How do you feel about the 365 Program?

**mwenz** · 11 February 2017, 03:04 PM

OK. Thank you Kate.

In your original response you mentioned you were disappointed about the negativity. I hope that you can look at all this change from your customers' point of view and understand the frustration with the new scheme--which means we too are disappointed with the direction of Magix Tricks, Xara and how this is all playing out.

Even with an active license, there are continually hiccups with the content catalog and people are not able to access it. The content system is slow in use. And even when the stars are aligned and everything seems to work fine, one cannot really search the local designs anymore and in the end, none of us that are discontent really trust in something that has such issues.

It's one thing to have an installation revert to as purchased should/when the inevitable happens. It's quite another not to have bug fixes available that are seemingly outside the scope of the 365 thingy. So I hope this is resolved.

This whole scheme is akin to what Corel tried with its Premium subscription, which was a pay up front for early access scheme. It failed for them.

Best regards, Mike

**mwenz** · 11 February 2017, 03:11 PM

To add, part of the frustration felt by at least myself is the seeming lack of actual application functionality updates, especially in the OT features and vector capabilities realm. Text styles are funky to use and needs rethought, etc.

Not to mention I have given up on ever seeing a JavaScript API guide--so much so I have abandon any care that it is ever released.

Which pretty much sums up my feelings about OT Features ever being implemented (and implemented properly and intuitively ala CD) and new, better, additional vector capabilities.

XDP has been fairly stagnant since I purchased my first license with version 6. The only real vector capabilities I personally take note of are the shape builder and eraser--I use them and have even hesitated to request any enhancement as I have given up hope of significant changes to what is otherwise the best, fastest vector drawing application available.

OpenType Features have been available to the wider market since 2002. Why are they not available in XDP?

**katemoir** · 11 February 2017, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by mwenz

OpenType Features have been available to the wider market since 2002. Why are they not available in XDP?

We are working on OpenType support. I just can't give you an eta!

**katemoir** · 11 February 2017, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by mwenz

OK. Thank you Kate.

Even with an active license, there are continually hiccups with the content catalog and people are not able to access it. The content system is slow in use. And even when the stars are aligned and everything seems to work fine, one cannot really search the local designs anymore and in the end, none of us that are discontent really trust in something that has such issues.

Best regards, Mike

I'm only aware of one serious problem with connectivity with the Online Content Catalog, which we posted about here on TG. Are you still experiencing problems?? But I agree it's slower than it should be.

You know, the Find function in the Designs Gallery hadn't worked properly for quite some time. We couldn't easily fix that but kept it there as better than nothing. Now we have a proper search function in the Online Content Catalog so we've removed the Find function from the DG.

**mwenz** · 11 February 2017, 04:14 PM

Hi Kate:

https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...tent-Catalogue

These pop up frequently.

Or even obtaining help from both Magix & Xara:

https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...s-service-xara

It would take me too long to go through the forum for problems that recur. The two types of issues are frequent. But they are there. Xara employees are frequently here and often enough, unless it is a web issue where Ben steps in, problems are handled by Xara's free support people--us.

My main issues with the Content Catalog is its on-line only connectivity and its slowness. I often work off-line on a laptop. Aside from simply not being within Wi-Fi connectivity range during decent weather (I like being under the grape arbor when it's worm enough), I am frequently waiting for client meetings and what not and use that time for design work. So the DG is important for me. And when I am connected, it is important to be able to search while at say Starbucks between meetings or on a client Wi-Fi wherein connections are slow by themselves and then the CC is near unusable.

Mike

**katemoir** · 11 February 2017, 04:28 PM

Just a final hint to those of you saying you are disappointed in the most recent feature additions: We have a survey for Designer Pro and PGD 365 owners @ http://www.xara.com/products/designer/survey/. You may have missed it, or not noticed the 'suggest a feature' question because it was optional, but of the 460 separate feature suggestions so far, not very many are vector ones. Surveys like this are just one source of information so I don't want to overstate the weight we'll put on it, but nevertheless if you have a favorite vector suggestion it can only help if you do the survey and add your voice (please don't post your suggestions in this thread though!).

Also the Xara designer behind the photo filter pre-sets & overlays has recently started a thread @ https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-Xara-Designer, he'd be happy to talk with anyone about content.

**mwenz** · 11 February 2017, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by katemoir

Just a final hint to those of you saying you are disappointed in the most recent feature additions: We have a survey for Designer Pro and PGD 365 owners @ http://www.xara.com/products/designer/survey/. You may have missed it, or not noticed the 'suggest a feature' question because it was optional, but of the 460 separate feature suggestions so far, not very many are vector ones. Surveys like this are just one source of information so I don't want to overstate the weight we'll put on it, but nevertheless if you have a favorite vector suggestion it can only help if you do the survey and add your voice (please don't post your suggestions in this thread though!).

Also the Xara designer behind the photo filter pre-sets & overlays has recently started a thread @ https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-Xara-Designer, he'd be happy to talk with anyone about content.

The Wish list here is still a viable option isn't it? Strikes me I did the survey while being anonymous.

How many responses on the survey were for OT Feature support?

Quark publishes the result of its 5 page survey each year. It acts upon many of those (and other items) each new version. The important thing about the survey (to me) is that the ranking helps users to see what their contemporaries wish for and how the ranking influences Quark in implementing them.

Serif keeps a running feature list it is incorporating into incremental and milestone versions. Most of those items come from users.

One key take-away here is the communication involved. Communication engenders product "ownership" among your customers. They feel part of something and no matter how minor that they have a voice in the future of the product. Secrecy--which is how Xara has traditionally operated--engenders disaffection, disloyalty and suspicion.

When secrecy is combined with the psychological trauma of major changes, Xara is setting itself up for a fall in loyal customers. That is simething Xara can ill afford. Gawd knows Xara/Magix is not out there creating buzz in the graphic design world and never really has. It is your loyal customers that create the buzz. So throw us a communication bone as to proposed, upcoming features that covers the short-, mid- & long-term outlook for your products.

Mike

**Acorn** · 11 February 2017, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by katemoir

Just a final hint to those of you saying you are disappointed in the most recent feature additions: We have a survey for Designer Pro and PGD 365 owners @ http://www.xara.com/products/designer/survey/. You may have missed it, or not noticed the 'suggest a feature' question because it was optional, but of the 460 separate feature suggestions so far, not very many are vector ones. Surveys like this are just one source of information so I don't want to overstate the weight we'll put on it, but nevertheless if you have a favorite vector suggestion it can only help if you do the survey and add your voice (please don't post your suggestions in this thread though!).
Also the Xara designer behind the photo filter pre-sets & overlays has recently started a thread @ https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-Xara-Designer, he'd be happy to talk with anyone about content.

... And the Winner of this Year's Xara Survey is (Drumroll ... ... ...) ... Xara!
No published winner, no list of asks, no stated prize, just give us your email, just trust us.

Acorn

**katemoir** · 11 February 2017, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Acorn

... And the Winner of this Year's Xara Survey is (Drumroll ... ... ...) ... Xara!
No published winner, no list of asks, no stated prize, just give us your email, just trust us.

Acorn

Prize is mentioned on the page http://www.xara.com/products/designer/survey/ and the surveys are still running, so it's not too late for anyone who hasn't done them yet.

**digitalphaser** · 11 February 2017, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by katemoir

Prize is mentioned on the page http://www.xara.com/products/designer/survey/ and the surveys are still running, so it's not too late for anyone who hasn't done them yet.

I am not the PRO X365 owner. I am of course very sorry that I looked this survey. I found it very amusing.
What is it all about?

Who have advised you to buy our car? What do you use most often the brake pedal or accelerator pedal? Do you want a round or square steering wheel? Do you need an ashtray in the car?

Read the developers sometimes "Dear Xara" section? It may be worth looking at what are competitors doing?

I do not think that PRO users desperately need some templates or OCC. PRO users need professional tools and features.