New Freediving Computer to be unveiled at DEMA 08

[Kars]

Is the Computer interface included in the package?

What will be the European price?

Is the F10 user programmable?

What features suggested by the people here on DB did make it into the F10?

And Fondueset please allow some other DB member to test and review the F10, you already got the Tropol monofin!

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

[Doug Krause]

Hi Kars -
The PC interface cable will be an additional accessory - at US $99 suggested retail.
European price is up to our partners there - I will put you in touch with them directly or get pricing when it is available.
The F.10 is very user programmable.
We started with base features suggested by a number of sources - then worked exclusively with Martin Stepanek to modify and develop additional functions. DD has dove both the DEMA and current units - hopefully he can chime in with some specifics - and I will be able to post the user manual / quick start guide here very soon.

[ptoot]

leaving on holidays 16 days from now, what are the chances of getting an F10 before that date here in Belgium? $399 is fine.

[Doug Krause]

As much as I'd love to say otherwise, I don't think that's going to be possible. It's pushing too close to our launch date here in the US - and we typically delay international shipments 30 days or so... If something changes, I'll let you know.

[azapa]

if Doug says SUGGESTED 399 most smart resellers like leisurepro will have it at 299.

Right Doug?

[DivingDane]

hey Kars

what do you want to know i've had a pretty good chance to dive the samples over the past year and a half an can say that from the original sample i had which was very good the latest incarnation has everything i could want.

Watch Functions:
- Dual time, date
- Day of week
- Alarm
-countdown timer
- stopwwatch/lap timer

Freedive mode:
- temperature
- surface time interval
- number of dives
- dive time in min:sec
- 3 independently adjustable depth alarms
- surface time interval alarm
- elapsed dive time Alarm
- adjustable back llight illumination duration

Dive log history:
- Big log, viewable on computor
- 3 pages per log entry
page 1: dive number, max depth, surface time, dive time
page 2: time of day, temperature
page 3:real time dive playback, second by second. and you can also scroll through each second and freeze it to view the depth at that time if you dont want to play the dive through automatically.

-History: total dive time and total number of dive on unit
deepest ever dive
longest dive ever
average depth and dive time

i think thats about it but i've probably forgotten a couple of things, if their is something thats not there that you want to know about just let me know and it may jog my memory. but basically every function i need for both dedicated freediving and spearfishing has been addressed.

but as mentioned above the depth limit is ONLY 100m so counts out 10 people in the world at the moment but for us mortals it is more than enough.

DD

[trux]

Doug, as I wrote earlier on the forum, being a professional programmer and experienced with firmware development, I am interested in the API for adding extesnions. I've sent you also an offer with closer details by email, but since I never heard back, I am not sure if you have read it. If you did not see it, just let me know and I resend it to you. I am sure your company, as well as the community would profit from it very well.

[Doug Krause]

Hi Trux - I passed it on for consideration. We frequently receive the same request for our dive computers - let's just say that there are some fairly significant barriers.

[Kars]

DD, your list looks very nice already, indeed an improvement over the D3.


Depth activated Back-light.
The function in the Dark Northern waters I really would like to see is depth activated back-light. I would set it to 10m, so at the total darkness depth I don't need to press any button, nor do I have to put it on on the surface or have it on all the time, saving a lot of battery power.

Different sounding alarms.
At the moment on my D3 I use the 1 minute alarm, as well as the depth alarm set to 35m. It would be very helpful if there were different sounding alarms so one would know the difference. Only a sound pitch change would already do.

Surface Display of Average speeds.
On the surface average decent and average ascent rate.
Really helpful in knowing weather one's technique is improving.

Continuous Countdown Timer
Preferable programmable into pyramid schedule's.

With these easy to program in functions, it would really make it the first choice for freedivers Doug. In my view an easy trade of some development time (A few hours by an able programmer) for becoming The Best Freediving Computer.

With the way the world economy goes, and is planned to go, I think it's best cash in while you can.

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

[trux]

Originally Posted by Doug Krause

Hi Trux - I passed it on for consideration. We frequently receive the same request for our dive computers - let's just say that there are some fairly significant barriers.

Yes, I understand that there are very serious barriers and liability reasons at scuba computers, where a small glitch in the firmware may cost the life of the diver. However, this is not the case at a freediving computer.

[ptoot]

The responsibility of really translating the demands of a target group into a tangible product in my view comes with the privilege of having the full attention and cooperation of that group.

After all, it's been months since suggestions were made. From what I read from the list of specs, the differences between the F10 and -say- Mares Nemo or Suunto D4 are not that spectacular.

I agree with Trux that we're not dealing with a Scuba computer, so different rules do apply.

I can't see how the watch, with the specs mentioned, can be seen as "very user programmable". We're talking about a device that beeps every few meters or seconds and logs depth against time. I understand we can program 3 depth beeps and one (or a few) for time.

Can the watch be 'flashed' once new firmware comes out, that would be a good use for the $99 (!) cable.

Does the software (Comes with the cable? Excel export? Graphic?) extract other data than can be displayed in steps on the watch itself?

Does it log temperature at the same interval (to detect thermocline depth)?

Glad to see that the idea of a yellow face didn't make it.

Pity to see you miss the peak season (northern hemisphere) like you missed Xmas period putting the product on the market. The changes don't appear that revolutionary (since its introduction on this forum), it appears that no physicial limits have improved or functions have been added.

(still love to get my hands on this watch, still delaying my purchase of a decent watch/bottom timer/computer)

I sincerely hope one day a manufacturer picks up the list of well explained desired features. This community made it so easy for him...

[azapa]

sounds like I'm kinda defending Doug here, but I feel the watch will be great ONLY because (correct me if i'm wrong), Martin used it and provided much feedback in the name of us all (freedivers). Imagine asking for 100 opinions, and those 100 give 5 features, the product would never arrive to market and let alone for 1/2 to 2/3 price of a D4.
But I do like Kars auto-backlit function

Just get it in the stores by mid july, i'll be in NY then and I beleive Leisure pros store is there

[ptoot]

Re-reading my message, the words I chose appear rather strong.
I guess it's just a little less innovative than I hoped for. I've read so
many good suggestions. But as you say, just get it into the shops first!

Perhaps a good idea for another thread: Wishlist of features found on
a freediving 'computer', counting votes, obviously...

[trux]

Originally Posted by azapa

sounds like I'm kinda defending Doug here, but I feel the watch will be great ONLY because (correct me if i'm wrong), Martin used it and provided much feedback in the name of us all (freedivers). Imagine asking for 100 opinions, and those 100 give 5 features, the product would never arrive to market and let alone for 1/2 to 2/3 price of a D4.

That's exactly why it would be a great advantage if the watch offered an API allowing extensions that could be provided by 3rd parties. The basic development would not cost more or take longer, but you could select an additional plug-in from an independent developer, or a modified firmware if you wanted extensions like for example pre-programmed training schedule, O2/CO2 tables, competition preparation including official-top countdown, freediving DCS tables and/or desaturation surface interval watch-dog, or other similar functions.

That would be a huge advantage in comparison to other computers available on the market. Well, if AERIS does not use the opportunity, hopefully another manufacturer does it soon. I am pretty sure that the first one who offers the API, will take the market.

Eric Fattah has shown the right way - his Liquivision F1 indeed allowed not only custom firmware, but also had interface for hardware add-ons.

PS: hey, Azapa, you have spawn another clone again? At the beginning you were alone, then you were a double (49% spearo and 51% freediver), and now I see you are tripple! I am curious how it continues

[azapa]

Trux, what if they gave you an API, you programmed some cool feature to vibrate at X depth, the diver sets it at 50M and for some strange bug the thing does not go off until 80. the diver gets hurt. who pays?

again, i'm defending. my company works and breathes making software all day. i'm getting too old thats why this negative stuff comes into my head.

just ignore me