New Beta: iSilo/X 4.0

volcanopele · 08-01-2003, 08:16 PM

I just noticed before heading out the door that iSilo 4.0 has been released as a beta along with iSiloX/C. Updates in 4.0 include: font support (using FontBucket fonts, their own Font Silo format, and FontHack fonts), support for additional encodings, support for lossy compression, support for vCard and vCalender elements, and support for "inline document drop-down menus."

iSilo
http://www.isilo.com

iSiloX/C
http://www.isilox.com

Information on the new beta
http://www.isilo.com/info/beta/changes.htm

volcanopele · 08-01-2003, 08:41 PM

I should note that there is a fee to upgrade to 4.0. According to the iSilo FAQ:

iSilo™ 4.0 has not yet been released. It is currently in the beta test stage. However, you can pre-purchase an upgrade from the iSilo.com online store. The cost of a single user license upgrade during the pre-release period is U.S. $7.49, a discount of 25% from the regular price of $9.99. The 25% discount offer expires September 1, 2003.

If you purchased a license for iSilo™ 3.x after August 1, then the registration code you receive should automatically allow you to upgrade to iSilo™ 4.0 when it is released.

Those with non-upgradeable licenses, rebranded, or customized versions of iSilo™ do not qualify for the upgrade offer.

volcanopele · 08-01-2003, 08:48 PM

I hate to be repeating things I am saying over at Cliesource but I thought to was important to note. I am getting very nice file size improvements with 4.0. I downloaded the Gadgeteer mobile page and I got a 66% improvement with lossy compression set to only JPEGs and at the default of 75%.

Griff · 08-01-2003, 11:25 PM

I hate to repeat things I've said too, but I do know the iSilo folk read over here.

I am generally not opposed to paying for upgrades to software, but I am not happy with fees for upgrades when I just purchased a couple months ago. Most developers will grandfather people in that have purchased within the past 6 months. Hopefully the folks at iSilo will rethink the policy and do the same.

Alexander Turcic · 08-02-2003, 07:39 AM

I agree that there should be a grace period for registered users who just recently purchased iSilo 3.x.

Just my humble thought.

Aside from this, the new features in 4.0 are simply breathtaking!

Griff · 08-02-2003, 12:30 PM

Does it have landscape mode yet? Gotta have this for viewing the comics each day! ;-)

volcanopele · 08-02-2003, 02:53 PM

Landscape mode has not been added. However, they are still early in the beta period, so I guess if you request it now, they might be able to add it.

BasilC · 08-02-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by volcanopele
I hate to be repeating things I am saying over at Cliesource but I thought to was important to note. I am getting very nice file size improvements with 4.0. I downloaded the Gadgeteer mobile page and I got a 66% improvement with lossy compression set to only JPEGs and at the default of 75%.

How much difference to the image quality does the lossy compression make?

volcanopele · 08-03-2003, 02:21 PM

I am not really noticing that much of a difference. However, after having worked with a lot of lossy compressed images sent by NASA spacecraft at work, I know that there is quite a bit of data lost when an image is lossy compressed. However, with the amount of compression set to 75% (the default) and lossy level set to just JPEGs, I am not noticing any major loss in quality in the small images I am seeing in the channels I view (e.g. Gadgeteer).

cbarnett · 08-04-2003, 12:17 AM

I've only been a registered iSilo user for a few months myself, and I'd like to see some grace period given to newer registrees.

Having said that, I've just put my money where my mouth is, and pre-registered for v4, mainly for this reason: I love iSilo, it is the best app on my Clie, and the most used app as well. I fully support the guys developing it and making it better, and wanted to show that in a visceral way.

Keep up the great work, guys!

Regards,
Craig.

JT45 · 08-04-2003, 02:08 AM

Just my luck. I installed iSilo just a day before the beta came out. Anyways, the old version seems to be fine and stable, so I will wait it out til the new point release comes out.

archituz · 08-05-2003, 10:07 AM

Dear iSilo Community,
IMO, the iSilo/iSiloX upgrade is definitely worth the additional cost.

I installed iSilo quite a while ago on my beloved, and still-going-strong Handera 330. I use iSilo to read stuff ALL the time-- waiting for the subway, ON the subway, on lines at the ATM, on long elevator rides(!), etc. It's part of my fast life.

And, for me, equally or more valuable than my pleasurable use, are the developer's
Constant re-evaluation and upgrade to make iSilox better and keeping with other emerging technologies and new hardware;
Dedication to registered users as evidenced by the detailed e-mail/newsletters;
Quick and concise responses to support questions;
Very public participation in this forum;
Obvious cooperation with our Alex to openly receive bug reports and to maintain communication to the iSilo-using public;
And. . . . you get the idea.

The cost is small while the value is great. Count me all the way in.
Marty

Griff · 08-05-2003, 10:11 AM

The thing I notice is that everyone who has said the upgrade is worth the cost has also said they've had it installed for "quite a while". Of course the cost is worth it if you purchased 6 months or a year ago, but having just purchased a little over a month ago this is one cost I'll have to justify by the features it adds.

cbarnett · 08-05-2003, 06:48 PM

As I said, I've only been a registered user for a month or two myself, and I've registered for v4. To be honest, when I saw that it was version _4_, I expected to pay for an upgrade, as it is standard practice for almost all shareware to charge for major release upgrades.

I agree, some grace period would be nice, but I'm still happy to show my support for such a fantastic product.

The new features seem pretty good too (I'll be able to see them for myself in iSiloX when the next beta comes out :P ). I like the font support is a nice feature for us OS4 hires users as well.

Regards,
Craig.

Griff · 08-05-2003, 06:52 PM

Well, I've already decided that if the few features I'd like to see go in, I'll also purchase the upgrade. While I don't think the policy is fair, it is the policy and I'll abide by it.

I would like to see the upgrade fee posted at Handango and Palmgear though as I do have some credits I need to use up.

08-01-2003, 08:16 PM	#1
volcanopele Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Device: Clie NR70V	New Beta: iSilo/X 4.0 I just noticed before heading out the door that iSilo 4.0 has been released as a beta along with iSiloX/C. Updates in 4.0 include: font support (using FontBucket fonts, their own Font Silo format, and FontHack fonts), support for additional encodings, support for lossy compression, support for vCard and vCalender elements, and support for "inline document drop-down menus." iSilo http://www.isilo.com iSiloX/C http://www.isilox.com Information on the new beta http://www.isilo.com/info/beta/changes.htm

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08-01-2003, 08:41 PM	#2
volcanopele Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Device: Clie NR70V	I should note that there is a fee to upgrade to 4.0. According to the iSilo FAQ: iSilo™ 4.0 has not yet been released. It is currently in the beta test stage. However, you can pre-purchase an upgrade from the iSilo.com online store. The cost of a single user license upgrade during the pre-release period is U.S. $7.49, a discount of 25% from the regular price of $9.99. The 25% discount offer expires September 1, 2003. If you purchased a license for iSilo™ 3.x after August 1, then the registration code you receive should automatically allow you to upgrade to iSilo™ 4.0 when it is released. Those with non-upgradeable licenses, rebranded, or customized versions of iSilo™ do not qualify for the upgrade offer.

08-01-2003, 08:48 PM	#3
volcanopele Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Device: Clie NR70V	I hate to be repeating things I am saying over at Cliesource but I thought to was important to note. I am getting very nice file size improvements with 4.0. I downloaded the Gadgeteer mobile page and I got a 66% improvement with lossy compression set to only JPEGs and at the default of 75%.

08-01-2003, 11:25 PM	#4
Griff Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Houston, TX Device: Clie NR70v	I hate to repeat things I've said too, but I do know the iSilo folk read over here. I am generally not opposed to paying for upgrades to software, but I am not happy with fees for upgrades when I just purchased a couple months ago. Most developers will grandfather people in that have purchased within the past 6 months. Hopefully the folks at iSilo will rethink the policy and do the same.

08-02-2003, 07:39 AM	#5
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I agree that there should be a grace period for registered users who just recently purchased iSilo 3.x. Just my humble thought. Aside from this, the new features in 4.0 are simply breathtaking!

08-02-2003, 12:30 PM	#6
Griff Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Houston, TX Device: Clie NR70v	Does it have landscape mode yet? Gotta have this for viewing the comics each day! ;-)

08-02-2003, 02:53 PM	#7
volcanopele Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Device: Clie NR70V	Landscape mode has not been added. However, they are still early in the beta period, so I guess if you request it now, they might be able to add it.

08-03-2003, 02:21 PM	#9
volcanopele Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Device: Clie NR70V	I am not really noticing that much of a difference. However, after having worked with a lot of lossy compressed images sent by NASA spacecraft at work, I know that there is quite a bit of data lost when an image is lossy compressed. However, with the amount of compression set to 75% (the default) and lossy level set to just JPEGs, I am not noticing any major loss in quality in the small images I am seeing in the channels I view (e.g. Gadgeteer).

08-04-2003, 12:17 AM	#10
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I've only been a registered iSilo user for a few months myself, and I'd like to see some grace period given to newer registrees. Having said that, I've just put my money where my mouth is, and pre-registered for v4, mainly for this reason: I love iSilo, it is the best app on my Clie, and the most used app as well. I fully support the guys developing it and making it better, and wanted to show that in a visceral way. Keep up the great work, guys! Regards, Craig.

08-04-2003, 02:08 AM	#11
JT45 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: United States Device: Zire 71	Just my luck. I installed iSilo just a day before the beta came out. Anyways, the old version seems to be fine and stable, so I will wait it out til the new point release comes out.

08-05-2003, 10:07 AM	#12
archituz Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 120 Join Date: Dec 2002	Dear iSilo Community, IMO, the iSilo/iSiloX upgrade is definitely worth the additional cost. I installed iSilo quite a while ago on my beloved, and still-going-strong Handera 330. I use iSilo to read stuff ALL the time-- waiting for the subway, ON the subway, on lines at the ATM, on long elevator rides(!), etc. It's part of my fast life. And, for me, equally or more valuable than my pleasurable use, are the developer's Constant re-evaluation and upgrade to make iSilox better and keeping with other emerging technologies and new hardware; Dedication to registered users as evidenced by the detailed e-mail/newsletters; Quick and concise responses to support questions; Very public participation in this forum; Obvious cooperation with our Alex to openly receive bug reports and to maintain communication to the iSilo-using public; And. . . . you get the idea. The cost is small while the value is great. Count me all the way in. Marty

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08-05-2003, 10:11 AM	#13
Griff Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Houston, TX Device: Clie NR70v	The thing I notice is that everyone who has said the upgrade is worth the cost has also said they've had it installed for "quite a while". Of course the cost is worth it if you purchased 6 months or a year ago, but having just purchased a little over a month ago this is one cost I'll have to justify by the features it adds.

08-05-2003, 06:48 PM	#14
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	As I said, I've only been a registered user for a month or two myself, and I've registered for v4. To be honest, when I saw that it was version _4_, I expected to pay for an upgrade, as it is standard practice for almost all shareware to charge for major release upgrades. I agree, some grace period would be nice, but I'm still happy to show my support for such a fantastic product. The new features seem pretty good too (I'll be able to see them for myself in iSiloX when the next beta comes out :P ). I like the font support is a nice feature for us OS4 hires users as well. Regards, Craig.

08-05-2003, 06:52 PM	#15
Griff Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Houston, TX Device: Clie NR70v	Well, I've already decided that if the few features I'd like to see go in, I'll also purchase the upgrade. While I don't think the policy is fair, it is the policy and I'll abide by it. I would like to see the upgrade fee posted at Handango and Palmgear though as I do have some credits I need to use up.