The future of JTAG equipment

[bugmenot111]

Dear friends, we are thinking of purchasing some JTAG equipment to grow our business. Naturally, before investing in any equipment, we decided to review them in some detail by looking at forums, reviews, screenshots, videos, manuals etc. While the review results are rather encouraging, in that JTAG devices are very popular, that there are more JTAG devices than ever and that each newer generation of device has better capabilities than the older ones, we came upon some interesting revelation we would like to share here:

That the updates for ALL JTAG devices are slowing down dramatically in 2014 after slight slowdown in 2013. Despite there are SIX JTAG devices in 2014, there are half as many updates in 2014 than in 2010 (when there were just TWO devices). Take a look at the data (I compiled the update frequency from this forum).

As there are more mobiles coming out everyday and there are always chances that a repairing equipment will unexpectedly brick customers' devices, updates and support to repairing equipment are very important. Can anyone with JTAG experience (or in JTAG industry itself) share what's going on? Are JTAG equipment still a good investment? Thank you.

P.S. I have a few hypotheses (ordered by likelihood):
1. JTAG devices are so perfect nowadays that few updates are required to support new mobiles.
2. JTAG devices are not popular anymore that it doesn't worth the effort of the developers to fully support them.
3. Newer mobiles, continuing the trend of complexity, miniaturization and "unrepairability," are more difficult to repair with JTAG.
4. There are so many JTAG devices in the market that each developer receives fewer income from them, reducing their motivation to fully support them.

[Haltec]

JTAG is become obsolete due the fact, that after initial programming/testing of MCU/Flash assembly, performed on OEM production line, JTAG interface (of MCU itself) is eFuse-d as last step in that production part.


So there is no option to service that assembly since it doesn't have JTAG capability itself.



Nice research btw.



BR


Haltec

[bugmenot111]

Thanks for your information Haltec. My immediate conclusion is not to invest in "standalone JTAG equipment" (equipment that are not upgradeable to regular flasher boxes, or equipment of which developer do not produce non-JTAG solutions) especially ones that have not been updated for a long time. Coincidentally, all standalone JTAG equipment have received few updates for some time.

Secondly, I have re-hosted the table and chart as images in imgur (should be a lot more accessible now) as the document host deleted my file for unknown reasons:


(view both in imgur.com)

[Nishith]

Nice and very good analysis , But I think we should not go with just no. of updates given per month.

Other aspects also must be analyzed like ,

1] How many models were included in that particular update.

2] How's supporters helping user after & before sale.

3] Price.

4] What is current scenario of team , In past if any one was giving lots of updates but now they are not giving any update then that might be not useful for newcomers.

5] Support area and Files collection. [Either Free or Paid]

6] Innovation , Uniqueness , etc. - Who brings new technology , speed of reading / writing etc. first.

And main thing in JTAG is also depends on the skill and knowledge of the JTAG user , like their soldering skill , tracing skill , etc.
In JTAG we don't have to wait till new update comes from Supporters if we have some good knowledge about it and working phone in hand.
[Sometimes there might be consequences]

Many other things might be added in this but this is kinda enough.

[Max_B]

My 2 cents to this :

The less people is in, and the more money to earn


BR
Max_B