Product Confusion / Magix Relationship Breakdown?

[browj2]

@Acorn

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Magix does not make or change or upgrade Xara desktop. That is done by Xara. Magix distributes and support (problem tickets) the programs - that is all.

Magix has gone for annual updates and a naff Update Service that Xara is probably contractually obliged to uphold.

Not according to the Magix.com website:



Xara has been failing in their obligations to us, the users, who pay for the product, and has abrogated their responsibilities to Magix who can't do anything because Xara does the programming. I expect Xara to come up with at least two new releases (new features) between new versions. They have not. They managed to do it initially. then slowed down until now, whereby we just get a bug patch. This has never been a Magix problem, always a Xara problem and responsibility.

As indicated in the above image, we are supposed to get new features and updates for free for a year. Xara has released new features for the Cloud version but not for the desktop version. If Xara has decided that it no longer wants to publish the desktop versions then tell us. Fix the last bugs (I have 1 that has been annoying me for years) and release a last version. Then bye bye. Those who are satisfied with a Cloud product and a subscription can subscribe; those who don't need it or want it can just keep going with the old desktop version and find something else.

Version 19 was released last March so, as has been mentioned, a new version will likely be released soon.

I expect better.

[Acorn]

@Acorn Please correct me if I'm wrong. Magix does not make or change or upgrade Xara desktop. That is done by Xara. Magix distributes and support (problem tickets) the programs - that is all.

John, Magix does not alter the basic XDA functionality. What it does is augments it with external links to control what promotions it cares to present, the timed removal of access to the OCC, replacing such with extension offers. It also monitors all your on-line XDA accesses. It includes Online and UPS folders to control the above. The time taken for all of this by Magix is reflected in the version date and the Magix release date.

I note Magix is now at version (19.0).1.65946; Xara Plus is (22.5).1.65716 so technically v19 has a later subversion base.
Who decides which features are presented or disabled can only be guessed at but it would appear Xara is delivering the latest to Magix, presumably throughout the year.
To do so is not hard. Harder will be the updating of the Help Manuals and the OCC.

I have not been following the lack of updates for the Magix products but I would be mighty unimpressed had I bought in at v19.0 to miss getting or briefly v20 and only have a bug fix that I would lose had I have to reinstall.

Acorn

[handrawn]

acorn is a programmer I am not, but I have always thought that software is [or should be] modular - in that sense when the compiler is put together by magix, yes they build the upgrade but only in the same way that I build a PC from modules: boards heatsinks CPU memory etc

I choose my own modules for my computer; magix are given modules by xara to include in the update, though how much is direction and how much is when you get around to it I couldn't say....

that's how I understand it

[Chris M]

When the subject of Pro+ vs Magix comes up (which is quite often), it always seems to turn into a competition.

At the very basic level:
As soon as an update/fix/whatever is available, it is pushed out to the Xara+ range. Magix is rolled out twice a year at best.
Xara+ is SAAS (rent it, not buy it). Stop paying, stop using.
Magix is buy and own forever that particular version only. If you buy v19, you do not forever own 19.1, just 19.
The rest gets lost in all the 'ah, buts' that float around.

One of the biggest points is that neither Xara+ nor Magix versions appear to be properly maintained. There are many failings that are passed off as quirks, or anomalies, that are completely ignored. As Acorn stated somewhere else, over 100 photo filters were added as a feature. Why not fix the non-working parts you have? A new dangly air freshener doesn't compensate for the fact the car has a misfire and a wobbly wheel.

[handrawn]

as has been said elsewhere they should idealy do what serif did with affinity - rewrite all their modules from scratch; I would imagine some of the program modules are very long in the tooth, the documentation perhaps not so helpful for those not around at the time they were written... limitations built in to suit yesterdays hardware that could be removed...

[Boy]

This discussion is like a seasonal rash.

I feel the itch but try my best to resist the temptation to scratch.

[handrawn]

be strong

[browj2]

@Chris_M

Why not fix the non-working parts you have? A new dangly air freshener doesn't compensate for the fact the car has a misfire and a wobbly wheel.

Thank you for giving me a morning laugh. May I use that on the other forum? I'll give you credit.

[Chris M]

@Chris_M



Thank you for giving me a morning laugh. May I use that on the other forum? I'll give you credit.

Go for it. This is a public forum, no copyright or anything like that. Copy/paste away.