Apologies in advance for length of comments. I am really happy to have the V2 SC, and simultaneously concerned on a number of points.
Not only do we need reboot, we need a way to get into Android Recovery Screen. This is the only way I am aware of to wipe the cache partition, a standard Android maintenance item. Unless the "Maxitools App has a way - it looks like a logging app for troubleshooting so I doubt it. There's also "Maxidas" on there - an automotive scanner app borrowed from Autel Automotive. WTF? There is no purpose to it that I can fathom, other than perhaps testing or development, but again, I doubt it.
For a purpose built machine with embedded Android, they made either some weird choices or did not have the Android Development skills to remove CAMERA options from menus, folders for music, movies and photos aren't a big deal. but seriously; some stuff is just odd.
I don't want to root it (yet) but would like a line to development to ask about things like Android Recovery, and the following SAFETY ISSUE. I seriously just want to be able to maintain performance when it gets laggy with methods beside a full wipe/factory reset. Also how about the option to RUN the Beta FW/Autel Explorer that's on the site for download. There's:
V2.1.61 (Smart Controller) - On the download page. Yet we have no manual method to install it, and the SC will only install what is staged to it correctly by Autel. I know where the update folder is and how the FW gets unzipped into a sub folder. I tried it and no joy. It may be a need to rename it using the naming convention they use for updates. I am not pushing too hard, since even if I GET the FW to install, I can't install Autel Explorer App that is advised to use with it:
Android 1.1.7.93 09/27/2021
This is kind of lame. I get Autel is a small company, its new products, blah blah blah. And I absolutely HATE to make comparisons to "THAT drone maker" - since they are far from perfect. But this community is a mix of highly knowledgeable tech geeks, and complete neophytes who just want to fly drones and everything in between. It wouldn't be so bad if those wishing to understand the Smart Controller and use it beyond just running Autel Explorer MINUS buttons and some info that the standard controller provides on the OLED Screen. A forum member asked why I want to use it as a tablet, and said he just controls the drone with AE, then pulls the SD Card and puts the collected video, photo content on his PC. And that's cool, if that's all he needs. I believe that if you pay top dollar, you may expect more than a beautiful display, nice feeling controls and solid build. Some functionality BEYOND the standard controller seems reasonable. Perhaps those things are coming. As of now, we don't even have the Time Shift Feature (pre-record video option) or sync photos to device (HD photo auto-sync feature)
The SC is marketed as the high end way to control your Autel
Evo 2 Series drone, and packaged with Enterprise Kits for commercial use. When everyone was getting excited about Nano, Nano + and the
Lite Series, I was feeling the pain about to ensue for these new(ish) products. I almost returned my V2 E2P and V2 SC for an Enterprise. I am a sucker for Carbon Fiber - who isn't, lol?
Autel has illustrated difficulty managing ONE drone series in the past, and been slow (but steady, I have to say) to develop the products once available. How will it be with FOUR new Drones releasing, for our cherished and long awaited Smart Controllers? I don't want to be Mr. Negativity, and I am an optimist at heart. But I worry about these things.
I would like to think Autel setup one of the 6 buttons (C1/C2, Record, Shutter, Home or Pause) + Power to do so, but then again, they forgot to give us a takeoff/Land button so who knows. Also the 3 second time to initiate pause/emergency with the pause button is really bad. On the standard controller and just about every drone out there "Pause" button will stop autonomous actions and motion in general by braking, hard. Three seconds, as I have told Autel, is an eternity when your drone is about to land in the water, or hit an unsuspecting person. Come ON Autel. This is a safety issue.
