BeoWorld North America

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

koning — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:03:51 GMT

sofware fix...What software do you have imakino

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

imakino — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:21:33 GMT

I just received very latest version (ordered in March, just received... had to wait for software fix)

Even making vol. 8, still very hard to hear, specially at outside. Maybe I'm too used to the other B&O's analogue phones but

this is not so nice. Speaker on the other hand, once placed it works brilliantly. I hope B&O find way to remote fix this issue.

XavierItzmann:

Speakerphone base/charger

3. One can unplug the speakerphone and take it elsewhere; it is then powered by the handset's battery for up to 4 hours of talk time. We found no difference in loudness or quality from a plugged speakerphone base to an unplugged one. Volume levels are adjustable only during a call, with levels from 1 to 8. This is annoying because volume cannot be adjusted while one is ringing another party. We found performance very lacking at volumes 1 and 2, as our caller's voice quickly shifted (<1s.) from barely audible to audible to barely audible. I speculate this is because of some sort of haywire echo-preventer or ambient-noise adjuster. In our environment, in repeated blind tests, volume 4 produced results indistinguishable to the user and to the caller from the speakerphone on our BeoCom 3, which features a world-class speakerphone. The BeoCom 3's speakerphone, however, produces outstanding results at any volume save the very highest of its range.

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

Stan — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:15:13 GMT

I really cannot believe it has taken 160 days with no resolution. Perhaps B&O outsourced this software development (like everybody on this board thinks they should) and the vendor is now busy on other contracts now. Outsourcing can be a double-edged sword... Or worse, perhaps they let the staff go since they're not making any new phones...

As to your comment about software, it's easy to update software frequently to devices that are on-line (in fact, some (like me) might argue "too easy", since developers can then take the attitude that the software must not be perfect since we can just release a fix tomorrow - not the attitude I want in my developers). However, software updates to a non-internet connected device like a phone is much more problematic. You've got to bring the phone in, somebody has to hook it up to whatever machine downloads the software (best case) or open it up and replace a chip (worst case), now take it home. Do you really want to do this a few times if it is not actually fixing the problem? Your dealer and/or B&O probably thinks he is doing you a favor by not giving you these intermediate releases...

Stan

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

koning — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:52:16 GMT

Is Sw 1.70 still the latest Software version?

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

XavierItzmann — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:34:12 GMT

Update today... Since the dealer never called back and it's been over five weeks since they last called me, I went ahead and called them.

1. The dealer received a sw update version, they had expected this version would work, alas!, it failed to address a couple of concerns the dealer had.

2. "B&O is making it «interesting»"

3. Dealer expects resolution in a couple of weeks, but dealer also says this «may be optimistic."

I am left with several thoughts:

(a) The behavior I have seen from B&O regarding this debacle is eerily similar to that of technology firms at their last gasps. Promises made, promises broken, deadlines missed, little progress towards resolution.

(b) It is quite possible B&O understands very little about modern software development. Modern, successful companies today ship sw and update it based on customer performance on an as early-as-possible basis, learning more on each cycle from the wide customer base and their thousands of unique scenarios and circumstances. B&O's failure to provide even interim, intermediate steps and improvements is baffling or archaic, or both. One is tempted to predict the final version will be quite imperfect due to lack of a broad base of users.

(c) It's been over 160 days since my purchase. I like to think as myself as unusually patient. One wonders about the damage being visited to the brand. Is it possible the management thinks that because this is a soon-to-be-dead telephone division this does not impact consumer's perception of the core audio/video reputation of the company?

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

XavierItzmann — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:59:27 GMT

Update today... dealer called and advised:

1. SW Version 1.7 is being tried by dealers but has not been approved for U.S. customers. The software addresses most concerns, but two problems remain:

1.a Voice cuts in an out randomly. Turning phone on or off provides relief for a while.

1.b BC3 sometimes cuts off calls for no apparent reason or restarts itself.

2. B&O is feverishly working on an update

3. Once the final update is ready, which is expected during March, I will receive a call and someone will come to my home to update my telephone.

4. The (smart) chap took advantage of his conversation to try and sell me a BV-10 which will be available in the U.S. from July onwards. I'll go visit his store once he puts it up on a wall.

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

TWG — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:58:22 GMT

XavierItzmann:

Update today: my dealer tells me the software the dealer received for test purposes... did not really work. So they are waiting for Struer to send a further revision.

Funny comment from the gal with whom I spoke: "you know, these Europeans don't know anything about how our phones work. They know about sound, but not about our phone system".

It's just a funny comment from someone who doesn't seem to know what he's talking about ;-)

But seriously:

I hope that B&O soon fixes the problem and we can buy the phone here in Europe; if it works on those crappy american networks without problems, it should work everywhere! :-)

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

XavierItzmann — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:57:31 GMT

Update today: my dealer tells me the software the dealer received for test purposes... did not really work. So they are waiting for Struer to send a further revision.

Funny comment from the gal with whom I spoke: "you know, these Europeans don't know anything about how our phones work. They know about sound, but not about our phone system".

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

Burnix — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:54:12 GMT

waltoninn:

I just hope that B&O does not move in the direction of Asian outsourcing, other than maybe some products from Japan, possibly. No disrespect intended for Asia.

Well - The BeoVision 8's are all produced in Taiwan and the Earset 1 Home is to my knowledge partly or fully produced in China...
Having said this, the products still go through a strict quality control in Denmark.

I believe the labels on at least the BV8's are stating "Made by Denmark" instead of "Made in Denmark".

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

XavierItzmann — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:20:40 GMT

My wife is somewhat mortified because on the one day a week when she works from home she is unable to conduct conference calls with the wireless BeoCom 5 speakerphone, and must instead rely on the wired BeoCom 3 speakerphone —and the wired phone is not in one of her preferred locations.

I called the dealer today to see if by any chance they had already received the updated software —hey, I know the letter said "after January 25th," Monday, but I figured they may have received their upgrade box already today; maybe we could schedule an appointment for this weekend?

No cigar: they have received an update, but are testing it with their demonstration device. So it may still be a while.

We'll be patient. No big deal.

Does anybody know if they have ceased selling BeoCom 5 pending their resolution of this case? Or have sales of other, presumably unaffected batches of BeoCom 5 continued ininterruptedly?

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

jk1002 — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:26:36 GMT

>>It would be interesting, nonetheless, to visit the BeoCom 5 production lines in Denmark, don't you think?<<

They still do have some operations in Denmark that are used for testing and product development.

That said, I know some do not favor the move east however as times and market environment changes they need to make many uncomfortable moves to survive and this one most customer will not worry about.

When you poke around here, I do see mostly software or electronic component related issues - I rarely recall an assembly related issue.

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

waltoninn — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:25:54 GMT

And they key here is that the factory in the Czech Republic was built and is being run by B&O directly. It's on the European continent, which has more of a history in manufacturing, and electronic manufacturing, along with being in that part of Europe which has a history of people known for innovation, especially in electronics. Think Tesla.

This is unlike other products from other manufacturers that are outsourced to China, where factories are under contract to churn out goods, and are often not directly owned, or controlled by the main parent company. And then when they are owned and somewhat controlled by a Western or European company, the plant is located thousands of miles away, so quality control suffers.

I am a big believer in the proximity of a manufacturing plant being close to where the products are developed, considered for marketing, and most importantly available for good oversight of the quality control. Many factories in Asia churn out products in which they have no real vested interest as to their quality or failure rate, since it's not often their brand name on the product. They are often more interested in only getting the product on the boat, so they can get their letter of credit paid by a Western or European bank of the manufacturer.

I just hope that B&O does not move in the direction of Asian outsourcing, other than maybe some products from Japan, possibly. No disrespect intended for Asia.

Sorry to be so long winded about this, but many people often have little idea what's involved in manfacuturing. The bottom line is that you pay for what you get.

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

koning — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:26:06 GMT

When can we expect the beocom 5???

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

TWG — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:43:36 GMT

XavierItzmann:

The weird news:

«we hope you can appreciate that this was a human error at our production lines in Denmark and is not a reflection of the quality of the product you have in front of you»

Look, I couldn't care less that my phone's boxes state "Country of origin: Czech", a wonderful Republic of which I was 20 kms away just a couple of days ago. It would be interesting, nonetheless, to visit the BeoCom 5 production lines in Denmark, don't you think?

hmm, that sounds strange and funny... I think you (B&O) shouldn't lie to your customers! :-)
But it would be nice to do the factory tour in Denmark and simply ask "Can we see the Beocom 5 production?" Than everybody should make a photo of the managers face getting white ;-))

Re: BeoCom 5-US Use Comments

XavierItzmann — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:33:44 GMT

Came back from vacation and there was a letter from B&O U.S. (Illinois) in our mailbox, dated 12/30.

The bad news:

«We have received feedback that some BeoCom 5's are experiencing intermittent sound quality issues. Based on a review of serial numbers, we have determined that your particular handset and/or base are among those affected.»

This is the issue to which I had referred on my original review of 20.December: "We found performance very lacking at volumes 1 and 2, as our caller's voice quickly shifted (<1s.) from barely audible to audible to barely audible. I speculate this is because of some sort of haywire echo-preventer or ambient-noise adjuster."

During the following few days before we left for vacation, it became clear that the issue was more severe than we had thought at first. After two work-related conference calls, my wife simply stopped using BeoCom 5 and went back to BeoCom 3. I left this as an issue to be sorted with B&O after our January return.

The good news:

This will be fixed via software update available after January 25th at our local showroom. It will take 20 minutes.

The very good news:

«In order to thank you for your understanding, we would like to give you a COMPLIMENTARY pair of A8 Earphones valued at $160. Simply bring this letter and your receipt»

The weird news:

«we hope you can appreciate that this was a human error at our production lines in Denmark and is not a reflection of the quality of the product you have in front of you»

Look, I couldn't care less that my phone's boxes state "Country of origin: Czech", a wonderful Republic of which I was 20 kms away just a couple of days ago. It would be interesting, nonetheless, to visit the BeoCom 5 production lines in Denmark, don't you think?