Ipad app doesn't stay on even if settings set

[local.bin]

Hi

I couldn't get the appstore version of backup to work with the latest iPad app as it wouldn't keep the screen on or work in the background (even when both settings are setting in the iPad settings

It seems that this version in another thread (its 32 bit v1.1 version) seems to solve the staying awake problem I had, but not the backgrounding.

As soon as I background shuttersnitch backup says to 'open shutter snitch on your device'

Cheers

[TheBrew]

Checking your settings for an enabled "Multitasking" toggle would be my first suggestion, but since it is:

Are you inside a collection when you exit to the home screen? If you're not, ShutterSnitch will not know where photos should be saved, and just goes to sleep (there'll be nothing to do). ..making it undetectable by ShutterSnitch Backup.

One exception though: if SSB is currently syncing while you exit to the home screen from ShutterSnitch; in that case it should finish up and after that ShutterSnitch will a) go to sleep if you're in the collection overview or b) stay on if you're inside a collection.

Big big note: when an app is in the background, iOS can pull the plug on the app whenever it wishes to do so. It'll try not to, but if the system is in desperate need of memory, it'll kill whatever active processes that are currently taking up a good amount of memory.
Have you tried restarting your device and see if that helps?

[saklotzss]

I have had a similar problem recently. Ipad3 running SS v2.3.1 and MacBook Pro running SS Backup v1.1.1 were set up to transfer jpeg files only from Eye-Fi Connect X2 4GB SD card via a pocket router (T-Mobile HotSpot with connection to cell network turned off) to the iPad3 and then on to the MacBook Pro. I was able to start this transfer process on a collection, set the SS app into "Back Pack Mode" @ 5-hours, place the iPad3 into my camera bag, walk around taking pictures and check every now and then to see if the files were transferring to the iPad. I could not check the MacBook Pro since it was remote from my shooting position. I was able to confirm that the files were transferring to the iPad, but sometimes I would look at the iPad and I had to wait (it would spontaneously begin again while I was looking at the screen) or restart the collection to see the files transfer (after I had waited too long and I got impatient). I am testing this setup, so I was constantly checking battery levels on all of the devices and there was no problem with batteries. The camera will shutdown if I don't use it for over 4 minutes, which stops the Eye-Fi card's radio and server presence on the LAN I have set up with the router. The router was on all the time and would dutifully show how many of the three devices were actively connected to it at the time. So, when the camera would shut down the router would reflect this on its display by lowering the connected devices counter by one. Also, the MacBook Pro would lose connection if I walked too far away from it. The camera's Eye-Fi card would reconnect as soon as the camera was turned back on to shoot some more photos. The MacBook Pro would reconnect as soon as I was close enough. The iPad was right next to the router in my camera bag, so it never lost connection.

At the end of hours of shooting over 1500 photos, I checked the iPad and it was over 900 photos behind. In other words, only 600 of the photos I shot that day had successfully transferred to the iPad. The backup folder I had created on the MacBook Pro for SS Backup to fill with photos transferred from the iPad was even worse. Only about 250 photos had transferred to the backup folder on the MacBook Pro. I went to a restaurant to eat and took all four devices with me to my table. I made sure all devices were on, camera, router, iPad, and MacBook Pro and the transfer of photos to the iPad started. In less than 30-minutes all of the photos had transferred to the iPad. The transfer to the backup folder on the MacBook Pro was not as successful. Not all photos of the 1250 photos that were missing transferred during that 30-minutes. I checked the backup folder and noticed that SS Backup had finished, but that the missing files were not consecutive files. Sometimes two or three consecutive files were missing but I never observed more than three in a row that failed to transfer. The only way I was able to get all of the files to transfer to the backup folder was to perform a complete re-transfer, which took a long time. Apparently, the two apps do not perform like an FTP server/client by only copying files that are missing.

Here is what I think is happening. SS stops working during the hours of shooting and then never restarts automatically. If it does restart automatically, after the camera shuts down and restarts, then maybe that is how 600 of the photos I shot that day were successfully transferred. Or maybe it restarts only after I check the iPad by opening the cover to see if photos are transferring, and then stops again after the camera shuts down in 4 minutes. In any case, the app is not working as it should! I should be able to start the transfer process, go about my job of shooting the event, and have the confidence that at the end of the shoot I have all of the photos on the iPad. The photos are transferred fast enough so that all 1500 should be there by the end of the shoot. After all, 900 photos transferred in under 30-minutes at the restaurant. Perhaps the "Back Pack Mode" is the problem, because at the restaurant the iPad was open and displaying the collection as the photos were transferred. It was actually pretty cool to watch how quickly this happened while drinking a beer. In the field, the iPad was in the bag and only opened to check progress and battery level.

My plan is to have the Eye-Fi card in each of my cameras during a shoot, transfer photos to the iPad so that I can check things during the shoot, and have all of the photos backed-up to the MacBook Pro so that my editor can be choosing photos during the event. If I need to make app settings that I have not learned as yet, then please provide a tutorial or guidance on how to make these settings.

Steve

[TheBrew]

Hi Steve,

Very interesting.. Thanks for your in-depth info.

My bet would also be the Backpack Mode. The thing is, when you close the cover or turn off the screen, the iOS system is effectively sending the app into background mode (as if you exited to the Home screen). The app keeps on running, but is now viewed as a background-app by the system. This means, that if it, for any reason, needs more memory or feels that it'll clean up and kill apps that are using a lot of memory, it'll kill them. No questions asked. ..and there's no way around that.

But I'm just guessing.

On your next test, try double clicking the Home button and swipe to the right to the audio-/video controls screen - and turn the brightness all the way down, instead of entering Backpack Mode. Then go back to SS so it's the active app, and then put the iPad in your backpack without turning the screen off. If that works as it should, then we'll know it's the Backpack Mode messing things up. If you're up to it, I can try building a special version of SS for you, that logs what's going on, so perhaps we can find a better solution. (?)

Regarding Eye-Fi transfers - sending the files are totally up to the Eye-Fi card. ShutterSnitch does no polling to ask if there are any new photos, it just sits there, waiting for the card to send something. ....but if something goes wrong and iOS messes with the SS services, that could cut the "listening" abilities.

..and regarding ShutterSnitch Backup - again, if the listening ports are cut by the system, bad things happen. But let's look into that when ShutterSnitch is stable (after all, that's the app that I charge money for ;)

[MadDawgJ]

Steve,
For the issue of the photos going to the iPad, it is very likely that since you have pushed the Eye-Fi Card so far past it's intended purpose, and capabilities, that that is playing a part. 1500 photos in a period of 15 hours would still be more than the Eye-Fi was designed for and I would bet that your event was less than 15 hours long. Also keep in mind that unlike a wifi grip for the camera the Eye-Fi Cards do not truely transfer in the background, they only transfer when nothing else is going on, so while you are actually taking pictures the card shuts down all transfers to ensure that it captures the images. Once it sees that you are not taking pics then it will go back to trying to transfer the images. If there is a long enough shooting spree or time in between shooting then it leaves the network and starts it's whole hardware handshake dance all over with finding the iPad and ensuring it is authorized to receive the images.

I would highly recommend borrowing or renting (to decide if you want to buy) WFTs for the cameras to test out this setup. Eye-Fi Cards are designed to be used in digital point and shoot cameras in a home environment (think grandma snapping pics of the grandkids, or tweens posting to facebook) and what you are describing is so far past that, that you are pretty much guaranteeing that you will run into issues. I'm not saying it will never work, but it is not guaranteed to work, work reliably, or work consistently. As great as Eye-Fi Cards are, they have their limits and since they are not pro level equipment those limits are not really up to your challenge, so keep that in mind.

I'm going to set up a shooting setup similar to what you used to see if I can find out some more info for the Brew to look into.

[MadDawgJ]

I was able to start this transfer process on a collection, set the SS app into "Back Pack Mode" @ 5-hours, place the iPad3 into my camera bag, walk around taking pictures and check every now and then to see if the files were transferring to the iPad.

Steve,
How were you checking to see if the files were transferred? Backpack mode is only enabled when you see this screen (or turn off the screen after it):

If you exit backpack mode to view the files in the collection backpack mode is no longer enabled. You would need to go back to the setting and re-enable backpack mode, otherwise you would not be using backpack mode anymore.

[saklotzss]

Gentlemen,

Great feedback! I really appreciate it. I know I am pressing the Eye-Fi card to its limits, but that's what the test is all about. I had forgotten that the card stops sending photos until the shooting has finished. I have never payed attention to how long during the day of shooting the camera is not being used for shooting (idle time, but Eye-Fi card powered up and able to transfer files) versus the shooting time. My estimate is that there is more idle time than shooting time, since the shooting occurs in bursts with wait time between races. I am shooting a track meet. I have considered using the camera manufacturer's WFT accessory, but they are over $700 each and I have multiple cameras in use during an event. So, the Eye-Fi card seems a more economical solution, if it works! Also, the Eye-Fi card is 802.11n speed with a good connection and the WFT is only 802.11g speed. You are correct in stating that the Eye-Fi may have a longer reconnect time after the camera finishes writing to the card than the WFT would have. But they will both have to wait until the camera finishes.

I am a bit confused about "Back Pack Mode" controls or settings. MadDawgJ stated that this mode is exited and not automatically restarted when I open the case cover on the iPad to view the transfer progress. This could have been my problem over the weekend, since I do not remember that I restarted this mode every time I checked on progress and then placed the iPad back in the camera bag. I also recall that to restart "Back Pack Mode", I had to wait until transfers stopped before the drop down menu was available to make this choice. This could be an unfortunate limitation in my use scenario.

I will try what TheBrew suggested, to shoot with the app running with the iPad set to low display brightness and the auto lock set to NEVER and the cover lock set to OFF. This would avoid using the "Back Pack Mode" and keep the SS app active. At least I would find out if the 10-minute app shutdown is a factor or not. I have until June 20th to get this system working satisfactorily, since the USA Olympic Trials in Track & Field start then. I want to be ready to go for this most historic event!

Cheers!

Steve

[MadDawgJ]

Steve,

I am a bit confused about "Back Pack Mode" controls or settings. MadDawgJ stated that this mode is exited and not automatically restarted when I open the case cover on the iPad to view the transfer progress. This could have been my problem over the weekend, since I do not remember that I restarted this mode every time I checked on progress and then placed the iPad back in the camera bag.

Basically backpack mode is for setting it and forgetting it. While I completely understand the wanting to check that the images are there, I would bet that is where you ran into issues. You accidentally disabled backpack mode. That is actually good news, since it means that neither the card nor the iPad were worked to death, so your setup has a chance.

I also recall that to restart "Back Pack Mode", I had to wait until transfers stopped before the drop down menu was available to make this choice. This could be an unfortunate limitation in my use scenario.

It's a bit of a catch 22, but if you go into ShutterSnitch's settings and turn off "Status Messages" and "Rendering Indicator" then the menu will still be there so that you can re-enable backpack mode after checking that images are being recieved. The trade off is that it will no longer show that it is receiving images or rendering them. (They will just show up in the filmstrip). That will give you the ability to check that images are coming in, otherwise you would need to just let it do it's thing and may check in between events when there is time.

I have considered using the camera manufacturer's WFT accessory, but they are over $700 each and I have multiple cameras in use during an event. So, the Eye-Fi card seems a more economical solution,

I completely understand, but that is what rental companies are for. ;) There are plenty of times I will use the Eye-Fi, but for a big event, like the US Olympic Team, I call www.borrowlenses.com (there are others, including Adorama, but I've always used them and had great service). Plus you can pickup one of the outrageously expensive top end lenses for the event. Just some advice, if you feel the Eye-Fi is the best choice, by all means, go for it. If you are interested though, give Borrow Lenses or another rental place a call, since you would be getting a couple for all the cameras they may be willing to work out a deal with you better than their posted rates. Again, not trying to push you, just offering options to help you out.

Let us know if you have any questions, or need any help.

[saklotzss]

Good advice about using a rental place for the wireless adapters. I have rented bodies and lenses before, but had not considered renting the wireless adapter. I will check it out. Do any of you have an idea or a product that can extend the Macbook Pro's wireless range to a battery powered router in my pocket. I just received an Alpha AWUS036NHR USB wireless adapter which is supposed to extend the range of the laptop's wireless connection. Unfortunately, it sets up it's own wireless connection point (different from the Airport native to the Macbook Pro) and I have not been able to figure out how to get SS Backup to work through its connection. Maybe I have to install SS Backup with the Airport card in the laptop turned off?

Cheers!

Steve

[MadDawgJ]

I'd look for a portable router with greater signal range, possible one of the Cradlepoints, but I haven't used a setup like you are trying with the laptop back at "base" receiving the images without being someplace I could set up routers and a mesh network. Will it be possible to set the router half way between you and the laptop so you get optimum range?