[paulvzo]

I guess it’s like when ya can’t let go of a bad woman. I can’t let go of this crappy wifi system of the K-S2. I’m sure success is just around the corner!

So, I keep experimenting. Ideally, use the built in wifi instead of a wifi SD card. And further, be able to do something with Windows Phone. Not caring much at this point about the remote control function; for now, I’d just like to be able to view, easily offload images. Crawl before walking.

If you’ve seen my comments in another thread on this topic, I bought an old Android for $20 that per Ricoh, should have worked with Image Sync. I got the Image Sync installed, but after the splash screen just black. Per some people’s success notes, I also tried turning off all carrier data functions. Still nothing.

I installed the Claus Zielki program from Sourceforge onto my Windows 7 PC. Buggy, but it works...........some of the time. Sometimes it won’t open from the desktop icon, but will at the executable. About the only thing you can change in options is the IP address. Weirdly, it is set at the rather universal 192.168.0.1, which is not what the Pentax is! Yet it sometimes connected.

If Mr. Zielki could only clean this up and then port to Windows Phone.

The Pentax IP address is 192.168.1.122. But unlike every wifi router/AP, you can’t open anything when trying to in a browser. Just a "can’t connect" response.

The next hurdle is the fact that I use - and very much like - Windows Phone. That’s why I had to buy the Android. That the success rate of Image Sync is so low is Not Acceptable in this day and age. Anyway, I looked for anything in the Windows app store for anything Pentax, Ricoh, or Toshiba. The latter for their Flash Air wifi card. Nothing under Pentax, nothing under Ricoh, but three apps to connect to the Toshiba card.

I downloaded potential apps, just on the off chance that they would open with the Pentax wifi. Of course they wouldn’t.

The Pentax Flu cards are prohibitively expensive. YMMV.

So, now thoroughly abused, I found a Class 10 32GB Flash Air card on eBay for $28 and bought it. (A historical side note: the memory for my first digital camera in 2000 cost me $1/MEGAbyte, used! No wifi included!)

The developer of one of the Toshiba apps also has one for controlling Sony phones, and one for Panasonic. I intend to contact them to alert them to the huge potential marketplace for a WORKING Image Sync. OK, maybe not huge.........

Yes, I love to bang my head on the table trying to find solutions to stupid IT decisions.

[Adam]

Sorry to hear it's not working for you. Have you tried upgrading the Android device?

[paulvzo]

Sorry to hear it's not working for you. Have you tried upgrading the Android device?

It so happens that I got a new account and phone. While I haven't tried it out, the app opens to a screen with functions, whereas all I got before was black blank. Encouraging.

Frankly, though, I find having to carry and use a rather big, fragile thing around for the functions annoying at the least. The LG Leon I got was the smallest and least expensive available at the store. This is a data only line, so I'll not be carrying it around unless I intend to do so at a given time.

Off topic, but after using Windows Phone for several years, Android is kinda like going back to DOS or something. Static icons instead of live tiles, over crowded information bar at the top, etc., etc. (Maybe not a great comparison, I loved DOS and was pretty good at it.)

[Hazcat]

It so happens that I got a new account and phone. While I haven't tried it out, the app opens to a screen with functions, whereas all I got before was black blank. Encouraging.

Frankly, though, I find having to carry and use a rather big, fragile thing around for the functions annoying at the least. The LG Leon I got was the smallest and least expensive available at the store. This is a data only line, so I'll not be carrying it around unless I intend to do so at a given time.

Off topic, but after using Windows Phone for several years, Android is kinda like going back to DOS or something. Static icons instead of live tiles, over crowded information bar at the top, etc., etc. (Maybe not a great comparison, I loved DOS and was pretty good at it.)

Paul,

How is the screen on that phone in sunlight? Is it 'seeable'? I have been looking at the BLU phones for the same purpose but I am afraid that I will not be able to see the screen when outside in sunlight (I live in Florida).

[clackers]

Off topic, but after using Windows Phone for several years, Android is kinda like going back to DOS or something. Static icons instead of live tiles, over crowded information bar at the top, etc., etc. (Maybe not a great comparison, I loved DOS and was pretty good at it.)

Seems to be a lot to like about the Windows Phone platform, Paul, but it's dying (and most won't notice if/when it disappears).

[paulvzo]

Paul,

How is the screen on that phone in sunlight? Is it 'seeable'? I have been looking at the BLU phones for the same purpose but I am afraid that I will not be able to see the screen when outside in sunlight (I live in Florida).

Haven't used it outside and won't be doing so in the near future. I'm using it as a tether while I'm w/o internet service for a few weeks. But I wouldn't think it any better or worse than any other phone. Speaking of, what is a BLU phone?

I lived in Florida until September. Now, an unwilling Texan.

---------- Post added 02-11-16 at 08:46 AM ----------

Seems to be a lot to like about the Windows Phone platform, Paul, but it's dying (and most won't notice if/when it disappears).

WP sales are better outside of the USA. There have been huge, obvious marketing errors over many models made both by Nokia and MS. Of the carriers, only ATT seems to have supported the brand with more new models and high end ones. Others, very spotty, or initially supported and then ceased, in as little time as three months. Abandoned. MS does nothing to market the phones, zilch.

The biggest problem is the store sales people. They know what they know and don't want to discover an alternative, and perhaps better option. Easier to be dismissive. The woman at the MetroPCS store the other day is a perfect example. She commented that when they had some WP models, she found them hard to use. The reality, is that WP is much easier to use, but her mind was set!

If I had an old(er) friend or relative wanting their first smartphone, I'm positive that WP would be their best option, easiest to learn.

OK, 'nuff fan boy stuff here....

[Hazcat]

Here is a link to a BLU pnone. There are several different styles. (XL Life, Pure, etc) They are listed near the bottom.
Amazon.com: BLU Life One 4G LTE Smartphone - GSM Unlocked - 8GB + 1GB RAM - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories