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How do you feel about the 365 Program?
It is approaching a year since the initial release of Designer Pro X 365.
I think now might be a good time to post comments for Xara/Magix about how well or not well this program has worked.
From my First Look Review last year, I wrote:
Quote:
Here’s a quick explanation of how the 365 Update Service works. When you purchase Designer Pro X 365 (or any of the other 365 products), you get new content, features and updates for one year. If you renew your purchase at the end of the 365 days, you continue to have access to all the content, new features, and updates. If you decide to wait a while, after the 365 days are up, the product is still available but the Content Catalog, any new updates, and new features will no longer be available.
So, what do you think?
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I have been disappointed.
I will say that Xara has done some updates to the content catalog over this past year. However, the big reason I thought that Xara wentwith this new program model was so that Xara could release new features to the program without waiting for the next years program release. Xara has not made any release to the program other than a bug fix and we got that under the old model. Xara made a big point in saying that they are constantly working on new features and with the new program model these features could be implemented right away. Well where are they?
So the real question is, when the year is up do we renew because there has not been any program feature updates so all you would be getting is a content catalog. Or has Xara gone back to the old program model and not told anybody and only new features will be release with new software.
As far as what the software does, I like it real well. I do think Xara needs to address document publishing needs because they are failing behind the other manufactures and they to need worked on this to stay in this market.
Ray
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Gary's highlighted comment in the first post is the exact reason I have not upgraded to the 365 version. The comments in the second post were also what I was concerned about. I realize that several software providers are going to this method of ensuring cash flow but I am old fashioned and do not intend to support this practice. I realize that we do not 'own' this software but rather we 'own' the right to use it but somehow this just seems wrong to me. As I said, I am old fashioned and I don't wish to stir up any ill feelings but you asked what I thought.
Bob
(I use version X9 almost every day and it never fails me...had Xara/Magix continued with their previous marketing practices I would have updated.)
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
My sentiment is the same as most. This version will be my last.
Have supported them for the last few years... But don't feel like it's worth to continue.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
One more me too?
I didn't believe in the concept from the first announcement and I think that like others have mentioned, it hasn't been executed well.
setting aside the connectivity issues that pop up from time to time, the on-line content is a slow slog at the best of times. Also the fact that XDP hasn't really seen any true features being added, the lack of even knowing what is on a road-map for future inclusion is plain stupid. It amounts to a pig in a poke, blind faith or what have you.
There needs to be more open communication, even if it "hurts." Where does Xara plan on taking XDP? What exactly is being planned? What is the hold up in executing those plans?
And Gary, do you think this thread will really result in anything positive from either Magix Tricks or Xara?
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Quote:
And Gary, do you think this thread will really result in anything positive from either Magix Tricks or Xara?
I am curious to know how users feel about what was offered and what has been delivered so far. The only thing that will really have results is whether or not users continue to buy/invest in the program. And I think now is a good time to get user feedback.
My hope is Xara and Magix can learn from user feedback.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Well I have always upgraded to the new version when it arrived, so I figured buying the subscription did not really change anything. I was hoping that it would remove the impatience I feel each year as I wait for the pro version to appear, we will see. I am surprised that we did not get at least one new feature rolled out during the year.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I agree that Xara hasn't delivered any substantial updates since 365 was released. A lot of what's been added is catalogue content, hence – mostly stuff
which simply expires in case one doesn't renew the license contract. We're approaching spring – the time when the new version of Web-Designer used
to appear. I can not imagine that anyone here would say that what we got thus far would justify a new version number.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mwenz
There needs to be more open communication, even if it "hurts." Where does Xara plan on taking XDP? What exactly is being planned? What is the hold up in executing those plans?
Yeah, I generally think that the way Xara deals with their customers has totally fallen out of time. No forum run and supported by Xara staff, outsourced
customer support to India and no way to directly contact developers – this all simply isn't how modern software companies interact with their customers.
I only use Xara for a bit of Web editing but work with about a dozen or so other products on a daily basis. The only firm I recall which has even worse customer
support is Xara's mother-ship Magix. They even dare offering payed Telephone support to paying customers.
With the majority of software products I use I made greatly different experiences. Let it be equally small companies like Serif or even industry giants
with thousands of employees like Autodesk. They all run own fora, have dedicated Full time Support staff, but also Core programmers posting regularly
Most of them post feature roadmaps and showcase in development prototypes and have public bugtrackers. The makers of Xara don't use any of these
tools to make a better product.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Hi, I was re-reading the update service (see link http://www.xara.com/us/update-service/ ) and I am disappointed at what was delivered versus what was promised. Since the last full release was on April 13, 2016 the 70 day countdown of the calendar is on. Time will tell if the wait was worth it.
Ciao
Roly
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Wasn't there an update in November with some new text options?
Not that I was anxiously waiting for those... But they did throw us a bone!
It just isn't enough to keep me exited.
It's sad... Cause I really do like Designer Pro
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dutchim
Wasn't there an update in November with some new text options?
Not that I was anxiously waiting for those... But they did throw us a bone!
It just isn't enough to keep me exited.
It's sad... Cause I really do like Designer Pro
Cannot remember about the text thing. I do remember some web and image editing things in November. I don't use XDP for web crap and I use an image editor for image work.
But what's it say concerning usage of these new/enhanced features if we need to look them up to even see what they were?
Just looked. Several image editing things were added in November. A new smart shape. Word & PDF import improvements. Content Catalog stays open. Looks like the only new text thing is being able to make a TOC...which of the three people that makes books, they may care if they ever use XDP again to do a book.
Mike
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Not impressed that we are kept in the dark as to what new features will be added. If no new eye catching improvements and features are introduced by my years end then I will switch to wordpress for good.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Thanks for asking.
I’m also mostly disappointed with the lack of updates. I check the forum most days and my heart leaps a little when I see under TalkGraphic Announcements "Just Released: Updates to..." then fall into a decline when I spot the November date. In fact XPGD was last updated in October.
Another disappointment is this latest version (v12) has been more buggy than the last (non-365) one. It's still a great creative program but not necessarily my first choice for photo editing or graphic design anymore.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Yes, a disappointing year. I don't see me renewing simply to keep use of the catalogue of stuff that I don't use. Also they shall have to come up with something exciting for me to splash the cash. Other small companies already mentioned are getting more adventurous while Xara seems to be stuck at the roadside.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Well, I've been pretty scathing about Xara/Magix in recent times, because of the company's lack of response to very reasonable requests for improvements for Open Type support. So I thought I'd go easy on the criticism regarding the subscription model they have introduced. However, I cannot idly read the above comments without making a response. As far as I can see it's win/win for the company - a year's income for doing next to nothing, and lose/lose for the loyal band of customers who have, to all intents and purposes been taken for a ride. To trust any company to deliver improvements with vague assurances that unspecified improvements will be forthcoming during the period of the subscription is a sign that the customer needs a reality check. If it looks like a scam, smells like a scam and tastes like a scam, then it's a scam, folks. Xara/Magix are laughing all the way to the bank. Not even an apology, no faux remorse, nada.Just my two cents.Bob.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
So I have not posted here in a while. I've been with Xara since the beginning (I guess that shows my age and my better decisions I've made in my life), and I'm sitting currently working on a new logo for my friend in XP11. I'm an exceptionally loyal person (been married over 30 years) , and tend to stick with what works for me, through thick and thin. I have religiously upgraded since the '90s (through mergers etc..) , and have produced designs I've never thought would come out of my hands with this wonderful tool. I purposely did not upgrade to 365 to see where Charles Moir and others are going to take us. As others have stated, I waited patiently for the product to evolve as a vector design product, and it has not grown significantly for my personal requirements. It is very difficult for me to move away from a product, one due to my loyalty, and the other is I hate to go through another learning curve, however, I think the time for me personally has come. None of the vector products I've used through the years have been perfect, but after testing the new Affinity Designer, I'm going to switch. It may work out it may not but I think the new subscription model coupled with lack of significant engineering movement on the product makes my decision easier. It is not the new model, it is the new model with the last 2 years of lack of engineering movement on the product.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I am pretty sure that the company is putting it's resource into the revenue stream side, ie WEB, rather than drawing
There are just too many viable alternatives around these days... and maybe not just for the drawing side....
The company is on record as saying they switched to the 365 model because they wanted to give their customer base updates straight away rather than make them wait until annual release, but no guarantees were given about frequency or content - in other words, if you read the small print, the company did not actually promise there would be updates during the year, just that we would get them early if there happened to be any
It's a very difficult market in which xara does not have the advantages it once had; not at all sure this helps them
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
By now xara is nothing more than abandonware owned by a company that's only interested in selling licensed content.
Like an all-you-can-eat restaurant.
It doesn't have to be a five-star restaurant but being at least something more then your local MacDonalds should be doable.
They better had gone up the M1 to Nottingham,from there came news that excited me to buy instantly.
Not by the slick marketing but they interact with and are engaged by and for their customers.
They are not there yet but started from scratch on their new products.
Last thing to add is:
Pride doesn't pay the bills.
Hans
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I purchased Xara Designer Pro X 365 when it came out in July 2016. Since then there were a few bug-fix updates and, in November, one upgrade with new or improved features. Because I wanted to have a clear overview of what was added to the app, I copied (from the "What's New" page) & pasted these features below. I'm not sure what to think of the list (or this new 365-scheme) or what to expect from a next upgrade. This is especially so because it's very unclear where Xara wants to take XDP and its spinoffs. I find it unfortunate that the company is not more forthcoming in this area but, then again, Xara, even though well-intentioned, has never been known for its communication skills. So, my answer to Gary’s question is a shrug and a wait-and-see stance.
Web Design:
• An easy to use Link to heading option (no anchor names required) NEW - November 2016
• Improved web page transition animations (smoother and more consistent across different browsers and devices) NEW - November 2016
Photo & Graphic Design:
• UPDATED - November 2016: Now as you drag the handles [of photos in the Photo Tool] to adjust an image, a feint copy of the full uncropped image is shown behind.
• NEW November 2016 - we've added 50 new photo filters, now 75 in total! We've also categorised the filters to make it easier to find just the right filter to achieve the effect or ambience you're looking for!
• UPDATED - November 2016: Feathering settings preserved and region naming improvements in the Photo Effect Painter
Text Handling:
• NEW - NOVEMBER 2016 Table of Contents. You can now build a Table of Contents automatically and insert it at the caret position, a massive time saver for anyone creating a long document.
• An extended List Properties dialog for easier list editing NEW - November 2016
• Ability to align text vertically NEW - November 2016
• Delete Style option added NEW - November 2016
• The Style Properties dialog now includes the option to set the outline level of a heading style NEW - November 2016
Content:
• Online Content Catalog: UPDATED - November 2016 (can now download higher than HD resolution photos for print docs)
• Google Forms widget added to the Content Catalog. You can create your own custom forms but Google also offers templates for the most popular forms including surveys, questionnaires and contact forms. Plus there's an easy to use editor, reliable data storage, presentation and analysis. NEW - October 2016
• New Chevron & Arrow SmartShape NEW - November 2016
Other Enhancements:
• Styles updated in blank templates in File > New (eg adding 'Keep with Next' to heading styles of print templates) NEW - November 2016
• Option to keep Content Catalog open after selecting an item NEW - November 2016
• Improved Word import and export UPDATED - November 2016
• Improved PDF import UPDATED - November 2016
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
As a fan of this software since Artworks by Computer Concepts I have been a loyal customer who upgraded regularly. I did baulk at the change of direction when the 365 payment model came out and did not take it up straight away. After a few months something made be upgrade (can't remember what - perhaps the fear of losing out on something) but I have been disappointed since - both in the lack of improvements and the bugs which have caused me problems. [With which members on this forum have been more help than Xara at solving].
Over the last few years there was always something that persuaded me that upgrading would be worthwhile - though in reality the extras often were of little use to me or disappointing. Like others in this thread I am now somewhat disillusioned and will need some persuading to continue upgrading.
There is software I paid £15-£20 for a decade ago and which has given me free upgrades ever since. Now I realise that this is not a model many firms could follow but between that and the other extreme of fleecing loyal customers with large annual expense for very little, there should be some reasonable middle ground option.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
haakoo
By now xara is nothing more than abandonware owned by a company that's only interested in selling licensed content.
Like an all-you-can-eat restaurant.
It doesn't have to be a five-star restaurant but being at least something more then your local MacDonalds should be doable.
They better had gone up the M1 to Nottingham,from there came news that excited me to buy instantly.
Not by the slick marketing but they interact with and are engaged by and for their customers.
They are not there yet but started from scratch on their new products.
Last thing to add is:
Pride doesn't pay the bills.
Even this forum which should be the main communication-channel is dead in the water.
Lurking here since I stepped out shows no engagement,no real new members only threads by moderators to keep some flow here.
Only this thread made me show-up.
So thanks Gary,for your question,questioning the future of xara.
Hans
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I appreciate the candor of the comments here and I want to hear from other members of the forum. Your comments are important. So if you have a comment, positive or otherwise speak out.
I only ask that you be respectful.
Boy - Thank you for posting that list. I had forgotten a lot of those features.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Not commenting on the "new features" or "capabilities" themselves, I don't like the program of having to have access to the internet for certain features. I doesn't make sense to the end user at all, IMHO.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
gwpriester
Boy - Thank you for posting that list. I had forgotten a lot of those features.
:)
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Looks like Xara decided to build a wall and we're paying for it.
It only took us 300 days to find out.
Acorn
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I have not purchased 365 and do not plan on it. I think with version X11 I didn't see any really new features that I needed. So, going up to 365 didn't seem worth the expense. If I did use Xara for web design - maybe I would appreciate getting "two new swishes" or "three new transitions" - but, since I only use it for graphics... did not really need to upgrade. I have bought EVERY UPGRADE since version 2.0 - this is the first time I did not upgrade.
Two features that would make me think about upgrading and use Xara as a website tool
1. make dynamic content work better
2. give me a way to create Wordpress themes in Xara
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I bet that any new features will be released in July, around about the time that the subscriptions that the faithful took out will be due for renewal.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jimi King
I bet that any new features will be released in July, around about the time that the subscriptions that the faithful took out will be due for renewal.
Hi Jimi, wasn't that last April 13, 2016?
Ciao
Roly
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Blimey was it? Doesn't time fly.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I am also disappointment in the product and regret upgrading.
The catalogue system is a mess even Find has gone, they have made much more difficult and frustrating to use.
Much of what I want now in the catalogue can be found elsewhere.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Is it just me that thinks this version is the best version that we've had or not. I find it stable, it never crashes now, still as easy to use and just as fast as it always has been. Could it be better? yes, sure tooting, must be the answer. Do I like the subscription model, probably not, although does it change much, no not really, I still have this version on my computer for as long as I want it.
Because it's called 365 do people want it to be updated once a week,,,,once a month,,,,once every 3 months,,,, twice a year? Look at Adobe's updates in Illustrator it happens about every 3 months and many users have to be told to update their programmes and even then some don't bother if my friends are anything to go by. They have the pleasure of shelling out £17/month not to update. Serif's Affinity makes a big thing out of being non subscription when selling their product but looking at their other products I bet you a pound to a penny they will try & sell you an upgrade every 18 months. What's the difference between Xara and Serif not much about 6 moths and about £90. Maybe it's the £90 bit that hurts the most is "365" £90 pounds better value than Affinity because it is a better product. To me nothing has changed much in the way that our programme works it just it was a sneaky way to introduce a price hike.
The way Gary introduced this topic was to invite everyone to discuss the way the subscription license was working and not really a "what would you like to see in the next version" but if you will let me here is my list:
Redesign of Galleries ---- Asset Management(local design gallery is not good enough) ---- Better Vector Brushes ---- Open Type Fonts ----- Refined typography Styles
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
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Originally Posted by
Albacore
Is it just me that thinks this version is the best version that we've had or not...
Why do you believe it is the best version?
I think it is a good version. Best? I think the shape building and vector eraser where the last thing I would have considered best as regards actually drawing. I don't actually draw/sketch much, so I haven't really taking advantage of the brushes.
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Because it's called 365 do people want it to be updated once a week,,,,once a month,,,,once every 3 months,,,, twice a year?
Xara made the announcement that the products would be update X times during a release cycle. While enhancements have been made in November, and some piddly content added, I don't think this was what people envisioned (but most who spoke up about the change "feared" would happen).
However, to me, the biggest issue will remain the reverting to as bought should a reinstall happen.
Quote:
Serif's Affinity makes a big thing out of being non subscription when selling their product but looking at their other products I bet you a pound to a penny they will try & sell you an upgrade every 18 months. What's the difference between Xara and Serif not much about 6 moths and about £90...
Of course at each major version number Serif will charge for the upgrade. Did they say they wouldn't? All minor versions are free. So buy it at version 1.x, no more money until version 2.x. the 1st time cost is roughly $50 off of sale. So 16-18-24 months from now, another $29.
Xara products are released every 12 months or so. XDP is way over-priced at roughly $300 for an initial license purchase. A yearly upgrade is roughly $100. So do the math you really didn't do. How in the world is that even remotely equivalent to Serif's pricing?
While Affinity Designer has a ways to go yet in certain areas, at least when I tell it to use the Registration color it puts it on all plates. All of them. That was one of the first things I wrote to Xara about when I bought version 6. XDP has a Print on all plates feature--which does not work and never has.
AD supports complex OT Features--I know because there was one, that is the number one, OT Feature that wasn't working properly. It's slightly esoteric thing, but I contacted the developer in charge of the text functions, sent a test file and a font to demonstrate the problem, and two days later I received back a reply that the problem was in their code and the fix would be in the next beta. Sure enough it was.
I don't know if Xara will ever add OT Feature support. But do you think it will be as usable out of the gate? Do you think if there is such a problem that it would be rectified as quickly? Do you think Xara even cares? Who really knows because they are so damn paranoid about communication!
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I use some software which is updated not every year(mainly 3d soft). But I get the upgrade for which I want to pay, although it is often 3-5 times more expensive than Xara. The reason is not the price. I do not want to finance next „trinket“.
I am happy that 12. version has become stable and best. It is a pity that X11 remained the same crude and unstable as it was. Right now I'm trying via xara’s support to solve a problem with google font and font awesome. The support team has responded relatively quickly. Let's see what will happen next.
It is strange to compare Xara vs Illustrator. The number of AI’s features equally XDP X50. Sorry.
But XDP still remains my favorite vector editor, and I follow the Xara’s news. Although I will skip next upgrade likely too. Maybe later. Level of CD X8 will suit me.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I really really hope TPTB at Xara and Magix have a thorough read through of this thread and what has been said. I think that we have all been extremely disapointed at the direction that Magix has taken the company and the program into. Just one new feature or a worthwhile upgrade of an existing feature would have made a difference to many here.
This is one time I think that Xara should break their silence and talk to us.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Mike W. I prefer not to get into a discussion or debate. And Albacore, not the right place for a feature request.
Let's keep focused and hear from as many members as possible to give Xara a projectable idea of the acceptance of this marketing concept.
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
I think that I was the first to announce this new program on TG having lived through it with other Magix programs before it was announced for Xara.
At the time, and the bottom line, Xara came up with a new version with new and improved features and that if you wanted it all, you had to purchase/upgrade to get it. Xara had some new features that I definitely wanted and needed, so I upgraded. I did not upgrade because there was the possibility of getting some future, unknown features. I am wondering if anyone else purchased based on future unknown features; I doubt it.
Xara/Magix at the same time proposed the infamous 365 program which you all know about and in which Xara would or may release new features early - in advance of a new version (and there would be no new versions), thus giving you something that you would not normally get by simply upgrading. And they said that you could keep any new features that came out after you paid for the upgrade, so long as you did not have to reinstall the program. You did not pay for any features that were not available when you paid - you paid only for the features that were available at the time of payment. Getting new features afterwards, over the next year, was a bonus, that is all. This was clear to me. Secondly, if Xara/Magix only came up with some minor, not really useful features over the course of the year and a user did not want to lock them in by paying for the next year, then it was simply a matter of not paying. Wait until there is something that is useful. This is basically the same as it was before.
Therefore, the message to Xara/Magix is simply,
1. You came up with some good features and I want to lock them in so here is my money for the next year; or
2. You did not come up with anything that I want to keep, I am disappointed and thus I am not paying you any money until you have something that I want.
As for me, so far Xara has not come up with anything new that I want since I paid. If they do not come up with something enticing between now and the anniversary date, I will not be renewing. I will keep on using the "version" that I purchased.
So that you know, on the Magix products, there have been some products that have been substantially upgraded over the course of the year, and others that have received only minor upgrades. The best examples are Movie Edit Pro Plus (MEP) vs Video Pro X (VPX). The former had a very nice upgrade with interesting new features. The latter did not even get these new features, only a few features that really have no impact on me. In fact, Magix has even been way behind in fixing known bugs in VPX but has fixed most of them in MEP. So, as with Xara, I am disappointed. I expected more.
John
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Re: How do you feel about the 365 Program?
Most of my problems with Xara P&GD are beyond their control (i.e. tethered to the very weak visual C interface, with nonsense back-end updates that break everything due to this stupid MSV140.dll junk).
That said, things that Xara itself did wrong in this release:
Catalog/smart shapes is very workflow killing. Without it in the default flyout and being tied to the internet, what's the point of that? I'm personally sick and tired of everything being 'always on' and 'always downloading/updating'. This is a waste of my resources, personally and the actual menus now, again, are cumbersome and don't flow at all with the existing paradigms they set up the rest of the program to fall under. In other words, it looks like they took a box that holds everything just nice, then duct taped a cell phone to it and called it 'modern connectivity'. Sorry, but it doesn't work for me.
The things I do like that were added were the knew quick photo editing tools, specifically x-filter. I didn't think I'd use it much, by oh my, it works really nicely with photo temperature to get all kinds of nice color edits quickly.
My wishlist:
Get rid of the color plugin selections under effects: I feel these are so generic they should be built in and not external with their own interfaces that don't match what Xara does. In fact, I feel that a lot of the 'generic' things in the plugins effects should be built in and accessible via the regular photo editing tools. How they implement it, could be disasterous based on how their catalog has morphed into something that I don't use at all despite the fact some of the smart shapes are really nice. But that interface...the strongest point of Xara *IS* the interface and workflow and it seems based on my couple of years using it, they don't have anyone with a clear vision adding these tools in, so they all feel like a room of cats that the end user has to herd up. I mean, if I wanted menu after menu of time wasting, I'd just use Illustrator tbh.
So first and foremost, I'd like to see a more unified experience that relies less on on menus and reconstitute the flyouts. The ones that are there are excellent, so there's no reason new features can't be fit into new flyouts. As long as the selections are thoughtful and careful, less *IS* more. Just filling in checkboxes to compete with software that is popular is how to lose focus and get stuck in 'feature creep'. We don't need a lot of this stuff the way it is. We need the stuff that's in there to not feel alien.
So overall, I'm just 'meh' about it all. I still think Xara is the fastest tool to get from idea to finished vectors and has(had, rather...what happened to the old raster tool where you could draw pixels?) decent photo/raster tools, but if they keep down this path, there's going to be absolutely nothing to incentivize following them with upgrades any further, imo. I think this is a huge fallacy of software in general: Knowing when to quit. Upgrades end up being more combersome and hype and 'features' can only get you so far. In the end, once something is perfect, you don't mess it up by going further. I'm sure anyone who uses photoshop would agree with this, since CS4 was the last time anything useful was added, yet every week, there's a 'new upgrade' to that too, which doesn't do anything for the end user except make them wait for the program that should immediately launch have download a gig of useless nonsense. Don't let Xara fall into this...it's painful.