The Firefly 2 vaporizer

[mitchgo61]

Well I'm glad you told us!

There are two kinds of vapes in this life of ours....the ones we buy, and the ones we don't. Every vape you don't buy has some kind of "deal breaker"....price, features, looks, whatever. Twas ever thus.

FWIW I did tell FF that some folks would balk at app control vs local control....I would guess like all smart biz folk they made a trade-off between the upside and downside of this feature. I personally had reservations about the app....one of the things I liked about the Mighty over the Crafty was local temp control.

But purely IMO...the FF2 works so well and so easily that at this point I could give a rat's ass about the app control. The other features are such a huge improvement that changing settings via my phone (which is always on me anyway) is a teeny price to pay. Everyone's mileage will vary, naturally....but me, I can't wait to shell out for a production model.

 

[smutman]

But purely IMO...the FF2 works so well and so easily that at this point I could give a rat's ass about the app control. The other features are such a huge improvement that changing settings via my phone (which is always on me anyway) is a teeny price to pay. Everyone's mileage will vary, naturally....but me, I can't wait to shell out for a production model.

People complaining about an app just complain to hear they're head rattle as my grandpa used to say. I'll dig the app just like I dig the one for the Crafty.

 

[RobDaBomb]

Just because something CAN be done, doesn't necessarily mean it SHOULD be done. Using an app sounds like a nuisance, unless one settles in at their "best" temperature. I, for one, prefer lower temps in the daytime, and higher at night. Aside from that, which I could probably live with, @mitchgo61 has me very interested in the FF2.

But, come on, Firefly, you know you'll sell more units if you add direct temperature control. If you can, you should.

I feel the same way. I love my Firefly so very much, and it's by far my favorite vaporizer - but I'm seeing a lot of things I don't really think are needed for the second generation. Don't get me wrong! I'll still most likely buy it (but definitely not for full price on launch day now), use it, and love it!! But I really dislike my Crafty for the constant bluetooth connection it's trying to establish, thus wasting battery, and the pain of needing to pull out my phone to change temperatures. At least with the Crafty I can preset a temperature to change to when I double click the button... why can't this be done with the Firefly?

Just make it so one click is Heat Level 1, two clicks is 2, and so on...

So far I'm just seeing it as a battery wasting nuisance. We could easily have one [or both somehow] of the buttons control temp (or at least make this a programmable option via the app) and then have the LED light flash/change color to signify our temp changes. It really shouldn't be hard to program after the fact, or just switch circuit boards before the official release.

Also I have to say I'm not a fan of the no lock switch/power switch. It really doesn't need a POWER switch - but I think at least a switch that locks the device from being able to be turned on by button presses would be beneficial. A lock switch wouldn't waste battery, but it definitely could prevent people from accidentally turning the device on in their pocket or bag.

 

[hafalump]

So if I want to loan my buddy the vape for the weekend he needs to fuss with an app?
It seems counter intuitive. Vaping should be simple. You won't convert a combuster with bells and whistles.
Lighter, papers, works evey time.

 

[darkrom]

The app feature is a deal breaker for me. Looking like a zion.

Looking like BOTH brother! OHHHH YEAH.

But seriously I'm more excited for the zion because I can already tell its more powerful and better batteries, but you can't exactly take the zion everywhere. I don't know if I have anywhere in my car to store it when I'm cruising around. Its a big block of awesome. The firefly 2 while being its competitor in the sense of instant on convection, they are totally different beasts. I can throw a firefly 1 and a spare battery in one pocket and its not any significant bulk. The new one is 33% smaller and 50% lighter or something like that, so even better.

I think I'll use both regularly. Firefly when I'm going out for a little bit, zion when I'll be out for hours and hours and I'll need mucho juice-o.

Is that a zion in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Slow Draw McGraw]

So if I want to loan my buddy the vape for the weekend he needs to fuss with an app?

Well I mean, they don't design a Vape thinking you're going to lend it to your friend, more than any smarthpone company doesn't design it for you to lend it out. You're over thinking it man. You expressed this Vape will not work for you and that's ok.

 

[hackslasher]

If someone steals your vape.... Use app so won't heat up

 

[mitchgo61]

If someone steals your vape.... Use app so won't heat up

No, actually, it doesn't work that way. The app only changes heat settings. So separate the app and the vape and you are stuck on the last saved heat level. (However, as far as I can tell, all you have to do is download the app, it'll talk to the vape via BT, and you can connect and change settings.)

Well I mean, they don't design a Vape thinking you're going to lend it to your friend, more than any smarthpone company doesn't design it for you to lend it out. You're over thinking it man. You expressed this Vape will not work for you and that's ok.

Exactly. Different strokes.

So far I'm just seeing it as a battery wasting nuisance.

It's not wasting any battery life, from what I can tell. It isn't constantly pinging via BT, it connects when you open the app and change the setting. Given the reported battery life I don't think the BT is having a material effect on it. And honestly, the "med-high" setting appears to cover the full temp spectrum of FF1. So you could leave it on that setting, not worry about the app, and have an FF that works way better than your old beloved FF1 and still vapes at the same temps. It's really not that big of a deal, at least in my short experience with it.

I really think they envision the heat settings as something you'd play with and decide "that's my favorite temp range" and leave it there, for the most part. This may turn out to be a bad assumption on their part (I can go either way on this one personally). Be interesting to see the feedback once more folks get their hands on it. Obviously this is a heated issue, no pun intended.

Also I have to say I'm not a fan of the no lock switch/power switch. It really doesn't need a POWER switch - but I think at least a switch that locks the device from being able to be turned on by button presses would be beneficial. A lock switch wouldn't waste battery, but it definitely could prevent people from accidentally turning the device on in their pocket or bag.

The buttons won't activate in a bag....they require human touch. Even in your pocket, if configured to require both buttons, you'll never turn it on accidentally. (Though you might make the blue button light up for a second which, I guess, could impact battery life if you are doing it constantly.)

 

[iDRINKBLEACH]

I like the app idea if my buddy is using my vape and cant get vapor, because I go pretty low with my temps, I can raise it for him n wont have to teach them or interupt the sesh like with the pax and shaking it.

 

[virtualpurple]

I like the app idea if my buddy is using my vape and cant get vapor, because I go pretty low with my temps, I can raise it for him n wont have to teach them or interupt the sesh like with the pax and shaking it.

Or you can fuck with him and turn the temp way down on his hits if he's hogging the vape...

 

[KeroZen]

Complete deal-breaker for me too that app part, like it was for the Crafty. I'm gutted...

You introduce a setting but expect people to set it once and forget? Like many said before, if I got temp control, I want to use it all the time. I don't use the same temps the morning and the evening, or even depending on strain and situation.

If they got two buttons they can program them the way they want, they got no excuse, the thing is digital not analog.

Bummer, everything else looked amazing... It's like for the new 7th floor portable: everything looks good spare a little detail... that in the end turns to be paramount.

 

[darkrom]

Idk about you guys but I ALWAYS have my phone on me.

Do you like your firefly 1? No temp adjustment at all. Just leave the firefly 2 on max temp and release the "throttle" when you've had enough.

Or get something else if its a big deal. I get its dissapointing to some but realistically I bet the only time you change temps is to vape concentrates.

 

[RobDaBomb]

It's not wasting any battery life, from what I can tell. It isn't constantly pinging via BT, it connects when you open the app and change the setting.
...
The buttons won't activate in a bag....they require human touch. Even in your pocket, if configured to require both buttons, you'll never turn it on accidentally. (Though you might make the blue button light up for a second which, I guess, could impact battery life if you are doing it constantly.)

Well I'm sure if the battery is as good as they claim, I won't care much then either way. But I still prefer being able to do everything manually regardless - don't get me wrong, I'll adapt and love the Firefly 2 more than anything.

I am fine with my Firefly 1 only having one heat setting, so I probably won't mind keeping my 2 set at 400-420 throughout the day and just throttle the button accordingly. I'll get by without the app, but I still deep down wish there was some sort of lock switch. As I prefer using just one button for convenience and finger ease, it'll be a shame to have to keep the device set to use two buttons just so I don't need to worry about it going off in my pocket.

 

[Monged Monk]

Mitchgo61 does the herb vape evenly? I've heard the firefly 1 has to be stirred quite a lot. Any difference with ff2?

 

[delloy]

I was initially very interested in this vape, but the information given about the app being the only way to change temps, I think is pretty ridiculous! Why? Just makes it seem more complicated to use in my eyes and I don't want my phone to have anything to do with my vapes and I find it pretty pointless. Yes I carry my phone with me always but why should I need to dig around in pockets or bags to get to my phone just to change temps...its more hassle than necessary.

If this is and will be the only way to change temps they wont be receiving any of my hard earned cash regardless on how good it is

 

[mitchgo61]

Mitchgo61 does the herb vape evenly? I've heard the firefly 1 has to be stirred quite a lot. Any difference with ff2?

Probably buried in my long original "review" post, but no, it's got the same issue as the FF1. Since it's convection, you can get uneven cooking, or even charring/pyrolysis if you pack too tight and don't stir. (Not worse or different than any other convection vape, but not better, really, either.)

Two things...

1. Thanks to more (and smaller) holes in the bottom plate, the hot air distribution is a little more even than FF1...so it's a slight improvement over that version. Slight.
2. If you do a loose-ish pack, you have no issues with this. I've done several bowls with medium grind, and just a medium pack (fill the bowl 90% but don't pack it). And you still need to stir but this mitigates much of the problem....and it completely eliminates charring even on HIGH.

 

[jim-bob]

The app is really the least of my worries. I've had a crafty since day 1 and once I got my normal/boost temps dialed in it wasn't the kind of thing i wanted to play with all the time. Battery worries re:Bluetooth are kind of a moot point when we're talking about a device that heats to over 400F instantly, y'know? A little trickle of data's not going to make much difference to that kind of power reserve.

What does worry me, however, is reliability. I've been bitten too many times to pick this up without watching the early adopters for a while, considering how failure-prone the ff1 is.

 

[420engineer]

my Firefly is near 2 year old now, and runs perfectly, you'll only hear the problems reported online, and must bear in mind the 99% of problem free owners who have no need to complain

 

[jim-bob]

I've been through three in a year, that's my basis for my complaint. They get replaced/repaired fast enough but it's not much fun.

I find the FF one of the more frustrating vapes I own. When it's working great and everything is right it's one of my favorite portables, but then it'll char a load out of nowhere or the batteries will die even though you just pulled them off the charger or it'll just stop heating up one day.

Hopefully the FF2 fixes all this, but I'm not gonna be the first one boarding the train.

 

[Jack Sprat]

If they got two buttons they can program them the way they want, they got no excuse, the thing is digital not analog.

Bummer, everything else looked amazing... It's like for the new 7th floor portable: everything looks good spare a little detail... that in the end turns to be paramount.

An app makes perfect sense if they want user data. It'll be interesting to see just what permissions the app asks for, and if any versions of it will be available for download directly from FF or only through official Android and Apple app stores. Privacy concerns are quite important when dealing with apps. For example, why would Netflix need access to all my browsing history and bookmarks?

 

[mitchgo61]

An app makes perfect sense if they want user data. It'll be interesting to see just what permissions the app asks for, and if any versions of it will be available for download directly from FF or only through official Android and Apple app stores. Privacy concerns are quite important when dealing with apps. For example, why would Netflix need access to all my browsing history and bookmarks?

The apps will be available through the Apple and Google stores. (I've been downloading the test app from the ios store.)

 

[Jack Sprat]

The apps will be available through the Apple and Google stores. (I've been downloading the test app from the ios store.)

That means that there is a permanent record of you downloading the app that is linked to your respective account, with name location, etc.

Do you also happen to know what permissions the app requests?

 

[mitchgo61]

That means that there is a permanent record of you downloading the app that is linked to your respective account, with name location, etc.

Do you also happen to know what permissions the app requests?

Doesn't request any permissions at all, according to my ios settings. But I'm using the test app, so keep that in mind.

Of course any app you download from Google or Apple will create a record of your having downloaded it. That's just the nature of downloading something to a device.

 

[Jack Sprat]

Doesn't request any permissions at all, according to my ios settings. But I'm using the test app, so keep that in mind.

Of course any app you download from Google or Apple will create a record of your having downloaded it. That's just the nature of downloading something to a device.

Seems to create a privacy concern to me. Very interested in hearing about exactly what data FF is collecting.

With Android you can directly download an app and install it, bypassing the app store.

 

[mitchgo61]

Seems to create a privacy concern to me. Very interested in hearing about exactly what data FF is collecting.

With Android you can directly download an app and install it, bypassing the app store.

Perhaps FF will do something like that. I have no idea. I'm personally not worried about the privacy thing (if I were worried about privacy, I wouldn't have a Google or ios account). I have no idea what data they will or won't collect...I doubt they'd collect anything other than anonymous usage data, but I don't know for sure.