From the perspective of someone who has no intaraction with the forum (my dad) and so sees it as a new user would.
I bought it for him and explained (a couple of weeks ago) what was new and had been completed and what was still to do when compared to v2.6 (IE. 3D background and new fish / clock etc) and he said he won't bother downloading it until all the new stuff is completed. He previously has seen the old versions and doesn't see the 3D background as much of a difference (he slows it right down same as me) so he will really only notice the new fish models. You need to be very careful when releasing this, as it is now not a singular good product in a bland market, there have been many copies of your aquarium. It has been 6 years since first hearing about the 3D background, I would be interested to know how much of that time was really developing this and programming it? and how long before the basic product is finished (new fish models / behaviour). because I don't think that releasing it unfinished will get many people buying it but neither will waiting six more years. Not sure how much of this is useful feedback :) but I am buying it on expectation of your usual quality and loyalty to the product, my dad as a new user isn't. |
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I have said that I would accept an always on title bar just to avoid the blink/jump. Bob |
and I think an always-on title bar would take something away from running the Aquarium in a window.
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Let's assume (for the sake of argument - corrections invited) that it would take Jim 5 working days to "get this right" without the title bar. Would it be worth holding up the product rollout that long? [OK, pick your own assumption, and say how many days delay it would be worth] |
I'm working on the titlebar, and have put in a menu item for it. I'm looking into how to move the window around (thanks for the input, RPS). You can say what you want about Windows, but it's great to have such features ready-made from a programming standpoint. Just specify that a window will have a titlebar when it is created, and it automatically has a titlebar with all the usual properties. No programming required.
I'll do as much as I can before the credit cards expire, but unless the iPhone version of MA2 is done in the next week, we'll have to release something. It will still be called a Beta, but with a banner on the SereneScreen website. |
I'm going to have to think a bit about how to address this as far as the forum is concerned. I'll probably archive all the "solved" issues into a folder and create some more sticky topics.
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~Ralph S. |
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I would say: 1. Reset to default settings (CTRL-R) must be implemented or removed from the menu. 2. Clock and calendar must be added. 3. There must be a thorough description of what's there, what's not, and what's planned. I base the above on what I think is necessary, to preclude a constant flood of questions and/or complaints in the forum and elsewhere. As witness the frequent repetition of the same set of questions already. |
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The always on title bar was not my first choice, but I think it's a lot better than the current situation. I see Jim has posted that he's working on a title bar fix. I have great hopes that what ever solution he comes up with will satisfy most of us. Bob |
There is pressure to call it 3.0, with the updates being 3.1, etc., but I think the best plan is to remain with the Beta description until most of the features you guys have mentioned are in.
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Ver 3.0
Jim;
The "i" beta has been working very well for me. I think a lot of people know what you want to accomplish and don't want it to be "done" till all the bells and whistles are ready. IMHO I think it's a go if you think it is. I know you will continue to develope it, and as you said we all will have more to look forward to. It's a beautiful piece of work and can only get better. |
Release it now; if a dummy like me can contend with the few problems then the average user can too.
Why wait, Microsoft has updates allmost every week, so why no MA |
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The way I see it, the only major thing that's been changes is the clarity of the reef and 3d objects. Although the resolution is SO much better.... that's the only thing most will see. When I first bought 2.6, I was shocked at the fish movements because I had also just purchased Dream Aquarium. Again, I'm NOT trying to be insensitive to Jim's POV.... I'm just looking at the product from a general consumer's POV. |
Side note... in the dream aquarium forum, there's a thread on "Marine Aquarium or Dream Aquarium".... ... might want to look at it if you haven't... sigh
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However, there is a major difference: Microsoft (if allowed by the user) will automatically download and install updates when they are available. Yeah, I know it isn't simple. But we're talking here about a release that advertises pre-planned MAJOR feature additions. Having automatic updates would go a long way toward making that more palatable. |
I doubt Jim would EVER make anything automatic as far as updates goes. I would guess Prolific doesn't want to respond to 432 thousand questions about why it starts its own access.
I would hope to have a manual update button where the user at their discretion could click and it would compare version numbers and let the user know there is an update available and let them confirm that they want to get it. That way no one worries about unknown traffic and what it's doing. That to me would seem to be a compromise that would satisfy everyone and still make it easier for the user to check for updates. |
There are all sorts of mechanisms, and it's clearly an implementation choice for Jim and probably others.
The current mechanism is "No notification and no button and nothing automatic". That's arguably OK if only "bug fixes" are planned. Having planned-and-announced major feature additions is a different situation. I'm just pointing out that it will be one of several "annoyances" for those who "buy the Beta". You folks clearly get to balance your driving need to release incomplete software, with the resulting level of annoyances to "support" and annoyances to purchasers and software reviews by magazines and bloggers. Footnote: check the MA2 discussions for lots of talk about this, as well as "How do I figure out, using the secret incantations, EXACTLY what sub-version of MA that I have, and how do I find out EXACTLY whether there is some new sub-version available." [Sub-version being, for instance, one of the several different distributed images of "2.5" and "2.6", that you can find out if you know to click on "Version 2.6" in the "About" section, and get a display that tells you that you really have Q224.2.6.475 -- now, is that the latest MA2.6 release? Beats me!] |
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