Author Topic: Blynk?  (Read 13810 times)

defragster

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Re: Blynk?
« Reply #15 on: March 27, 2016, 12:13:32 am »
exeng - those are questions you might get/see answered on the Blynk Community board - or by email to the folks at Blynk - I clicked the EMAIL on my phone and got a prompt response - if only to my KS question.

Looking at your example exeng I was HAPPY to see the usability of BLYNK - thanks for showing it work in advance of the official support - thinking it might offer advantages over Particle (or with Particle), then I was SAD when I saw the ENERGY demands - then I was HAPPY I bought the BLYNK Widgets in the OAK KickStarter.

I could go create a project and try adding widgets - but my observed behavior might be influenced by my 'account type', and I have not done that yet - so I can't say if there is a single charge for the project - or for each added widget - or what widgets are usable.

Your existing projects should keep working - just don't recycle them! I don't know what you'll see on changing them. I suspect they will be updating their policy as best they can to accommodate the (-) feedback they are getting.

I know I created a SECOND account - it got 2,000 ENERGY to start - and I could not use my KS QR a second time - so the QR code is one time coded. If you create a second account - you might try a project there and see how far you get adding widgets and see if they take ENERGY, without harming your main account and existing work as their policy changes play out.

<edit>:
Confirmed - I am charged 100 to 900 ENERGY to add each widget to my project (0 for Twitter).  The problem [noted on the Community] is you are charged to add it - even if you then find you want to remove it during development.  This seems like the thing that 'should' be changed - if you add and never use a widget because (wrong type or whatever) - but that is a discussion for the Blynk Community to discuss/resolve.

Another question relates 'LINKED' projects - that costs 1,000 units to share - it can be viewed and used but not edited - I assumed there is no ENERGY cost to the viewer of the linked Project. So I can't create a project (to my hardware) and share it with a post here - I'd have to do it through the APP.  I assume I could let others CLONE it for their own use - but then they'd have to put ENERGY into it I'd suppose to activate all the elements with nothing free of ENERGY cost somewhere. Again more for the Blynk Community ...
« Last Edit: March 27, 2016, 12:39:32 am by defragster »

exeng

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Re: Blynk?
« Reply #16 on: March 27, 2016, 09:19:12 am »
defragster - Thanks for the update on your Blynk energy experience. I did look at the community boards and there seems to be plenty of feedback to Blynk on energy usage and proposed ways to make it more friendly and fair. Good suggestion on creating a second account to try the pay for model. On my existing apps, it seems they still work but I am definitely not able to change them. I can, but the additions simply disappear anytime your device is accessed or drops out and comes back. Wished I had finalized the app beforehand as I want to add more buttons to increase the number of digits in the access code example I posted on another thread. This certainly speaks of the need to be able to experiment and play (develop) at minimal cost until an App design is settled.

Sounds like Blynk energy usage may evolve so before I turn over the $$, I like to see a well documented usage model from Blynk and have some confidence that it is going to be fair and flexible.

Thanks,
exeng