Pure Contempt

[Old_Geezer]

Not so much a question, more of an experience and warning, that I feel deserves more than being lost in Chatterbank. Business issue, so in the Business forum.

Some while back I decided to buy an Internet radio. I opted for the Pure Evoke Flow. On receipt I discovered it had this ridiculous system of having to go via the Pure servers to get to the stations. Incensed, I phoned up and complained that this wasn't mentioned in the ads, it allowed them to monitor what listened to, and on top of that, if they went out of business it'd become useless. I was assured there was no chance of them going out of business. The call was hardly satisfactory but I felt I'd little choice/control over the trick pulled on me. I would never have bought it had I known they were that sort of company but resigned myself to the situation.

I used it for a bit, not that often. A few times. Sited it on the living room window sill. Then just a couple of days ago I realised I'd not used it for absolutely ages, and resolved to do so more often. So I tried to use it, but the display took ages to come up and eventually said it couldn't connect. Too much to do, I simply unplugged it intending to recheck elsewhere when I'd more time.

I've just tried it again and it again failed to connect with the same error message saying I should visit a particular webpage. There I discover that the company changed ownership last year and the new owners deliberately made bricks of the customers' radios by maliciously switching off the server, and having the gall to tell folk they can still use apps. And to rub salt on an open wound, thanking us for our PATIENCE !!!!!

Unsure what else to say except to advise folk never to buy from a company of complete scumbags. Not saying the one above is of course, but folk may draw their own conclusions. I know that I have.

[dannyk13]

OG, A call to Trading Standards seems the way to go.

[sunny-dave]

Are you sure your radio has the current software?

I had to update my Evoke earlier this year to enable connection to Pure Connect

https://support-uk.pure.com/en/kb/articles/your-evoke-flow-avanti-flow-oasis-flow-or-siesta-flow-is-unable-to-connect-to-pure-connect

[Old_Geezer]

Unlikely but I'm trusting what the company tells me. If a software update is possible and all that's needed then the onus is on them to say so.

http://support-uk.pure.com/en/kb/articles/important-update-from-12th-june-pure-connect-will-only-be-accessible-via-android-and-ios-apps

[Old_Geezer]

Tried it, using the settings/upgrade instructions. it still says unable to connect, as it would if the server is off. I'll have to find a cable and try the download to PC sometime. Nothing to lose. Cheers.

[IJKLM]

I have a couple of evoke flow radios. They're fine. Evoke Flow F3.

Happy to offer tech support, if you want it.

The reason for using the Pure servers is that there are very many internet stations out there, many of which use different streaming formats. Pure aims to make it easy to access them simply by using the tuning dial.

I have another internet radio on my media Amp (a Yamaha) which has an even more complex system, requiring an account with some other internet radio system - vTuner, I think.

The Pure does sometimes take a while to connect to my wifi, and occasionally just freezes, but in general, I like it very much

[Old_Geezer]

Thanks, but the issue isn't with the WiFi but their server. They explicitly say that they have turned off the PC server. I'll try the download thing when I can but if you have futher info anything gratefully received.

(Unconvinced one had to put a Pure server in line. Would much rather just support the main dominant formats than put up with going through the supplier's system first.)

[Old_Geezer]

USB to USB mini lead finally arrived. Gave the upgrade a try, and I now see & hear stations ! Thanks S-D. What puzzles me now is why the company would direct me to a page saying, effectively, tough, the server's been switched off, when they should have directed folk to the upgrade page.

Still; a win today :-)