Well, for the 'amount' of updates at the moment an announcement in the forums does it's job. I mean realistically, there are only 3- 4 apps left that get updates nevertheless. This mess with selling Impulse, then letting it discontinue Object Desktop support and having NOTHING ready to replace it shows the state Stardock development is in and the care for customers perfectly.

And with all really big respect, everyone who wants to tell us that nothing changed in these last ten years is either payed for it (which is fine with me) or as a worst case suffers senility or something. I still hope I am wrong with the last.

Still I won't get into this debate too deep, I've seen it coming since some time and had my penalty for it. And no bad blood intended, just food for thought.

The replacement is right here, which is what people asked for since we released Impulse to be honest.

https://store.stardock.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/myaccount/products

 

I know that site, using it myself. Still I don't believe people had looking at a website in mind. At least not Object Desktop subscribers which came from SDC and I BET, those where not the main group complaining about Impulse. It is quite a difference having to look up updates for one or two games versus having to look up updates for 8-10 OD apps (in it's good times). And having no access to betas is not quite what OD used to be all about either.

*sigh* I really would like to discuss that matter in real life. Sometimes writing about something is just not the same and doesn't do it justice.

IIRC, almost all the complaints about Impulse came from the gaming side.  While a dedicated app/update manager would probably please most of the ODNT users, it is not strictly speaking necessary, as long as access to interim betas & release updates is provided in a simple manner.  I don't consider the current My Account setup to be simple - it does not appear to give you any clues as to whether updates are available and includes everything I've bought/downloaded since 2001, most of which are no longer installed or used with no way to clear the clutter of unused/defunct apps.

I would personally vastly prefer resuscitating SDC in some form.  0.02

When I first came to Stardock, SDC was the download tool, I scratched my a couple of times and then figured it out.  Then came along Impulse, scratched my head a few times and then figured it out.  Using the Stardock Store didn't take any head scratching to figure out. 

I'm sure in time it will have more information like expiration dates of WinCustomize and Object Desktop subscriptions and other stuff.

I wonder if all the head scratching meant I needed to change my shampoo?  



Betas are being rolled out on that page, Tiles is there already.  

If the criticisms noted in #30 above were to be addressed in the My Account page, that approach would be an adequate solution, regardless of my preferences.

I didn't mind SDC or Impulse but now that we have a website site that lists versions it is a pain to keep things up to date with a dozen plus applications.  Since we are under a subscription based plan with our software I, for one, think this is unacceptable to have to go through so much pain for an update.  Especially in this day and age. 

Course, updates have been coming more slowly and fewer applications are getting them.  Love the software, just don't know if the "maintenance fee" is worth it anymore with that and the update situation, I may just drop it.

I certainly didn't post this thread to bicker or complain.  I was hoping to get some positive feedback that something was in the wings.  I rarely post here but got a little irritated about how to update my software.  Anyhoo, looks like we are not being supported very well from the responses so far.

Exactly Spencer. Well said!

ID -

Were complaints about Impulse's functionality coming in significant numbers from Object Desktop users (as opposed to gamers)?  I just don't remember it that way; I recall nits picked over colors, skinability & whatnot, but I could be wrong.

Regardless, it would be reassuring to know if an app manager is indeed in development or if the My Account page is the future.

I recall many, many people complaining from the desktop side that they didn't want Impulse, that they preferred to be able to download the individual installers.  

It's too early to comment on what the future will bring, but there will be some significant changes upcoming.

 

10-4. Thanks.

[deleted]

Which seems quite logical as Tiles is only available as a beta yet. ;) 

I will add my 2 cents also , The only complaint I ever had with Impulse was that they out the functionality that would have allowed it to only show the applications that worked with my OS. Having to click on each app to find out if it was compatible was a bit cumbersome. I prefer the all in one deliver system (Stardock Central ,Impulse etc.)

Having something that makes keeping tabs on the Object Desktop components simpler/easier would be welcome. I actually liked the general functionality of both SDC and Impulse. From the little bit of looking around it sounds like something is in the works though when is the question. The website download was always a nice backup option (for me at least) but I never had reason or want to use it. I guess that changes now.

 

Not trying to sidetrack the conversation but can someone throw me a few links to the discussions I'm sure have cropped up about Stardock not using Impulse? With what I remember reading from around the sale time it sounded like things were probably still going to remain tight between the two groups. I'm just suprised thats not the case and Stardock decided apparently to not use the 'register your bought software license in Impulse' route they were trying to market when they owned it.

 

So, is this the endgame?  I'm with a number of other people on here who never had a problem with Impulse in concept.  It had it's issues, but I never thought it was bad.  It certainly was head-and-shoulders above a page of DL links.

Really, to me, OD is at best a convenience and at worst, bling.  There is nothing wrong with either, and I paid for them because they amused me/made my life easier.  When I sit down to use my recreational PC (as opposed to work ones), I don't want to have to go around to several different products and see if there are updates available for them, and then download them individually, etc.  At that point, it's getting to be more trouble than something that makes my desktop nicer-looking is worth.

I realize that I don't have much of a leg to stand on, as my subscription has lapsed.  I've been holding off on renewing until I know for sure what's going on.  Is this page o' links just a temporary measure until a new download manager is deployed - or is it the way things are going to be from now on?  At very least, I'd hope for something that tells me there is an update available rather than having to check on my own.

Bottom line is, I love a lot of the feature of OD (and right now, I really, really wish I'd remembered to download and archive before my subscription expired) but my Windows machine is for play time.  I get enough hunting-and-tweaking on my Linux machines - for Windows, I just want things to work.

Please let me stress as much as I possibly can that this is NOT a "make me happy or I'll take my ball and go home" post.  I just wanted to get another opinion out there, because if I don't say anything, I have right to complain later if nothing changes.

 

You know I think this is just silly. I still stand by my statements that there is no reason why updates can't be built into the software. I do not buy the arguments I heard why that would not be convenient. If you can install, run and uninstall the software individually you should be able to update them individually. And for those who say that there is to much software that would bombard you with updates I think is nuts. How often are updates released and are you going to tell me that the updates are always released at the same time? You could have the option not to be notified of updates and could still have an update button to click on to check for updates.

This is so simple and we keep going over this again and again. In today's world programs update themselves or at least notifies you of updates. I do not understand why stardock software should be any different.

I am not against another program doing all this but I do not see why it is necessary.

JuniorCrocks : Judging by the given update situation since some time You are absolutely right.

I must confess it drives me crazy that practically every time I run CCleaner it prompts me that there is a new version. Built-in update notifications can be very annoying when they are frequent, and beta updates to SD apps have historically been so. Lately not so much. I found the convenience of checking for all app updates in one place at my leisure to be preferable. Impulse Now served the purpose of 'instant' notifications quite well for those who wanted them; I did not. I would like SD to provide both options - an Impulse-like app manager and individual app downloads/updates by links; then (almost) everybody's happy. 0.02. YMMV

I too hope for something like SDC/Impulse, Daiwa. They had many truly great points. I trust SD to be developing this, as it only makes sense.

Most software have an option in the settings to turn off automatic updates including your ccleaner.

 

Ccleaner is not your regular software. Iy is sort of like your virus protection program. Ccleaner is always adding new reg. items for it to look for. I checked into the update all the time situation over a year ago and that is what I was told. Makes sense to me why it does it so often. Just thought i would let you know and any others.

I agree Dave and even for regular software I personally do not mind being notified. Its not like it happens every 10 minutes.