Hello,
I not on here regularly as much as I’d like, but I have been wondering for a while, is there no new development happening with the application? There hasn’t been an update for nearly 2 years. What’s happened? What’s going on?
David, Per CLZ @CLZ_Alwin
“So it is unlikely that there will be any feature updates for the desktop software.
We will keep doing necessary maintenance updates for as long as it is feasible for us to do so, and only to keep the desktop software compatible with CLZ Core, CLZ Cloud and possible breaking Windows updates. We will do this for as long as it is feasible.”
“Other than that, the feature set of the desktop software is frozen. You can keep using it, but if you want to enjoy our updates and progress, then switching to CLZ Web is the way to go.”
I’m not sure I entirely agree with what he is saying there. The inability to add certain details they leave out is my problem with having it all on the web. If they manage to solve that, I may reconsider.
I think when User Defined Fields are making the final product the sky is the limit. Then we can add everything that is missing and won’t be part of the Core.
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So, if you are not going to update movies, music, and books, etc with any further improvements or enhancements, then I guess we can get a break on the renewal price for using the same product year after year?
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We considered that, but we decided that a lower price for the desktop software is not a good idea, because:
- It would send the wrong signal. If the desktop software is cheaper, users could be inclined to stay with the desktop software, and that is what we don’t want. We want all desktop users to switch to the Web-based software ASAP.
- At customer support, we are still spending a LOT of time helping users with the desktop software. The percentage of time spent on that is crazy, compared to mobile and web. All kinds of stupid problems that are not even related to our software, like Windows file permissions, firewalls, security software, etc… So for the users who are sticking with the desktop software, we DO need ongoing payments to be able to support them.
Because of the above 2 reasons, we have even considered to make the desktop software MORE expensive, say increase the yearly fee to US $50 or even US $60.
You need to make the Web based software much more customizable than its current iteration. Increasing the cost of the desktop software for issues not associated with the software itself and not giving anything in terms of benefit for those who are happy to be using the desktop version because of its convenience and the ability to customize is sending a very different wrong kind of message. You need to be flexible in your approach to your clientele. Your idea of everyone using 1 product when everyone has their own preferences is not customer friendly. Too many companies these days are forcing their ideas on the market place rather than giving as much option is only a recipe for disaster.
I find this really interesting, because I had expected the Windows Software to require no support, as there are no new users and no new realeases, so existing users should know how it works by now.
Apart from licencing issues, which obviously you have to deal with, have you considered dropping all support for the Windows products, and instead directing all queries to the forum, so that the Users can deal with them, rather than you wasting your time?
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Web-based software vs desktop software is not about preference anymore. Web-based is just where the whole software world is going. Microsoft, Apple and Google clearly don’t like installable desktop software and are making it harder and harder to install such programs.
Hence the increased customer support that WE have to deal with.
Web-based is just easier for everyone.
Still, users manage to break there configuration every day. Or reinstall Windows, or move to a different computer. Absolute support nightmare.
While with the web-based software, after a reinstall or move to a new computer, all it takes is logging in again and bam, you’re up and running again with all your data and images in place.
We have considered that, yes.
But the risk is that it would cause an even bigger mess. Users helping each other is usually a recipe for disaster. In the end, leaving it up to us to clean up the mess anyway.
I mean, if you say so, fine. But the Web version truly lacks the customizability that the desktop version has.
There may come some point in the future, say when Windows 13 is released, that you find it impossible to upgrade Clz to run on that platform, and so suddenly have to withdraw the product, and get a lot of flack from disgruntled Users.
My idea would be that you withdraw support for the Windows products from the next renewal date (which would be in over a year’s time for many people). This would give you every opportunity to email users about the changes, change your renewal email to say that no support is provided, and to change the renewal page to say that no support is provided, and that the subscription is not for the product itself, but only for the online services: Sync, Cloud, Core (esp Sync, since Cloud and Core are also provided by the mobile apps).
You would make it clear that from the renewal date the ONLY support provided would be via the forum, and if they need personal support from you, that they must first switch (for free) to the Web version.
You could also make it clear that you are only going to update the software to keep Sync, Cloud and Core working on the current platforms, and not necessarily on any future versions of Windows.
This may seem to be taking too tough a line, but I think it would encourage more people to convert to Cloud, and make it more difficult for them to object if you decide to remove the Windows product all together.
Thanks for your advice. I still think it would only cause even greater mess and disappointment.
Can you elaborate and tell me exactly what it is lacking?
Are we talking user interface or data fields?
As far as I know, the most important things missing are:
- editable episode lists, only important for very few users. But still, we will add this to Web later this year.
- User Defined Fields, also coming up for Web later this year.
- customizable images for pick list entries
That’s about it.
If you’re adding user defined fields, then that is awesome and a welcome sight. I would also like to see the User Custom Crew fields as well please.
What are those?
Does this also include showing format icons in the entries list like the old desktop application does?
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No, but that would be kinda cool maybe.
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