I am often angered by companies who rush products to market before carrying out sufficient quality checks, or software developers charging a fortune for software packages or Apps and expecting their paying customers to feedback the bugs and issues as unpaid testers. I’m further frustrated when I ready forums and support chats where the end consumer say’s “Thanks” when they are giving the convoluted mega complex software edits they need to make to make the damn thing work.
Drift cameras’ are one such headache I’ve suffered.
The consumer is getting fed up with shoddy material, poor quality, unsafe products, bad service, weak warranties, lack of adequate information — the whole gamut of such problems.
When building my kit for a 3 months bicycle tour from Sweden to the UK, I procrastinated over which new camera system I would invest in to Vlog the trip.
After much research, I opted for the latest GoPro Hero5 action cam. I purchased two of them, a Rhode Mic, numerous cables and mounting kits and a collection of spare batteries. “Buyers Remorse” wasn’t quite instant, but like a malignant tumor, it grew steadily and gnawed away at my very being. It transpired that the Bug ridden camera’s were barely fit for purpose and I can’t say I shed many tears when thieving gits stole them in Brussels.
So What’s The Issue
Once again I find myself on the search for a camera that’s fit for purpose. My favourite Moto Vloggers appears to be happy with their Drift products, and there are enough of them on Youtube. I dug deep and purchased a new Drift Ghost 4+Plus, a Drift Ghost XL, a bigger battery, a remote control (which doesn’t work with either), and a collection of mounts.
Their website’s marketing ensured anyone who visited would be salivating at the promise of such innovations, alas, their marketing was the usual Glossy Bullshit we all expect.
I think Bill Hicks sums up marketing beautifully.
Ahh, old Bill, I do miss him.
Bear with me whilst I digress and honour my fallen idols. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock or working 8 days a week, 27 hours a day to pay off your collection of Apple products, let me acquaint you with another legend of why this world is Fubar. Ladies and Gentlemen, for your pleasure and entertainment, I give you……….
The biggest problem I first encountered was the fact that there is/was no App for Android. All the bunf and blurb said there was, but alas not. I haven’t been able to establish when the App was removed, but It was a few weeks before it made a miraculous reappearance.
Could it have been my relentless hounding of Drift Innovations by Twitter that made a difference?
Could it have been my relentless hounding of Drift Innovations by Facebook that made a difference?
Could it have been my relentless hounding of Drift Innovations by commenting on every Drift Youtube video I could find that made a difference?
I know not, but I am looking forward to testing it’s features and reliability. I’ve already found that with the latest frmware installed, the Drift XL and 4K+ refuse to obey the Master/Slave relationship to get the one touch record working on both cameras simultaneously.
It worked once, but no longer plays nice with the other children. Watch this space for an update!
