Hi Alex, Here's my view: I believe there should be a public beta program or some sort to allow us to give timely feedback before the final thing is released. There are mainstream and blindness examples, so why not with HW? Just my thoughts. Cheers, Joseph P.S. I haven't forgotten about the chat - just adjusting it to fit with today's announcement about final phase of KeySoft. And, thanks Dave for your posts - we learned much from you. Hope to see you later.
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alex Hall Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 8:51 PM To: Maurice Sloane; [email protected] Subject: re: [Braillenote] Keysoft 8 Thread: Dominic Gagliano I agree 110 percent with Peggy's message! Like her, I mainly get annoyed with HW when there is an apparent blackout of messages, unless it is a message promising yet another release date that is then missed. A message every month or two, both regarding ks8 and as we move beyond it, would be great. Just something like "We are in final beta and have not found anything major, should be a couple months, but no promises" or "We are closing feature requests for the next keysoft release and beginning the coding stage; still send us your feature requests and bug reports, though." or "Coding is going well and we expect alpha testing to end any week now. As always, no timelines will be given, but we expect to start with beta testing in no more than ten weeks". You get the idea. I hate to bring up competition, but GWM has three or four of its staff actively posting on its notetaker support list (its equivalent to this bn list) and, as new software comes available, it beta tests that new update with anyone that wants to risk trying it. In this way, the random sequence of events that causes a crash is much more likely to be found since the testing pool is much larger than a select group. For example, I was using Spanish computer braille for a long time, and so was the only one to find a bug in Sendero GPS since I was using such a strange Braille code. Had that software been a public beta, that bug would not have made it into the final release. I know hw always says that it never releases features until just before the update so that competition cannot jump on the ideas and get a head start, but this logic does not really make sense. If you like your unit, then you will continue to use it instead of spending thousands of dollars just to switch to another unit that beat yours to the punch and got an instant messenger first. I have my bn, and I am mostly satisfied with it. I will not switch to a Pac Mate because FS sees that hw is going to include, say, an rss reader and so fs puts one in the PM first. I hope this makes sense. Again, thank you for the update, and please keep them coming!! Have a great day, Alex > ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Maurice Sloane" <[email protected] >To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected] >Date sent: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:14:55 -0400 >Subject: [Braillenote] Keysoft 8 Thread: Dominic Gagliano >I'm forwarding the following message from Peggy which is in reply to >Dominic's earlier post concerning KeySoft 8. >If others wish to comment on this thread please use my message when >replying and NOT Dominic's original message. The reason for this is >that the total size of Dominic's original message is close to exceeding >the limit accepted by the list mailing system. This was caused by the >fact that Dominic included the list digest as part of his message. >If you reply to Dominic's original message the messages will be >discarded by the mail list. >Thanks >Maurice Sloane >HumanWare >Thanks for the update, Dominic. I think the frustration, for me at >least, >is not so much the delay, but the total silence on HumanWare's part. >I'd >rather hear more frequent "we're still testing and fine tuning" updates >than >dead silence. It seems like HumanWare only responds when 456 people >start >grumbling and saying we're frustrated, and then we get a message like >yours. >I would rather have a message like yours posted on its own, and not as a >response to a bunch of people feeling frustrated. Just expressing my >feelings and giving feedback, and in no way meaning this as an attack. >Peggy <who loves her BrailleNote, but is very disappointed at the total >silence of Humanware about anything BrailleNote-related >http://kernsac.livejournal.com >http://facebook.com/kernsac >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dominic Gagliano" <[email protected] >To: <[email protected] >Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:33 AM >Subject: [Braillenote] KeySoft 8 update >I read that everyone is anxious to know the status and also read a lot >of frustrations. KeySoft 8 is in its final beta testing and being >prepared for release very, soon. There is a risk in providing an exact >release date if the software is not completely tested and our only >position is to meet due dates which has happened in the past. We now >insist that we follow thru on the complete testing process and release >once R&D have given approval. >There is a good deal of speculation on features for KeySoft 8. These >have already been established and posted on this list as well as our >website. This upgrade will not include an upgrade to Windows CE. >http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/about_us/press_releases/2009_pres s_relea >ses/unveiling_keysoft_8 >SMA's provide for two future upgrades without any specific time frame. >If you prefer to not invest in future upgrades, then you can purchase >single upgrades at additional cost. SMA purchases help fund the cost for >engineering to produce software upgrades. >I thank those on the list that have been patient and have attempted to >explain to those others that in the end we all want a stable reliable >release. >Dominic Gagliano >Vice President of Blindness Sales >HumanWare, Inc >800-722-3393 Ext 258 >Direct: 312-432-1147 >FAX: 312-226-6127 >[email protected] >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >copy to the list as well. >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[email protected] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
