Is it wishful thinking to think that Magix will announce a new update or version by end of this month?
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Is it wishful thinking to think that Magix will announce a new update or version by end of this month?
Unfortunately I think it is wishful thinking. Typically as I recall the updates happen towards the end of March.
Ray
;)):-O:eek:
That would suggest four updates a year. Magix has been eeking out two with perhaps a patch thrown in.Quote:
Originally Posted by RKissane
The last was in December! A mere 75 days ago.
Acorn
I received an email on the weekend from an Ana at Xara to download version 20 of Xara Designer Pro. wonder if that is iit?
Does Ana work for Magix or Xara? Care to share the email with me?
Version 20 has to be Xara Pro+.
Magix are still at v17.1
Their next jump into oblivion will be v18.0.
So thereafter you might get v18.1 with v19.0 and v19.1.
After that I think time's up.
Acorn
P.S. Try ana.garcia@xara.intercom-mail.com.
:banghead:
here is the email sender I got for version 20. anag@mail.xara.com
Scotty that link just opens a blank email window ;)
The email was from Xara and I believe was about the 20.8 release of Designer Pro+ from early Feb.
https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...e-20-8-0-61047
The 20.7 release of Designer Pro+ occurred before the holidays.
https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-December-2020
....and the next release of Designer Pro+ is being polished and tested for public release next week.
For all existing Xara Desktop product owners that are considering the leap to Xara Designer Pro+: there is a special 50% discount on your purchase today and you lock-in this price for your yearly renewals. Use the coupon code LIFETIME. This offer will expire soon. If you have any questions or have an active update service but want Pro+, then please contact us so we can help. https://www.xara.com/contact-us/
Download Xara Designer Pro+ here: https://www.xara.com/xara-cloud-plus/new-bundle/
* New and exclusive features
* Frequent updates and bug fixes
* Direct support from Xara
1. From a web development perspective (regardless of whether we are talking Magix sourced Designer Pro or Xara's Pro+.), to my mind, the last significant product update was v16 (June 2019). With it came Scale-to-Fit-Width (allowing a smooth transition from a wide desktop format, through tablet to a mobile format).
2. I have followed many TG threads on the respective upgrade paths for Magix and Xara. My update service with Magix ended in August 2020 at v17.0 – if one takes out the marketing hype, this should have been v16.4!
3. I actively manage a handful of websites for friends and family - Xara is focused on cloud-based collaborate document management (https://www.xara.com/).
4. I have no expectation there will be any significant web development functionality any time soon. Most of the free website 'Xara' templates are old in style (no variants), somewhat outdated, as are the slider/photo widgets.
5. Fortunately, TG has provided the expertise, inspiration and support to make most Xara widgets redundant, with very good alternatives for sliders, photo grids, Navbars and so on.
6. For me as a 'casual web user', I'll not be tracking down the Pro+ route anytime soon. I am not inspired by frequent updates that do nothing useful (other than fix bugs previously introduced).
7. As to the Pro+ 'LIFETIME' discount, the net annual licence fee/subscription is circa £100; stop paying and you lose access to the product.
8. The alternative, should you wish, is to Pro v(whatever number it might be) through Magix, whenever it appears (March 2021?), but at least it is a perpetual licence (it's yours to use for as along as you want).
9. Who knows what relationship will exist between Xara and Magix in the future, but right now my Xara licence fee cost is zero and I can use the product for as along as I choose.
10. BTW: I could still upgrade my old (not in use) Web Designer7 Premium for a one-off payment of GBP 40.00 to the latest version, through Magix, and get all the excellent third party templates (https://xaratemplates.com/product-ca...web-templates/) for FREE!
The upgrade thought process will be different depending on whether you are a professional web-developer or a casual user. I have no objection to paying an annual update/support fee (as I do for other software), when there is actually a benefit from doing so.
I 2nd Initiostar. I do not see myself using the + anytime soon.
I have taken out a pro+ but if I don't see ongoing benefit I will revert to ver 15, me being one of the few it seems these days on TG who does not build websites
the 4K is useful; the new rotation very; but there are alternatives outside of xara without the ongoing cost, or I just do it the old way...
given that there are servers active to respond to it's activation checks - unlikely not to be, unless something happens to magix [/xara], but worth pointing out...Quote:
I can use the product for as along as I choose
Still Magixal that Matt always fails to cover the Magix aspect. He initially promised the Update Service would have around four updates a year and slowly this has drifted almost back to the old-style Xara annual release. He promised Xara Cloud would be a server-based Designer Pro allowing agnostic browser-led design. This has been watered down too but augmented through Pro+.
The LIFETIME offer is actually the right price for current users who have regularly renewed the nasty Magix Update Service; nasty because you have paid for a version you cannot keep after expiry, losing patches and on-line access. Those who can afford an annual payment are better positioned with Xara Cloud+ & Pro+ (provided they have a fall-back to Xara Designer Pro). As @Initostar points out later versions have little to offer in purposeful new capability.
On the positive side, the hidden changes are quite creative and Xara would gain from revealing its technical roadmap (not a delivery one) to demonstrate a convergence to a properly integrated web-based product so we can all drop the marketing hype that Magix throws at us all.
Had I not already bought all the XaraTemplate's templates and XBuilder, I would jump at the only useful Magix offer of a free XBuilder and almost ignore the XWDP copy.
If you already own XDPX (any version)
- My recommendation requires a commitment of funds towards the equivalent of two years' subscription to Xara Cloud+ with Pro+.
- If after the first year you do not like the freedom from Magix, spend the second amount on an update to XDPX.
- Or save money and buy a new XWDP at the right time for another Magix XBuilder offer..
- You will have:
- Original XDPX with new shiny XWDP or updated XDPX.
- All the on-line assets XPro+ and Xara Cloud+ had.
- Access to TG to help you cope with XWDP limitations, which are mostly minor.
If you already own XWDP (any version)
- Renew the Update Service getting XBuilder.
- Commit to a year of LIFETIME subscription now or hope Xara sees the light that if they want to regain customers back from Magix, there is a hit involved.
- You will have:
- A XWDP at most a version older.
- All the on-line assets XPro+ and Xara Cloud+ had.
- Access to TG to help you (you already knew what you can do with XWDP).
Either route is around £160 commitment.
Acorn
I'm guessing the initial initial promises were made before xara had decided [or firmed up] the descision to remove the magix encumberance; said encumberance may in practice actually have hindered/prevented them fullfilling what they initially promised
As I understand, Xara took a decision with 3m of VC investment to 'venture' into a new market; farmed out the marketing and support for its then current generation of products to Magix. Xara only has circa 40 heads and its priorities with newly minted VC funds would have to be directed towards its new market.Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
I would not take issue with that decision, but it was always going to impact ongoing development of its then current products. I for one, fully understand that challenge.
But, I'm not sure I would have walked away from 1m existing customers; it would be have been easier and more fruitful to have published a technology roadmap and married it with an upgrade marketing strategy. The latter could have been a support/upgrade licence that retained the licence perpetuity of use for the base product, but extended the collaborative functionality through a cloud-based subscription.
It would have been easy to achieve both objectives and keep the underlying technology more in sync than it is. Now Xara has to faff-about building a separate release for Magix aka Pro v (whatever) at the same time as trying to advance into a new market.
With little effort, one could have transitioned to a single base product (including WD, WDP and Pro); existing users would have had the option to take up an annual support/ upgrade deal (preferential rates) and additionally subscribe to a cloud-based collaborative document management solution.
The objectives at the time were not mutually exclusive, and they're not even now.
That's what I did during the Magix Christmas sales. Even when calculating XBuilder at the discount price for which it was offered on Xara Templates' own site, XWDP required only an extra € 11. Compare that with the ridiculous upgrade price of € 149 (!) for XDP (okay, including a set of Xara web templates) and I'm happy to continue to use XDP 15.1, but now in tandem with XWDP 17. I haven't bothered with the XDP+ option, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Acorn
I've said it before, I love the XDAs, especially XDP but, however sad it is, Xara lost their way a long time ago and have been zigzagging to find their way back to relevance ever since.
But perhaps, I suddenly realize, I should look at the whole situation differently, as it is actually remarkable that Xara has managed to survive to this day.
New Nag screen says March 22.
Attachment 129019
That is a first. A release date and the promise of a capability!Quote:
Originally Posted by behzad
Perhaps Magix does listen.
Acorn
However, if you renew your update service NOW, and later (after your update service expires) have to re-install, you get the version current when you renewed. NOT V18 as far as I understand it!
it has been hammered for this for a long time - I can think of at least 2 members here who should be very happy :)
You are totally correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by ss-kalm
Acorn
which is rather disingenuous of them... again, some who do not read and understand the implications of the small print will get caught out
I need to see a list of the features before i bite the bait.
It's wise to wait and see.
As I mentioned in another post, wait until the dust has settled on a new version - several months. New versions usually came out in June or July. I would wait until August or September, renew, and hope that the next version comes out within the 1 year Update Service period along with a bug fix or two.
According to the popup I have been receiving when I get the renewal reminder for the last couple of days, the renewal date for WDP is 29 March.
The HiDPI interface might be beneficial... who knows what the workflow improvements are... the new content is usually not too impressive. Still waiting for the next big thing... but it doesn't appear to be in v18.Quote:
Version 18 of Xara Web Designer Premium is out on March 29th! Discover the new HiDPI program interface, helpful improvements to workflow and tons of new content. Renew your Update Service now and you'll get Version 18 directly upon its release. Plus, optimization tool PC Check & Tuning ($29.99 value) is included free for a limited time!
$59.99 Regularly $99.99
Is any new version available or not?
As I still can see only version 17.1.
If anyone has, please let me know.
Re "Version 18 of Xara Web Designer Premium" does it look lik it is this going to be something we can actually buy for a fixed fee, or the new insidious subscription-only business model (...where, if you ever want to edit your own data, over time you will pay an unlimited sum... until the day you die... which frankly talking of death I would rather die than pay!)Quote:
Originally Posted by gcellison
yes - once it comes out you can buy a permanent one-off license from magix - I would download a trial and make sure it is what you need before you buy [you can keep your old version as well. or uninstall it as you wish]
That is one opinion. Mine is more along the lines that I still have the older version permanently so I can cancel the subscription at any time and still access my data. If I am so inclined I can resubscribe for a month at any point I choose. If desperate, I might relicense a Magix product, but boy with its rubbish service and paltry updates and miserly rollback policy...Quote:
Originally Posted by shiphen
Two sides of the same coin.
Another view is I charge others for building things. Why would I not stay current to provide the best and latest?
As a hobbyist, I would be very happy with version 15, 10 or even 5 as I would use it as a tool rather than a business asset.
I have said elsewhere, consider it as a future investment so have the one-year cost of either in reserve so you can jump into or out of what is on offer.
Acorn
=D>;))
Keeping an old version of software is a reasonable suggestion, but how long until Xara change the format of their files? If/when they do so then you are screwed. And they are long-overdue to do if they want to create the ability to create lines with arrow heads that actually stop at the end of the line, instead of some seemingly random distance beyond it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Acorn
It is sad to see such a great product die a long, slow death.
Yes, I can see why the licensing model works for corporates but hobbyist or even business users who long have an occasional requirement the subscription model doesn't make any sense of any sort.
There's some reverse logic in that. All Xara XAR/WEB files have been backward compatible across generations of versions up to now. Yes, Smart components will not edit in older versions but they are still presented, disabled but visible. There are always workarounds. If you need a new feature then buy the latest Magix version or if it is really vital lease Pro+ for a month until the next panic. MagiXara will always eek out new features to make you think owning it is crucial. If you fall for that then you might as well get a subscription: always current, better support, frequent updates, no Magix.Quote:
Originally Posted by shiphen
There is a cost to sticking; even the OS or your PC will eventually die. There is a cost to keeping current.
It is down to how cussed you are.
Acorn
the thing that matters surely is that the feature you have asked for, for a very long time, now is here; that makes you happy right?Quote:
Originally Posted by shiphen
all the rest of it is another issue altogether - if you want/need to keep up to date, you have to pay to update either way, but at least the magix is optional, you can do it only when you consider it necessary; that is xara/magix business model and if they dont make enough money to keep going it all becomes academic
I rather like the idea of just subbing pro+ for a month when I need more than ver 15; what I hope xara do is make their online user management of this a lot easier without having to interact with them directly for things like change of payment method...
Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
Acorn's suggestion is an interesting one but indeed only if payments require just a few mouse clicks.
I've done it in the past with photoshop - adobe make it easy