Thanks, Mack! It sounds like the current state of the art is "kind-of-iffy". The Lat/Long data is helpful, and seems to work OK (but I have managed fine using an iPhone app and adding via LR). Altitude is perhaps interesting, but easy to figure out from Lat/Long if needed.
At this point, I think I'll just forget about Compass and somehow manage to make images without it
I did get a boilerplate response back from DISTec (The Olympus USA email tech support.) so seems they still are around for the month.
"Some of the Settings May have be reset during the Update.
Please Look at the following settings.
Under the Custom D1 menu go into the Submenu Info Settings
Then go into LV-Info as well as LV OFF-Info and make sure that the Field Sensor Info box is Checked.
If you require additional assistance, please reply to this email leaving the complete history intact."
Been there, as well as the L> Info> Field Sensor also checked in the menu. No joy. No compass needle, just the rose with nothing in the middle.
So I did respond with a photo of the blank compass rose. Odd why it works for some, and others it doesn't. Has to be some menu setting issue, or a hardware issue.
I'll wait and see if they respond.
Aside, I haven't heard a peep out of RRS as to the magnets or why their E-M1X L-plate was discontinued. Could be since Oly retired, they may stop making plates for them. Given the recent surge to buy the cheaper E-M1X, it seems odd to me unless this is the last production run of that camera and remaining stock is it.
Added later:
Heard back from DISTec (Olympus USA Service) Friday afternoon. They want me to call them Monday. Seems the camera they have with the upgrade does show the compass arrows and heading, but mine doesn't. They think it is some menu matter someplace even though I have all the sundry Field Sensors checked ON. We'll see...