect" app on an Android phone.

The november update now says "PineTime firmware can now be upgraded via Gadgetbridge!"

Would it be possible, to provide a step by step tutorial for people who are not deep into that? Or is there already one, someone could point me to?

Thanks!!!

I assume you are running InfiniTime on the watches.  What version?  Scroll down on the time and select the button with three horizontal lines to see the version.  I am somewhat behind and I am running version 0.7.1.  I upgrade using "nRF Connect". 

Hugh

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - JF002 - 11-17-2020

Hello,

@jojuma I assume you have a pack of 3 sealed PineTimes running InfiniTime 0.7.1 or more ?

If that's the case, you can upgrade the firmware over-the-air using NRFConnect or Gadgetbridge. I recommend you update to version 0.9.0, as 0.8 contains some annoying bugs.

If you want to use Gadgetbridge: 
  • Launch Gadgetbridge, tap the "+" button and scan for you PineTime
  • When it's detected, tap on it to add it to the list of devices
  • If it's not already connected, tap on your PineTime in the device list to connect
  • Download the DFU file from the repo
  • Use any file manager on your phone to browse to that file and tap on it. It'll ask you which app to use to open the file. Choose Gadgetbridge application/firmware installer.
  • The OTA procedure should start, wait for a few minute, your PineTime should reboot on InfiniTime 0.9.0.
  • Do not forget to validate the new version 
On this page, you can find a link to a video showing how to use NRFConnect.

NOTE : BLE connection can be a little tricky. If you cannot find/connect your PineTime, try rebooting your phone and/or your pinetime (press the button for 5-10s)

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - jojuma - 11-18-2020

(11-17-2020, 12:30 PM)JF002 Wrote: Hello,

@jojuma I assume you have a pack of 3 sealed PineTimes running InfiniTime 0.7.1 or more ?

If that's the case, you can upgrade the firmware over-the-air using NRFConnect or Gadgetbridge. I recommend you update to version 0.9.0, as 0.8 contains some annoying bugs.

If you want to use Gadgetbridge: 
  • Launch Gadgetbridge, tap the "+" button and scan for you PineTime
  • When it's detected, tap on it to add it to the list of devices
  • If it's not already connected, tap on your PineTime in the device list to connect
  • Download the DFU file from the repo
  • Use any file manager on your phone to browse to that file and tap on it. It'll ask you which app to use to open the file. Choose Gadgetbridge application/firmware installer.
  • The OTA procedure should start, wait for a few minute, your PineTime should reboot on InfiniTime 0.9.0.
  • Do not forget to validate the new version 
On this page, you can find a link to a video showing how to use NRFConnect.

NOTE : BLE connection can be a little tricky. If you cannot find/connect your PineTime, try rebooting your phone and/or your pinetime (press the button for 5-10s)

Thanks for that detailed answer. I'm going to try that as soon as I got time.
The reason why I used nRF Connect initially was because Gadgetbridge didn't find the Pinetime, no matter what I tried. Can you imagine a reason for that? I'd prefer Gadgetbridge, but if I can't connect the Pinetime, nRF Connect must do the job. At least, it found the Pinetime immediatly...

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - JF002 - 11-19-2020

BLE can be a bit tricky, on both sides (smartphone and Pinetime). On smartphone, Gadgetbridge depends on the BLE stack running on your Android/iOS, and on InfiniTime, it depends on how well the BLE stack (nimBLE) is integrated. And... I'm far from being an expert on the whole BLE technology Smile

Most of the time, disabling/re-enabling the BLE on your phone, rebooting your phone and/or resetting the InfiniTime (long push on the button) fixes the issue !

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - danielt - 11-20-2020

I've also noticed that Infinitime stops advertising itself (e.g. becomes undiscoverable) when left alone for a long time without a BLE connection.

I assumed this was a power saving feature since it becomes discoverable again with just the short button press to get the clock up. However it might also be a little confusing when trying to figure out which apps do and don't work.

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - JF002 - 11-20-2020

(11-20-2020, 04:19 AM)danielt Wrote: I've also noticed that Infinitime stops advertising itself (e.g. becomes undiscoverable) when left alone for a long time without a BLE connection.

I assumed this was a power saving feature since it becomes discoverable again with just the short button press to get the clock up. However it might also be a little confusing when trying to figure out which apps do and don't work.
You're right! On wake-up, InfiniTime advertises itself during 3 minutes. To restart advertising, you have to wake it up again. 

But I noticed that sometimes, the advertising would not start as expected... Probably a bug that will need to be fixed !

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - jaysprout - 01-15-2021

(11-16-2020, 01:41 PM)jojuma Wrote: Would it be possible, to provide a step by step tutorial for people who are not deep into that? Or is there already one, someone could point me to?

Thanks!!!

Beginners' tutorials in general would rock. I simply refuse to give up but I have thought about it several times.

RE: Flash firmware - Bloody beginner tutorial needed - jojuma - 03-20-2021

Here's the newbie again, asking for help.

My PineTime is on v. 0.9.0. I wanted to do an update again and downloaded 0.14.1.
I'm using nRFConnect since for some reason I still can't get Gadgetbridge get to work (maybe my Android 8.1 is too old?).

After (successfully) connecting I select DFU Update and choose the ZIP from my filesystem. Then it says "initializing" and then... nothing...

As far as I can remember I did exactly the same thing when I upgraded from 0.7.x to 0.9.0.

I have no clue, what I'm doing wrong. Do you have any hints?

Thanks!