I have helped two friends with installing the AhaHalo app on their Mac devices. One friend is not very computer savvy, the other one is very savvy.
For both installs, when installing the device driver, the pop up window saying it was ‘installing’ never went away.
For the non savvy person, I suggested a reboot, and that solved the problem and the AhaHalo app worked find.
For the savvy person, he googled and did a screen share to show me a pop up that had two buttons, one was an OK button. I don’t remember the other one, but the other button, when pressed, had a toggle switch. When that was toggled, the window went away and the app was downloaded successfully.
I suggest we need some additional download instructions for Mac users. Neither of the two installs I was involved in should have had the moment of: What should I do?
Do you know the MacOS versions on these computers? Knowing this will help narrow down the cause of the problems. Even better would be screenshots or details of what the pop-up said, but it might be too late now.
I do not know the exact MacOS versions. For my tech friend, it is his work computer, and it has the current OS. For my non tech friends, it was a new Mac and the owner was still getting used to it. I think that means we can safely say both computers were fairly current on updates.
I did realize that my tech friend sent me the link that he found when he googled, The link is here Yes, a snapshot would have been good (we did a screen share so he could show me the pop up) but I was not thinking we were solving a larger problem at the time. Only afterwards, when I wondered if the AhaHarmony website had any install help instructions, did I decide to post to the Forum.
With my non-tech friends, we were only on a phone call and we are on opposite sides of the US, so I had to go with what I was told. For them, they said there was an “Installing” pop up that never went away. Since I know often a restart does many good things, I had them restart the machine and then everything worked. With my techie friend, we were on a Zoom call together so restarting would have been very annoying. But he knows to google and work with what he finds, so he found the solution that did not need a reboot.
I could break out my Mac that has been sitting unused since I lost my software engineering job last year, and maybe get the desired screenshot while trying to install (after I get the machine back up to current updates).
As much as I like the AhaHalo (seven referrals and counting), the install process still concerns me with my less computer literate friends. I had not realized my non tech friends were on Macs, so that was a first when I was walking them through their install. I had just wanted to help nudge them into getting the full use of the AhaHalo and knew having a tech backup while they installed would be a help.
Interesting, all my devices are Mac, and I’m running the current OS. I never experienced the pop-up situation you describe. I also assist Mac users so will keep an eye out for any occurrence. I’m always pleased that FINALLY, SW like this runs on a Mac!
I am sure this is only a ‘the first time you install’ type of problem, since this is some Driver that the AhaHarmony app seems to use. If the driver was already installed for some reason (which was not the case in my two known situations), this would not be an issue.
With the Mantra of “Remember your Target Audience”, I assume this application is geared to be appealing to the Non Technical, which is why I raised the issue. But, again, even my friend who is an experienced Mac user had to do research to get passed it.
In my experience, it is hard for programmers/tech folks to realize that not everyone we deal with is comfortable with, or maybe familiar with, how to solve these kinds of issues.
No driver was needed to be installed for Mac. Even though initial installation came with a folder containing a driver, I did not install it. All installed perfectly fine. Windows folks are very used to installing drivers for lots of software, whereas on Macs it is not needed, although I am stating this for newer versions of the OS. Very old (and I mean VERY) might be different.
So, it sounds like the driver can be removed from the installation package for MacOS, which would be even better, if it is not needed. I recall my techie friend commenting on the age of the driver but I did not get the sense there was a choice on whether to install the driver or not.
Again, the target audience is supposed to not need to be very computer/OS literate.
Excuses for the technical explanation, but I wanted to share some insight from my work with VCP drivers in the print industry:
halo uses a VCP chip for communication, a Virtual Com Port interface that makes it possible to communicate with it like an (old style) serial device. Both on modern and maintained macOS and Windows installations, a VCP driver should be included by default with no need for additional installation. But as always, so is the theory and there can be exceptions to this rule.
The Silicon Labs VCP drivers for Mac that are included in the DMG have just been updated on the supplier’s site, just like macOS, and it looks like while it would not have hurt to install the supplied version with previous macOS builds (it simply would not install anything if a compatible system driver was found), this installation process now is unstable (or was so for a longer time on some systems).
tl;dr:
I am pretty sure John and his team will include the updated drivers soon and find a way to make clear you only should install them if halo cannot be found after app installation (and maybe a system restart if the port should have been blocked).
I think they don’t have enough experience with Macs to realize drivers are not needed-that’s so Windows. Even though in the install package I saw the driver, I just never installed it.
Thanks for the extra details! We will use a later driver version for the next installer.
Most Macs don’t need a driver installed. It is already in the more recent versions of MacOS. I think we should add words to this effect in the installer.
Sorry to hear you lost your programming job. It’s going to get worse .. AI will see to that. Have you found a new job?
Yes, please on the driver updates. If the driver install is unnecessary, let it be skipped. If it has to be installed, do they need a restart? Do something else?
My goal is to make the AhaHalo available and not intimidating for the non tech folks! I know testing the “First Install Ever” test case can be challenging after the first iteration, but when I have recommended the AhaHalo, I don’t want to assume I need to be their tech support after every purchase and possibly with database upgrades. Not because I don’t want to help, I just don’t believe that was the intention with the app.
Even on the Windows side, I have noticed that the “there is an update” screen can overlay another window that might be saying there is no AhaHalo attached. The ‘No AhaHalo’ window seems to have focus, but is under the update screen, so the app appears to be locked. up. I was thrilled with the Brad Johnson training, where he went through the database update steps. Then I noticed the process was changed in a subsequent upgrade. Once the app is stable, things can smooth out and the training can be more complete.
As for my programming job, yes, it is going to get worse. I am fortunate in that I had the option to retire. I still wanted to work but the concept of having to go through coding tests, some of which companies expect many hours of effort, just to prove that I was able to actually write code, was more than I wanted to deal with.
I have been spending my days working with Spooky2, since I bought at least one of almost everything in the Spooky2/HeaWea/MiraMate product line after our last US election. I have been working with animals with mixed results. humans, which has its own challenges, and collecting success stories with Imprinted materials. (I hate to say imprinted holographic stickers because there are so many more media to imprint than just stickers.)
Thanks for the continuing improvements on the AhaHalo!