New ZMF Chess Clock

Here is a video of the new ZMF chess clock. It can be programmed with a cellphone in less than a second.

https://youtu.be/ZYYS23qelZw

Interesting. Seems like it would be easy to program. I have heard that some of their other clocks have issues when it comes to how they handled increment time mode. Hopefully their new clocks can do increments correctly. This is why I am on the fence about their products. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYoOyv8M_Fk

KnightsForkCafe, the zmf clocks support the regular Fisher

increment. They don't support the Bronstein increment.

Might interfere with tournament time control increment rules. That is why I will hold off on getting ZMF clocks. I believe that both USCF and FIDE uses Bronstein increment rules. Unless I am misunderstanding those rules.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_control

So THAT'S how the sync was going to work: near-field!

I'm looking forward to playing with such a clock. I wouldn't expect the chess tournament scenes to accept this technology the same way that I'm still looking for the ChessNoteR technology to be in everyone's hands at least in the US.

I played in the US OPEN 2018 and the US SENIOR OPEN 2019 and neither of those used the Bronstein delay. it is not an increment at all. Both tournaments used a 30-sec increment which is also know as Fischer.  

I copied and pasted this passage from the WIKI page you have cited. As you see the Bronstein delay is mathematically equivalent to the Simple Delay or US Delay.  Makes not one bit of difference. The Simple Delay if used instead of an increment is totally accepted by the USCF.  G60 d5  you see many of that time for weekend one-day tournaments. 

"Bronstein delay and Simple delay are mathematically equivalent. The advantage of Bronstein delay is that you can always quickly see exactly how much time you have for your next move without having to add the main and delay time together in your head. The advantage of Simple delay if that you can always tell if the time that is counting down is the delay time or the main time. Simple delay is the form of delay most often used in the US while Bronstein delay is the form of delay most often used in most other countries."

@TundraMike Like I said I wasn't quite sure on the rules for increments and delays. Since the example given that had game in 3 min with 2 sec delay or increment. That the clock must start with the added 2 seconds. Since ZMF's clocks don't do this. I was questioning if the clock would be legal to use since they do not start with the 2 seconds added for the 1st move.

When using increment FIDE begins with the increment time added to the main time in the display.

US Chess does not.

The VTek clock has a separate FIDE and US Chess Play mode.

When in the US Chess mode the increment time is not added or shown in the initial display.  Also there are some other differences like not stopping the opponent’s clock when a person runs out of time.

Smart phone to program a chess clock? Oh boy, unnecessary complexities in life.

@ Fish Killer: Is there any more information on how to purchase this same clock shown in the video? It seems to appears in look like a V-tek. Do you know of any link or when this model ZMF will be made available to purchase?

I know the clock is not released yet. I have been told it should be available before years' end but that is what I have heard.

<<Smart phone to program a chess clock? Oh boy, unnecessary complexities in life.>>

I do not get this statement as my smartphone apps simplify life and this app should be pretty straight forward. 

What a HUGE advantage for being interfaced with a smartphone app as is it can be upgraded WITHOUT you sending in your clock. I can't believe so many complaints about what looks like a clock that is definitely ahead of the times.  

Maybe USCF/HOS will have an intro price that will be very tempting for people. 

And again I will state I do not get any price breaks or free equipment from HOS. I pay the same price you pay.  I just think this clock is revolutionary for chess clocks for obvious reasons. 

Let me clear up some confusion in this thread. 

1) The term "Fischer" is another name for increment, regardless of how the clock displays the increment. Most clocks (including when you play with increment on chess.com) display increment in the "add-after" method which is where the clock adds the increment to your clock display right after you press your clock. This is generally the preferred method since you can always see on your clock display how much time you have for your next move (and a clock must be able to do increment in this fashion for it to get FIDE certification). A few clocks, including the current Zmart clocks, display increment in the "add-before" method which is where the clock waits until your opponent presses their clock for the increment to be added to your clock display. Both methods are mathematically equivalent (assuming the clock automatically gives the increment for move under both methods like it should-see point 3) but the disadvantage to the "add-before" method is that when it's your opponents turn, your clock display won't show how much time you have to make your next move since the increment hasn't been added to your display yet. An updated version of the Zmart clocks that allow the "add-after" method of displaying increment is in the works. A big thumbs up to the Zmart company for adding the "add-after" method of displaying increment soon after the disadvantage of the "add-before" method was made clear. 

2) "Bronstein" is one of the two forms of delay ("Bronstein" it's not considered an increment). The two forms of delay are mathematically equivalent but are different in how the delay is displayed on the screen. You can read the Wikipedia article linked to above for an explanation of the two forms of delay. 

3) You get the increment for move one under FIDE rules. There is confusion as to whether you get the increment for move one under US Chess rules. There should be a "TD Tip" that I've helped write added to the US Chess rulebook soon that makes it clear that you do get the increment for move one under US Chess rules (and since you get the increment for move one under both FIDE and US Chess rules, chess.com should make it so you get the increment for move one when using increment on chess.com!). For example, for G/3;inc2, both players should get 3.02, not 3.00, to complete move one. Despite the fact that the current Zmart clocks only display 3.00 before the start of the game when you set it for G/3;inc2, they correctly give the increment for move one since once you press your clock to start your opponents time for move one, the two seconds is added to your opponents time. I've been told by the the Zmart company that the new "add-after" increment option will also correctly give the increment for move one (most likely by displaying 3.02 on each side before the game starts). 

I'm very curious as to what type of features could be added to the clock via the app. 

maybe the maker could chime in on this thread. Obviously any change to firmware would require a change internally in the clock.  I might have been getting over-enthused about the app being able to change the software on the chip.  Probably not so. I do know the maker said he could add a feature going forward whether you choose Fischer or Bronstein. The display itself being able to show seconds on a 40/120 would have to be a major change in the display itself of course. 

But this clock via the app I would say is the easiest to program, although I do not own one.  

For now, my Wholesale Chess Clock can display seconds at all time limits and has every feature I want. And the price is low and easy to replace batteries. It also seems to be fairly rugged. 

https://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-clocks/digital-chess-clocks/wholesale-chess-advanced-digital-game-timer-with-bonus-delay

I was told by the Zmart company that they have updated the firmware on the clock to include the "add-after" increment option but they haven't shipped any of the new clocks yet to the places that are selling the clock so if you currently buy one online, you won't get the updated version of the clock.

We really need to stop saying Fischer and Bronstein when referring to the two different ways increment can be displayed on the clock! Fischer is increment, regardless of how the increment is displayed on the clock, and Bronstein is one of the two ways delay can be displayed on a clock. The two ways increment can be displayed on a clock are known as "add-after" and "add-before". 

Thanks, Miachsmith I did not know he reacted to this so fast. He did tell me some time ago the firmware change is no huge deal, but changing the display would be.  And I do like seeing the seconds regardless of the time control.  So I guess he could have a deluxe model expanding the display and getting a little more for that.  Kind of like the Chronus vs Chronus GX.

If he expanded the display a pinch to accommodate one more digit on the left end I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. Originally I thought it would show the same digits as the regular Chronus or V-TEK. 

If the owner comes on here and discuses the changes possible in future models it would be welcome. 

I used to really prefer seeing seconds at all times too but after thinking about it, is seeing seconds at all time really necessary? 

I will be getting the clock soon. From what I currently know about the clock, it seems to be a very good clock. However, changes I think would be beneficial for a future model include: 

1) Allow the increment or delay to be set only on the sudden death time control as there are tournaments (including the upcoming 2020 World Championship match), that have the increment or delay only on the sudden death time control. Besides the Zmart clocks, I believe all of the main clocks on the market that do multiple time controls allow the increment or delay to be set only on the sudden death time control.  

2) Currently, once a player goes below one minute, the clock shows tenths of a second. Some people (including myself) say they like seeing tenths of a second when they get low on time since they say it helps them manage their time and some say they don't like seeing tenths of a second when they get low on time as they say it is distracting. It would be good if you could choose as to whether you want the clock to show tenths of a second once the time goes below one minute. In a sense, finding the tenths of a second display distracting is similar to the fact that on the original ZMF II clock, some people found it very distracting that the display would flash between the delay countdown and base time during the delay period so the updated version added options where you only see the delay countdown or base time during the delay period.