Website Testing [OT] uTest

[askgar]

Just noticed I've now hit 200 test cases on uTest since the beginning of the year, thats almost 1 test case per day all year. I've also worked on 100 different products, and participated in nearly 200 cycles. Still at gold ranking (which amazes me as I've barely submitted any bugs in the past few months, mostly working on test cases).

 

[Christine2]

Sandbox days came and went away quickly, can't believe I passed with 2 very valuable bugs, I had convinced myself I failed because no one confirmed my bugs, I lost all confidence....I have been invited to two cycles so far but before I read the overview the cycles were full! Need to learn the science behind spreadsheets... I think some people just get spaces before reading? I appreciate any tips and advice as I really want to get into this. Thank you all for all your support

 

[askgar]

Sandbox days came and went away quickly, can't believe I passed with 2 very valuable bugs, I had convinced myself I failed because no one confirmed my bugs, I lost all confidence....I have been invited to two cycles so far but before I read the overview the cycles were full! Need to learn the science behind spreadsheets... I think some people just get spaces before reading? I appreciate any tips and advice as I really want to get into this. Thank you all for all your support

Yes, if you see a spreadsheet go to it, claim a slot, read the text. If it turns out its something you can't do then just remove your name from the slot. (At least that's what I do). The spreadsheets fill up insanely fast though (I've seen spreadsheets with 30+ slots fill in < 30s), to the point often the TTLs/PMs have to refer to the google docs detailed history to see who actually claimed a slot first.

After a while you get very good at skim reading project overviews to look for the spreadsheets, and reading the crucial information.

 

[Christine2]

Thanks for the generous tip, one thing i like about this site is people are so helpful. Thanks once again

 

[Christine2]

can someone please advise me on where to find mobile phone SKU number? How many digits does it have? I use Samsung galaxy S5.
thanks

 

[askgar]

can someone please advise me on where to find mobile phone SKU number? How many digits does it have? I use Samsung galaxy S5.
thanks

SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit... so I'm not sure if you would even find that on the phone anywhere, if I had to guess it would be long string of letters and numbers at the end of the url for the device on the samsung website.

http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/SM-G900FZKABTU

 

[Christine2]

Thanks

 

[Rabbit]

Hello folks. Just a quick question for those of you who are in regular work with uTest, if you don't mind me asking: what device/s are using, and how many invites are you getting per month for that specific device?

I've not been getting any paid invites, despite successfully passing Sandbox in the top 30%, and also doing well in my subsequent test cycle. I have a no-name Chinese Android phone, which I think is what is scuppering any dreams of getting a footing on there. I can't afford any latest models but I'm hoping I'll at least get some ideas on this thread as to what device might be worth investing in without spending unwisely...

Thanks,
Rabbit.

 

[askgar]

Hello folks. Just a quick question for those of you who are in regular work with uTest, if you don't mind me asking: what device/s are using, and how many invites are you getting per month for that specific device?

I've not been getting any paid invites, despite successfully passing Sandbox in the top 30%, and also doing well in my subsequent test cycle. I have a no-name Chinese Android phone, which I think is what is scuppering any dreams of getting a footing on there. I can't afford any latest models but I'm hoping I'll at least get some ideas on this thread as to what device might be worth investing in without spending unwisely...

Thanks,
Rabbit.

Is that phone really the only device you have, have you also added any PCs/Laptops you have with any browsers (browsers are free, there's no reason not to have all of them installed for running uTest cycles).

Personally I have a LOT of devices.

iPad 3 (gets a few invites, but as it's now not a modern iOS device that gets lower and lower).
iPhone 4 (very few invites, very old phone and not really supported by apple now, occasional cycle comes up where this device is specifically requested).
iPhone 5 (lots of invites)
iPhone 6 (even more invites, every so often you get cycles that require touch id, which isn't on the 5).
HTC One M8 (a few invites, however not as many as iOS).

Windows (lots on invites, most don't require specific browsers however often you have a better chance of getting a test case slot if you can switch between browsers).
Mac (a few less invites, but still quite a lot).

For any phone at minimum you want a device that is on one of the most recent versions (so for android 6 or 7 preferably, 5 may be ok for some tests). iPhone you really want to be on iOS 9 or 10.

If you can afford it, a refurbished iPhone, probably 5 or above although the newer model the longer you'll be able to test with it for. Otherwise a relatively new budget android phone (from a well known manufacturer) would probably get you some tests, I can't really point you in the right direction for that though as I'm very much an iPhone user (the android phone I use is my wifes old phone).

Sorry I can't give you numbers on invites but there is a huge amount of overlap in projects, a lot can cover iPhone, Android and Windows/Mac if it is a web project.

 

[Genie]

For mobile devices, I have a Samsung phone running Android 5.1.1 for which I get many invites. I have a much older Samsung running 4.1.2 which also gets a fair few invites, & an even older Samsung running 2.3.3 which gets an occasional invite. Most cycles I see require at least Android 4.x. I also have an iPad2 running iOS9.3.2 & get quite a lot of invites. A lot of iPad cycles I see require at least iPad2 & iOS 8+. I don't have an iPhone so can't comment there.

 

[Christine2]

I finally managed to install Android Device Manager, but I'm clueless on what to do with it to be honest, haven't done a paid cycle yet, wouldn't know where to start, i know there are a lot of resources on utest, trying to find my way around but plenty of information to take in. Does anyone use Charles Proxy? I have had a look but it seems complicated, do i have to use it? What is the best tool for screen recording?
Thanks for your help

 

[Genie]

I finally managed to install Android Device Manager, but I'm clueless on what to do with it to be honest, haven't done a paid cycle yet, wouldn't know where to start, i know there are a lot of resources on utest, trying to find my way around but plenty of information to take in. Does anyone use Charles Proxy? I have had a look but it seems complicated, do i have to use it? What is the best tool for screen recording?
Thanks for your help

For screen recording I use Jing or Screencast-o-matic to record from my laptop screen. I use Mobizen for mirroring Android & X-Mirage or Reflector to mirror iPad.

I have only used Charles once. It took a while to set up but luckily the cycle I was on had very good instructions how to do it. I'm still quite wary of it.

I've only ever used Android Device Monitor to capture logs. I'm sure it can do a lot more that I don't know about.

 

[Christine2]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated

 

[askgar]

I finally managed to install Android Device Manager, but I'm clueless on what to do with it to be honest, haven't done a paid cycle yet, wouldn't know where to start, i know there are a lot of resources on utest, trying to find my way around but plenty of information to take in. Does anyone use Charles Proxy? I have had a look but it seems complicated, do i have to use it? What is the best tool for screen recording?
Thanks for your help

For screen recording I use Jing or Screencast-o-matic to record from my laptop screen. I use Mobizen for mirroring Android & X-Mirage or Reflector to mirror iPad.

I have only used Charles once. It took a while to set up but luckily the cycle I was on had very good instructions how to do it. I'm still quite wary of it.

I've only ever used Android Device Monitor to capture logs. I'm sure it can do a lot more that I don't know about.

Regarding Charles, in over 200 cycles I've never used it, I have used fiddler a couple of times to do a similar thing but every time there has been instructions on the cycle.

I've never had to use Android Device Monitor, I've used apps on the device to do screen recording and log gathering, however my Android test device appears to be broken so I can't get names for you I'm afraid.

 

[Flexit]

Hello folks. Just a quick question for those of you who are in regular work with uTest, if you don't mind me asking: what device/s are using, and how many invites are you getting per month for that specific device?

I've not been getting any paid invites, despite successfully passing Sandbox in the top 30%, and also doing well in my subsequent test cycle. I have a no-name Chinese Android phone, which I think is what is scuppering any dreams of getting a footing on there. I can't afford any latest models but I'm hoping I'll at least get some ideas on this thread as to what device might be worth investing in without spending unwisely...

Thanks,
Rabbit.

I finished in the top 30% of my group when I did the sandbox but I think that there was some administrative error as I didn't get any test cycle invites for about 5 months. Then 5 months later I received another "invitation to the sandbox" I emailed them and said I'd already passed and would there be some kind of official "you passed" email (as I never received one). I then received a congratulations email and after that I started getting a few test cycle invites.

I agree with what the others have said. If you could get a refurb iPhone, that might be worth investing in as a lot of clients like those. Alternatively a Samsung. If you buy another android device - try and get one with NFC as I've seen an increase in the number of clients that want to test payment apps. I just started with a cheapo phone and a budget tablet and after I earned a bit I invested in a refurb iPhone and started getting more invites.

The main thing about having more devices is that it gives you more options. I find the test cycles fill up sooooo quickly that the only way I get a spot is because I have some different device options.

 

[Flexit]

I finally managed to install Android Device Manager, but I'm clueless on what to do with it to be honest, haven't done a paid cycle yet, wouldn't know where to start, i know there are a lot of resources on utest, trying to find my way around but plenty of information to take in. Does anyone use Charles Proxy? I have had a look but it seems complicated, do i have to use it? What is the best tool for screen recording?
Thanks for your help

I've only had to use Charles Proxy twice - it's very rare that you would be asked to use Charles. I wouldn't bother with it now unless you get invited to a Test Cycle that specifies that they want you to use it. Usually if you are on one of those cycles, they will have links to resources such as videos that will show you how to set it up.

I use Android Device Manager for collecting logs. This thread has some helpful advice. https://www.utest.com/forums/10437/page/1

I'd ignore the Charles proxy for now and focus on being ready to capture logs as it's more common to be asked for those.

 

[Christine2]

Thanks for the information, really appreciate it. I managed to get on a cycle with known issues never mind out of scope, giving it ago but not getting any where, one of my issues has been rejected and another pending, haha. I don't consider myself a quitter but this cycle makes me want to give it a break, on a positive side I'm learning new things, I am not rated so have nothing to lose but money ( seems well paid with fairly good bonus). I don't think I will get myself in a cycle with known issues again...haha...what a nightmare, doesn't help with me having an eight month old baby....what was the worst cycle you have ever been on? Please share your experiences. Thanks in advance

 

[askgar]

Thanks for the information, really appreciate it. I managed to get on a cycle with known issues never mind out of scope, giving it ago but not getting any where, one of my issues has been rejected and another pending, haha. I don't consider myself a quitter but this cycle makes me want to give it a break, on a positive side I'm learning new things, I am not rated so have nothing to lose but money ( seems well paid with fairly good bonus). I don't think I will get myself in a cycle with known issues again...haha...what a nightmare, doesn't help with me having an eight month old baby....what was the worst cycle you have ever been on? Please share your experiences. Thanks in advance

Unfortunately almost every cycle will have known issues as they are existing projects.

My worst cycle was one where I followed the instructions in a test case, failed the relevant steps, etc. then the test case was rejected.

 

[Flexit]

Thanks for the information, really appreciate it. I managed to get on a cycle with known issues never mind out of scope, giving it ago but not getting any where, one of my issues has been rejected and another pending, haha. I don't consider myself a quitter but this cycle makes me want to give it a break, on a positive side I'm learning new things, I am not rated so have nothing to lose but money ( seems well paid with fairly good bonus). I don't think I will get myself in a cycle with known issues again...haha...what a nightmare, doesn't help with me having an eight month old baby....what was the worst cycle you have ever been on? Please share your experiences. Thanks in advance

I sometimes reject cycles when I know that they have a massive list (300+) of known issues as I don't want to spend all my time checking for a known issue when I know there will be other cycles coming up soon enough but like askgar says, it's rare to get cycles without a known issue list unless it is the very first round of testing a product.

If you want to build your rating up a bit while you're getting practice - try and reproduce other people's bugs and do a +1 confirmation. If you add a photo or video to your +1 you get a boost to your rating.

I think my most annoying cycle was where I spent ages reporting quite major functional bugs and getting logs and videos etc. and then the client rejected 70% of testers' bugs in the test cycle as not reproducible on his single tablet!! even though the scope said that all tablets with x. operating system were allowed. I think that if they only want bugs reported on a certain device, they should specify that device in the scope and environment listing. I always reject those cycles now as I don't want to waste my time.

 

[Genie]

I agree. Try & +1 a few issues to help your rating. I hate cycles where there is a long known issue list - especially if they are poorly written. There have been many times when I hadn't realised bugs had already been reported because of their poor titles/descriptions.

My worst cycle was one where you needed to have a specific loyalty card & be able to visit a store. First of all I was a signed up against a card I had but couldn't make it to the store because it wasn't close. Then they changed the scope part way through which made me ineligible. I'd already spent a lot of time on it. It didn't help that the overview was poorly written. I avoid cycles with poorly written overviews now.