Pinecil Update app usability suggestion

[pgiacalo]

A few suggestions, intended to be helpful.

1. Don't use acronyms (like DFU) in the instructions. Keep the instructions direct and clear. Average users (like me) have no idea what DFU means.
2. Change the "Browse" button to "Select". The common meaning of "Browse" typically informs a user to go find files on their local disk. This confused me, since I never download a binary to install on the Pinecil. Since the Pinecil Update app already contains all the installers, the user simply needs to "Select" one from the provided list.

[gamelaster]

Hi @pgiacalo ,

thank you so much for this feedback, much appreciated. Will make those changes in next version.

[pgiacalo]

Great, thank you. I love the Pinecil and think it is a terrific product at an unbelievable price. Keep up the good work.

[River-Mochi]

@pgiacalo
The Browse needs to be there. it is option for people who are installing beta versions of the Firmware and also Boot logo art. We indeed do Browse to download folders and get the Special custom files, and then upload that to Pinecil with the GUI.
Browse is also the Universal word/button used exactly for this purpose in software install packages - to allow people to browse to folders to get other files.

Not everyone uses the Gui just for the drop down list. I rarely use the one in the Drop down list since I'm usually using the newest firmware (which will never show on drop down lis).
Newest firmware has to be manually downloaded from githubIronOS PR section of code. and then I use this updater to Browse to my file and fetch it.

It is also the #1 way people add Art Work to their boot up display. This gui because of the Browse to folder function allows people with no coding experience, the easy ability to Browse to the folder their artwork is in , and flash it to the Boot Logo section of Flash on the V1 Iron.
In addition, sometimes there is a Bug on one edition of Firmware, Ralim then makes a special edition which exposes extra debugging information. these "alphas" are never going to be in the Drop down list which only shows the latest "stable buid". People rely on the Browse to go and get that file Ralim gave them, and upload it to their Pinecil to give Ralim feedback.

Use of Browse is consistent with the universal standards. Browse is the word/button that is used in Windows PC's when people are installing software. Anyone who has ever had to install Windows software would be familiar with Browse to folder button. It is the standard in installs and something people will recognize. See photo.

Standard Install window, using Browse, the universal word and button for going to a folder in many software installers all over the world (in pine64 updater, it is to go to folder location to get a custom firmware or boot logo art needed)

If Browse is removed then

1. how will people load custom boot artwork?
2. how will people easily load newest beta firmware they are testing, we often have a bunch of people using the beta so there can be feedback over a month to see if there are any new problems that arise.
3. how will people load debugging firmware Ralim custom makes to send out?

Usually we give instructions to people to come to this Gui to do any and all of the above (one stop all-in-one.). This is a great feature that is used by many people for many purposes to be removed.
we are browsing to a folder to select a special file to install that is not on the short list provided.

Many people using this Gui asked for these extra features since they don't want to just use the stable firmware. Browse is the universal button for going to a folder to get the other firmware people may need.
This is not a single use GUI , it has multiple purposes. Perhaps an Instruction manual could add notes that if you are not using Boot logo art or custom beta firmware, ignore the Browse button.

Be aware, this Gui is already 100 times easier and much more simplified than the Gui that came from the MCU chip manufacturer. In old days people had to download 2 different files and load special drivers first from the MCU company first, and also had to go Fetch the Stable firmware by themselves.
The Gui from the manufacturer that people had to use before (including me) looks like this. It was complex and had a ton of boxes that people did not know what to do with.

This was the old GUI from the Manufacturer of the CHIP that people have to use if they did not have Pine64 updater.
Notice how many Complex options there are. notice the use of the universal word to Browse to a folder in install Gui apps, just like Pine updater does.

Pine64 Updater is a very simplified and appreciated version compared to the Gui from the chip maker. It is not intended with one single user in mind but for all Windows and Mac users who also requested a way to load newest beta firmware, boot logos, and custom firmware they forked from Ralim's IronOS. when you think of Software, remember also that there are many other people who don't use the software the same simple way one person uses it. Gamiee is working for free as volunteer already, and having one single software that meets the needs of many people is already a great feat. As you can see from the GD32 Gui from vendor of the chip, Gamiee's Updater is way simplified already, without sacrificing the Browse feature that many people asked for.

Also notice that because Browse is the Universal command to get to folders where firmware was downloaded (as many IronOS Pinecil users do) - the Chip manufacturer also uses the word Browse. The word "select" is not appropriate because it is not the standard word button for this type of action. Sticking to universal standards is best and least confusing over custimizing for only one small use case. Why change to an "uncommon" name that is not used in software installation apps, when Browse is the universal accepted method across software installs.

The only thing I would say perhaps is adding some Instruction to the install document to say ignore the Browse feature if you dont have custom beta firmware or boot logo art downloaded. It probably should also say close the App, and reload if trying multiple different boot logo. people seem to keep the app open and then they can't over write the first boot logo and get scared. Probably a message at the end of the update saying. "Restart the app if you want to load a different firmware/boot logo. "