What's the problem with posting release notes?

Sadly, my first post to this forum is to echo Boris’ and others’ concern on lack of information from the company. I've had my pocket edge since late December and it is THE tool I've been looking for over the past few years. I actually have a few friends in the government relations profession that are interested in this device as it meets a majority of our needs where a bberry or ipad fall short. (Happy to provide more detail in one of the other threads). Unfortunately, I'm holding off recommending the pocket edge to them until I get a better sense of how responsive this company is going to be to existing customers. I understand IT support has been great – but seeing the lack of a simple staff reply to these forum questions is indeed troubling.

Staff participation in these forums has always been minimal as it's basically "for the people, by the people". If you actually need something critical or important, www.entourageedge.com/support is always the way to go, and you'll receive a quick response.

However, this issue of being forthcoming with basic simple and periodic information has come up main times before, and each time enTourage has withheld until things blow up into an ugly scene. And it's happening again. Over a 5 line release note. Clearly lessons have not been learned.

Originally Posted by alefor

I continue to be disturbed by the fact that Entourage personnel find time to play policeman on this forum, yet seemingly do not have the time to tell us about a software update.

It's almost certainly someone's (er, snow's) specific job/duty to police the forums daily. No need for discussion or permission to do so from upper management. However, posting release notes likely requries permission to do so and/or discussion with a larger team (writing, fact checking, vetting, posting). I doubt one person fills all of those roles. I'm troubled by our collective implied consensus that it's okay to be slow in responding to requests for the SDK but not in responding to questions on the forum. Double standard there?

That said, it just seems remiss not to post release notes for software that's already been released.

I've just had the experience in the past with other devices or software that when company input to the forums dwindles - somethins a changin......

Originally Posted by borisb

However, this issue of being forthcoming with basic simple and periodic information has come up main times before, and each time enTourage has withheld until things blow up into an ugly scene. And it's happening again. Over a 5 line release note. Clearly lessons have not been learned.

If that is true, then our constant haranguing, complaining, begging, and pleading is clearly having no effect. Maybe the best bet would be for everyone just to take a "vacation" from the Forum for a few days... let tempers cool down, allow time for a proper response to be crafted, and, of course, to emphasize our discontent with lack of information and content. It's not likely that any new information will appear on the website or the Forum before Monday, anyway.

Good idea! See you Monday

Originally Posted by borisb

Good idea! See you Monday

Shhhh! We'll pretend we're following him out and when we think he's gone we'll tip-toe back in. He'll never know! *snicker*

Originally Posted by borisb

Good idea! See you Monday

The Forum without Borisb and/or Dr.T the next 4 days.
I guess we have Froyo 2.26 before that happens

There's Chinese New Years hollidays..,
so since at least some devs located in china, the reasonable period for vacation around 2 weeks

I think it's safe to say there will not be release notes for Dingo 1.13. I'm guessing sladwig has left enTourage and a replacement hasn't been found, or is still getting up to speed, hence the inability to post release notes (it was her job to manage them).

In any case, the update is safe to install if you want, and assume it adds nothing significant other than maybe a few minor bug fixes that affect only a small number of users.

Originally Posted by sjarrel

The Forum without Borisb and/or Dr.T the next 4 days.

My checking for updates about 1.13, Froyo, and, most importantly, ANY information on eInk software updates (zoomed annotation, landscape, etc.) was becoming obsessive. A thought-clearing break was necessary.

Plus, it feels good to throw a mini tantrum every now and again!

Originally Posted by borisb

I think it's safe to say there will not be release notes for Dingo 1.13. I'm guessing sladwig has left enTourage and a replacement hasn't been found, or is still getting up to speed, hence the inability to post release notes (it was her job to manage them). In any case, the update is safe to install if you want, and assume it adds nothing significant other than maybe a few minor bug fixes that affect only a small number of users.

It is unbelievable to me that this information is provided to the user community by someone other than Entourage personnel. This is brought into sharper focus by the fact that until now, we have been provided with information on a regular basis on this forum.... but suddenly there is no further information.

Originally Posted by Dr. T

My checking for updates about 1.13, Froyo, and, most importantly, ANY information on eInk software updates (zoomed annotation, landscape, etc.) was becoming obsessive. A thought-clearing break was necessary.

Plus, it feels good to throw a mini tantrum every now and again!

Yes, it was a good idea and I enjoyed my break, too Going forward, it looks like it's up to us to fill in the information gaps with best guesses, leaving it to enTourage to correct anything we guess wrong. No corrections would suggest we guessed right