jackiescivic
Diamond Member
Okay, silly question time. I've seen the term soak used quite often, but what exactly is it? I assume it is like beta testing? Also, how does one get chosen for this?
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Predict ICS landing date thread!
- Thread starter LoneWolfArcher
- Start date
georgeo18yal
Member
jackiescivic said:
Yes, it is beta testing for an update. Usually it is held within a week to a month before the update is released. Soak testing is basically sending out the update to a very small percentage of the people who are registered for it and said people will have the update and can send back information to Motorola or whoever is putting it out. To register for Motorola's soak tests, you have to go to Motorola's website, create an account there and register your phone to be available for beta testing.
lovemyram4x4
Member
georgeo18yal said:
And join Motorola feedback network(MFN) by clicking on yes to participate. All info is right on the front page of the Motorola owners forum.
As to is soak being a beta test, technically it is not as beta testing is done in house. Soak test is more of a shake down of the RC in real world conditions to see if issues pop up for installs/normal usage on devices that have varied installed apps and usage patterns. It also provides for feedback what people like or don't like. From what happens in the soak test they then decide to release or make more changes.
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lovemyram4x4
Member
Ansa82 said:
I only joined prior to the only soak test that has happened since I've been part of the Motorola Droid family and I was chosen to participate. I'm not sure how they choose, I've some that have been in every single one for their devices, some that never got picked and everything between. I think that if the number of volunteers for a given device is low your chances are higher. It's also been heard of people that haven't opted in to participate receiving the soak test, but that could just be due to an improperly enter IMEI that just happened to match someone else's.
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It depends on a variety of things, such as your amount of participation in giving feedback for the soak tests you've been a part of as well as random chance.
orangechoochoo
Active Member
When you're done with the soak test is there a way to go back to GB?
jackiescivic
Diamond Member
Thanks so much for the info! I've already registered my device, so that's a good start 
georgeo18yal
Member
orangechoochoo said:
I believe Motorola confirmed that when the official ICS update comes out, you will not be able to revert back to GB after you update.
orangechoochoo
Active Member
So those who participate in the soak tests will be stuck on the leaks when the OTA comes out? I know there is the unstick method (which I've used), but what are the soak testers officially supposed to do?
Also, when they do the soak tests are they able to go from leak to leak?
I'm just trying to figure out how this is officially done through Motorola because it may be useful to us.
orangechoochoo
Active Member
So they don't use the leaks?
No. Moto sends them/us the update via our IMEI number. And if its approved it then goes out to everybody else. It usually only takes a few days. That's what makes me wonder what's going.on with the bionic soak.. they must've hit a snag or I think it'd be rolling out.
DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!
DROID RAZR MAXXIMIZED!!!! PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED!!!
orangechoochoo
Active Member
Got it, thanks!
So the soaktest builds are sent OTA to the testers' phones. I suppose it has the official file name so that when the finalized version of the OTA ICS comes out it can install it over the soaktest version since it will think it's installing over itself, compared to flashing a leak and Unsticking it so we can install a newer version of the leak.
lovemyram4x4
Member
orangechoochoo said:
The soak test will be any official build not a leak, granted a leak could be the official build as it was with .181 last time. Motorola doesn't support any sort of user tampering so they won't having flash anything that isn't pushed as an OTA.
If they were to find something wrong that required correction before final release they'd likely have soak testers wait for the update build and push it them. That's why it's voluntary to be in the soak test as it's possible the build could have issues & in the case like this next update Motorola is the only one that could put your phone back, so dealing with a potential bug if it occurred IMHO until a fix is made is easier for all parties involved.
If they find the build is up to standards(no issues or issues are considered minor enough) they push the update to everyone else & soak tester will already be on it.
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