SS6 Pro, Android 8.1
App is unusable. I've tried all of the suggested tricks;
changing notification settings/force stop and run again/uninstall reinstall etc.
Nothing works. Always stuck at the "xx data files downloading" popup
why have devs not solved this? there have been so many complaints, but no solution.
complete waste of money for £17.99
We have a beta coming out that we believe fixes this issue.
Please apply for the beta in Google Play.
I am having the same trouble, on my Revvlry phone and my Nexus 7 tablet.
Starsense Explorer had the same behavior.
After many reinstalls and turning off notifications, SSE and SS 6 are working on my Revvelry.
For the Nexus 7, I got the Beta version, in addition to reinstalling and turning off notifications repeatedly. It is still malfunctioning.
For the future, could we have the option to postpone an update? For a user at a site without good internet access, a mandatory update could make SkySafari could be unusable.
Thank you for your help.
John
Via Google Play Store (on your device) please join the open beta, download and install the latest 6.8.6.14 update and let us know if that resolves the issues.
Pro 6.8.6.14 is available now.
Plus 6.8.6.14 will be available later tonight, or tomorrow morning.
Disabling updates can be done via Google Play Store settings:
https://support.oppo.com/en/answer/?aid=neu9367
Thanks for your patience.
On my Nexus 7, I uninstalled SS 6 pro, then I went to the Google Play Store and turned off automatic updates.
Next, I installed version 6.8.6.14 and then blocked notifications.
Then, I opened SS 6 Pro, and found that the repeating downloads are still happening.
My device uses Android version 6.0.1, if this helps.
Thanks again,
John
re:
Keiron Smith December 14, 2021 18:58We have a beta coming out that we believe fixes this issue.
Please apply for the beta in Google Play.
Sorry, but I do not accept this as an answer. This is a fairly widespread problem with this piece of software - a curory glance at google search proves this. Your repsonse would be reasonable - had the software been free, but this is a paid-for application - and a not "cheap" one at that. This problem has existed for months. £18 to junk my tablet? thanks a lot for that.
Apologies, Brenski, the issue has been challenging!
However, the latest beta 6.8.6.14 should resolve the issue.
Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Hello, my name is Isaac, and since the month of December, I've been having issues with Sky Safari Pro 6 Mobile Version. Every time I open the application, it keeps saying "14 files downloading" or something like that. This has been happening for weeks now, and the issue still remains. I have unistalled the software and then reinstalled it several times, but the issue still remains. I read in this forum that we have to "apply for the Beta version on the Google Play", but I have no idea what that even means. Where in Google Play do you "apply" for the Beta version? I need someone to provide me a step-by-step process.
By the way, the most recent time I tried unistalling and reinstalling Sky Safari Pro 6 Mobile Version was on December 26th, and the problem still remains.
Start up Google play.
Search for SkySafari 6 Pro, NOT SkySafari 7 Pro! I think the SS7 link is a bookmark for the upcoming SS7 beta.
Go to the SS6 Pro page.
Start at the top and read the entire page until you find the section on applying to be a beta tester. Click on the link provided. I can no longer see that as I am already a beta tester. Wait for approval which may take anywhere from minutes to hours to days. I no longer recall how long it took, but would expect that it will take some time.
Once you have been approved (email notification iirc), go back to that same page on Google Play (SS6 Pro) which will now have a title of SkySafari 6 Pro (Beta) and install the beta - 6.8.6.14 currently.
Thanks for the help. I was able to do what you say, but after downloading the Beta version, it still shows that "14 data files are downloading", so the issue still remains.
Did you shut off SS6 notifications? Did you completely uninstall SS6, not just exit from it, completely shut down your tablet then power up again, then install the SS6 beta? Did you check to ensure which version was running (look in SS6 help)? I have no clear recollection of all the steps I took since I try out all sorts of things to get things to run, but in particular doing some or all the above may have helped. That is the sequence I followed. Your turn. Try it all. Take note of what you have done, in which sequence, etc, then post what worked here.
When uninstalling the old version of SS6, are any files left over which prevent a clean new installation?
I've done every possible thing, and the issue still remains. I've completely uninstalled Sky Safari Pro 6 and installed the Beta Version. When I opened the App, it said "14 data files downloading." I've exited and reoppened the app several times, and each time, the number of data files being downloaded have decreased. Yesterday, on December 26th, it went all the way down to 7 data files. I thought by today it would say "2 data files downloading", but it still says "7 data files downloading." It's like it's frozen or something because nothing is being downloaded at all. It still says 0%.
I think the app is broken. I installed this app early last year and had no issues with it whatsoever. Since January of this year, I've been having issues with this app. The issue I'm currently having is the worst one because I can't use the app at all until all the data files have been downloaded, which, obviously, will never happen. I may just have to throw in the towel and go with another astronomical software. I really loved Sky Safari Pro 6 in the beginning, but I can't rely on it anymore, unfortunately.
Try this:
Sorry for all the hoop-jumping.
It won't let me rename it. The only thing I can do is delete it
I also found that the "SkySafari 6 Pro" directory can't be renamed, so I deleted it. (I am assuming that my user data is stored on Livesky.). I then reinstalled, blocked notifications, and opened the app. The continuous download happened again.
Which application did you use to look at the filesystem? Reinstalled which version? Did you do a complete power down and restart of the device after deleting, not just the quick restart/sleep-wake? If you cannot get the app to run, you might have to get into Android's settings and then find out how to get into the Apps area. Once you find SkySafari 6 there, some information located within may indicate which version is installed. If it isn't the beta then you are not installing the beta version. The process can unfortunately be a bit convoluted and may be different for different makes and versions of devices. Google, some reading, and some patience is definitely your friend when delving into the not-so-well-known upper levels of the guts of the O/S.
I bought SkySafari 6 Plus about 12 months ago and it initially worked well. Today (first time I have used it for a while) I ran into this annoying problem completely stopping me from using the program. When will a proper working version be issued? ('plus' not 'Pro' in my case.)
I really don't wish to get involved in beta testing programs mentioned above. I merely wish to use a program that I bought that used to work!
@Colin Newell - couldn't agree more. Why is it not possible for the dev to focus on the problems with the paid versions of the software - rather than telling people their only option is the beta program?
just a suggestion, if - as many have said - the app worked fine before these "updates" started autogenerating, and - if the dev wrote the application himself - he must have the original code - how difficult is it for the original coder to remove the lines of code that trigger updates and then re-upload a revised app?
actually show some consideration for the purchaser - rather than rendering the buyer an involuntary guinneapig?
The beta version is used to test the fixes before they are rolled out to the public release.
If the beta does not fix the issue another beta can be built and tested.
When a demonstrable fix has been confirmed in the beta we can roll it out to everyone.
The issue discussed here is not experienced by everyone. So, those who are affected are invited to test the beta.
If you don't want to test the beta you can wait for the public release. But, this does not really help get us closer to our goal. We are not moving to the public release until we have confirmed the beta works.
The issue discussed here it not so easy to resolve, otherwise, the developers who have invested many, many. hours (nights and weekends), would have it fixed by now.
We are doing the best we can.
If you have run out of patience I can issue a refund for your purchase of SkySafari. That solves all problems certainly.
If anyone wants the refund please let me know now.
Thanks!
or - just maybe listen and action the requests of users.
It (surely) can't be difficult to disable the code that triggers the updates? let people have the working (but not updating) version of the app - until you resolve the issues? the update scripts are causing the problem - so remove them. simple.
also, you say: "The issue discussed here is not experienced by everyone. "
Please explain why that somehow renders the issue less important. A quick google search indicates hundreds of users experiencing this exact fault.
As the dev is unwilling/unable to simply resolve the initial code - to remove all update scripts, then it's pointless trying to dicuss this further.
I'm out of this discussion now.
When SkySafari is installed there is an initial app download, followed by further data.
Disabling the download will break the app.
What I wrote was "The issue discussed here is not experienced by everyone. So, those who are affected are invited to test the beta."
Nothing in the line above minimizes the issue.
The number of hours invested by the developers speaks to our commitment to the issue.
There is no unwillingness to do anything.
Obviously, we are unable to completely resolve the issue up until this point - some users found success with this latest beta, though you have not.
But our team is very, very smart, and we will find the solution one way or another.
Thanks for your patience at this time.
Thanks to all previous posters for giving me some ideas and providing me hope. I also struggled repeatedly trying to get SS6 Pro (non Beta) past the file downloading message. The Beta version seemed to be no better although eventually I achieved success. I was attempting the install on a Nexus 7 2013 Android version 6.0.1. I uninstalled SS6, powered down, powered back up, downloaded the Beta version, closed down the Play Store app, opened up setting / apps / SS6, blocked notifications, enabled permissions location and storage, closed out settings and then opened SS6.
At this point one needs to be VERY patient. I let the install run until I got repeated download errors then closed out the app (back arrow / exit), canceled the file download from android's download notification, powered off, powered on and opened SS6. Each 15 to 30 minute cycle seemed to advance the download progress to fewer files. With 1 file to go it took 3 or 4l cycles to complete. I actually let the 1 file cycle run overnight and tried again in the morning. All total, it took 6 or 7 cycles.
I also tried installing the app on an old Motorola Druid phone Android Version 7.0 . I paid much less attention to the install and only cycled it once. or twice. It worked.
I think it's obvious to conclude that the beta version of SS6 is not yet ready for the masses but once/if it loads....nirvana .
Best of luck although I not sure why luck should have anything to do with it.
Keiron,
Thank you for your work. This must be a stubborn problem.
Do you have any progress updates for us?
John
For anyone who has not tried this yet...
Note, when you join the beta you will have to wait for a few hours before the 6.8.6.14 beta is available to you.
If the above process does not resolve the issue for you please reply here stating as much, with your device make and mode and Android OS version.
We will release another beta for testing shortly.
Thanks for your patience..
Keiron,
I followed the directions you gave us today. I did the quit & restart cycle 5 times, and still have the download issue.
I keep getting a notification: "Retrying SolarSystem_skydat after transf..." I think I got it in the past, but not so often.
Device: Nexus 7 (a tablet), Android version: 6.0.1
John
Keiron,
On my Nexus 7, I have SkySafari Plus, in addition to Pro. Plus is working fine.
I removed it and reinstalled it without any trouble, so I will use Plus for now.
For Pro users who are waiting for a fix, perhaps you could give them a free license for Plus. As far as I can tell, it can fill 99% of the needs of amateurs.
John
"For Pro users who are waiting for a fix, perhaps you could give them a free license for Plus. As far as I can tell, it can fill 99% of the needs of amateurs."
The problem also occurs, in some cases, on SkySafari Plus. I have SkySafari 6 Plus installed on 2 android devices, and both of them exhibit the same problem with downloading/installing of data files.
Note: my requirements for SS are rather simple, and the features requiring these large data files (e.g. databases of millions of objects) are irrelevant to me. If there was a configuration option to select a basic version that did not require such files, that is all I would use!
Regards,
Colin
I am disappointed that this problem has gone on so long.
I am pleased to report the latest Beta version of SkySafari Plus fixes the problem. I installed it about 2 weeks ago (around mid Feb 2022), and it works correctly. Big relief for me!
p.s. I have turned automatic updates off for the time being. I can't risk the app being broken again.
