Kobiton 4.16 release notes

November 2, 2024

New OS support

This release adds support for the following:

  • Android 15

During a Manual session, Android 15 devices may become unresponsive after one of the following actions:

  • Using Chrome or Gmail.

  • Typing on the virtual keyboard.

To make the device responsive again, restart the device using the Restart button in the Device Details or the Device Management page (appropriate permission required).

To reduce the occurrence of this issue, update Play Store services, Chrome, and Gmail on the device to the latest version.

  • iOS/iPadOS 18.0.1

For iOS/iPadOS 18.0.1, the cleanup policy does not clear signed-in accounts in the Mail app and Safari browser cache.
  • MacOS 15 Sequoia (requires deviceConnect 4.16)

For a fresh installation of deviceConnect 4.16 on a Mac mini with macOS 15 Sequoia, contact Kobiton Support.

To update to macOS 15 Sequoia on a Mac mini that already hosts deviceConnect 4.15, follow the below steps before you upgrade to deviceConnect 4.16:

  • Upgrade the Mac mini to macOS 15 Sequoia.

  • Open Terminal, then run this command:

    sudo spctl --master-disable
  • If System Settings is currently opened, close it.

  • Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.

  • Under Security, set Allow applications from to Anywhere.

  • Enter your admin password to confirm and choose Allow from Anywhere.

Then proceed with updating Kobiton to 4.16.

Update to Session Explorer and Session Overview

We’ve redesigned the user experience of Session Explorer and Session Overview to streamline usability, optimize test result analysis, and support our AI validations and partner ecosystem. Key enhancements include:

  • Improved user flows

    • Upon ending a manual session or selecting a session from Session List, users now land on Session Explorer to begin test analysis. The session video and basic session details are still available on the Session Overview tab.

    • New validation review flow with the Start Analysis button to make the review process more efficient.

    • Real-time event updates, so you don’t have to refresh the page as session processing finishes.

  • Revised layout for accessibility and speed

    • Simplified layout, prioritizing key information, and making navigation smoother.

    • Quick access to essential details such as Session Info and Device Info.

  • New insights panel on Session Explorer for Test Analysis

    • Displays AI analysis results across multiple criteria, including Crash Detection, Accessibility, Response Time (for Network Payload Capture sessions), and Appium Self-Healing (for Appium sessions using flexCorrect).

    • Centralized view of all validation insights, streamlining test review.

Overview of Test Result Analysis

Figma integration is not currently supported with the redesigned Session Explorer.

Tag and view tagged sessions

This release introduces session tagging capabilities, allowing for easy organization and tracking of related sessions. Whether you want to tag a nightly run or tag test sessions related to a particular function, tagging will help you identify trends with your testing.

  • Tag sessions in Appium script

    • Tags can be added directly within automation scripts using: capabilities.setCapability("kobiton:tags", ['tag_name_1', 'tag_name_2', …​ 'tag_name_n']).

  • Tag sessions and manage tags via API

    • New APIs enable users to assign tags after a session is complete.

    • You can also use the APIs to un-assign and retrieve tags, offering additional flexibility and integration possibilities.

    • These APIs can be used to tag any type of session.

  • Session List: search by tag

    • Search sessions by tag in the Session List by entering session_tag:<session_tag_name>.

    • Search suggestions display your 5 most recently used tags within the selected time range, ensuring faster, more relevant results.

  • Execution history for tagged sessions

    • Session Overview now includes an Execution History section for tagged sessions.

    • Displays up to five related sessions by tag, including their statuses. The last 3 sessions shown are always the most recent.

    • Select a session to navigate to it or hover to see details like Session ID and Creation Date.

    • The circled status indicates the current session being viewed.

    • When you see …​. it means that the session being viewed is not in the most recent five sessions.

    • Selecting the tag name opens the Session List filtered by the sessions related to that tag.

Execution History by Tag

Group actions in Session Explorer timeline

Enhance your test analysis with grouped Appium commands, allowing you to better understand related steps within the timeline. Streamlined grouping helps with troubleshooting by identifying specific phases in a test sequence, improving traceability for app scenarios and alignment with test management frameworks.

To group actions with Appium settings:

  • Use the "kobiton:stepGroup": "<step_group_name>" setting within your script to create named groups of related actions.

  • Each command within the same group is visually represented on the Session Explorer timeline.

  • Flexible naming options for step groups.

You cannot set “kobiton:stepGroup" to a blank value. If you do, the steps will still be assigned to the previous group.

The timeline with steps grouped

Hybrid Enterprise Lightning: update adb version

This release upgraded adb to version 35.0.2 on the Mac mini and GEM.

  • For the Mac mini, the adb service is automatically updated when you upgrade to deviceConnect 4.16.

  • For our Hybrid Enterprise Lightning customers who have a GEM, please contact Kobiton Support to update the Kobiton software and adb on your GEM.

New virtualUSB client

New virtualUSB clients for macOS and Windows are available with this release. They provide support for Android Studio Jellyfish and address an issue with blocked connections with unpaired iOS/iPadOS devices.

Cloud and Hybrid customers can download the new clients from the download links in the left-hand nav of the Kobiton Portal.

Standalone customers can contact Kobiton support for the latest download links after the 4.16S release.
  • To connect iOS devices to virtualUSB for Windows, install a compatible version of iTunes for Windows first before installing virtualUSB.

  • iOS/iPadOS 17 and higher is not currently supported by virtualUSB.

  • If the device that is connected to virtualUSB cannot be released after disconnecting, quit the virtualUSB app to release it.

Improvements to Scriptless Automation

This release introduced several changes to the Scriptless automation workflow:

  • Real-time tracking for test run statuses, improving the experience for users monitoring in-progress test runs.

  • Ability to view a live Scriptless Automation session via a mixed session.

    Avoid performing manual actions on the device during the mixed session, as they can block the running Scriptless flow.
  • Improved Test Management remediation flow adds more details for remediation, including an XML Tree to help select the correct element.

Minor improvements and bug fixes

This release includes several enhancements and bug fixes to improve your day-to-day testing.

  • Addressed the following Script-based test automation items:

    • Fixed issue in XIUM where '-ios predicate string' locators were not performing auto-scrolling.

    • Improved support for running more than 60 basic Appium 2 sessions on the same device.

  • Other items addressed:

    • Fixed issue where some colors were not the same when using lightning mode.

    • Addressed an issue with modifying an existing cleanup policy.

    • Addressed an issue with Developer Disk Image not found.

    • Fixed issues related to logging into iCloud via Kobiton Apple Security Enablement prompt and with Apple ID’s 2FA 6 digits field disappearing.

    • Improved last mile speed test functionality.