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UltraRecall Roadmap posted
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Posted by Jan Rifkinson
Jun 28, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Kinook Software has posted a roadmap for the next version of UltraRecall & future priorities. There is no date certain, nor even one suggested but it’s an interesting & ambitious list IMO.
Posted by Ken
Jun 28, 2007 at 11:46 PM
Hi Jan,
Hert and the DAM applications aren’t giving you enough grief, that you still have time for a bit of CRIMP? ;) And I thought I was the only one crazy enough to tackle these two areas of software at the same time? In all seriousness, thanks for the head-up on UR. I have looked at it off and on for several months, but the learning curve seems steeper than IDImager. Perhaps I’ll give it a look again. Any suggestions for how to approach UR and not ending up frustrated?
—Ken
Posted by Daly de Gagne
Jun 29, 2007 at 12:56 AM
An observation, Ken. It wasn’t so long ago that Kinook could do no wrong. UR was the wonder kid on the block. More recently, we are hearing repeated complaints about error messages, and my observation is that the K team is not as quick at replying to messages as they once were.
And we still have a help file that seems more aimed at telling us what the software will do rather than how we might do it.
All of this may mean something—or nothing.
At this point I nostalgically, yet again, open up ADM for a while, and play around with it until the common sense strikes home that it makes no sense to commit to using software when it is not clear the developer is still committed to developing it. Contrary to what some have said, I think ADM had more going for it than UR—at least from a writer’s perspective.
So I wait for the new Zoot, and the new MyInfo, and wonder how the new version of MD InfoHandler will play out.
Daly
Ken wrote:
>Hi Jan,
>
>Hert and the DAM applications aren’t giving you enough grief, that you still
>have time for a bit of CRIMP? ;) And I thought I was the only one crazy enough to tackle
>these two areas of software at the same time? In all seriousness, thanks for the
>head-up on UR. I have looked at it off and on for several months, but the learning curve
>seems steeper than IDImager. Perhaps I’ll give it a look again. Any suggestions for
>how to approach UR and not ending up frustrated?
>
>—Ken
Posted by Ken
Jun 29, 2007 at 03:02 AM
Daly,
Its funny that you should say this. My two biggest frustrations in looking at programs like UR are concerns over software stability and poor documentation. One of the things that I really like about ECCO is its great help files. Most of these other programs seem to be a laundry list of commands, but not much help in helping the user learn how to use the software. Its the same problem with many of the Digital Asset Management (DAM) programs that I was teasing Jan about. There is a program called IDImager and another one called iMatch that have very responsive developers, but their GUI’s and instructions are in need of an extreme makeover. I just found an old article about using Ecco that serves as a great example of how to explain a program to a new user: http://www.eccorocks.com/Tom%20Hoots/EEhtml/folders.htm . Wishful thinking, but it would be great if the author could help some of these other programmers. I realize there is always a curve when learning how to use software, but it shouldn’t feel like you are always starting at square one every time you resume use of the program. Sometimes I feel like Bill Muarry in “Groundhog Day”. I am sure Jan can add a comment or two about similar frustrations in the DAM world.
—Ken
Daly de Gagne wrote:
>And we still have a help file that seems more aimed at
>telling us what the software will do rather than how we might do it.
Posted by Jan Rifkinson
Jun 29, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Ken, My personality *requires* that I find some kind of organizational product to help keep me on the straight & narrow. I have been using UR exclusive for quite a while now.
I think Daly, in his comments, has left an impression about UR that is not entirely accurate. While I don’t doubt he has experienced problems w the program, I have not. It’s been as solid as a rock & I use it every day, all day. Although I still have EccoPro & ADM on my machine for the infrequent reference, all my data has been transferred into UR w/o issue.
However, it is true that the Kinook folks are not overly chatty but—in my experience—I have found that they are responsive to direct questions about technical issues but they do *not* offer warm & fuzzy customer care which can be off-putting to some.
For example, instead of complaining about a lack of information, I asked for a development road map. Two days later, without fanfare, a road map appeared in the announcement section of the forum. That sort of response works for me.
Until I set up UR, I found it a bit daunting but after I set it up, I found it pretty intuitive & easy to use.
As for DAM… well, let’s say that’s another story. I was definitely in over my head with iMatch but managed to make it work even though a great deal of the program seem to rely on script writing—not my thing. Then I heard about IDImager which interested me because of how it handles versions/stacks of the same image so I decided to license it.
SQL is a totally new world to me but I’m trying to grasp the program’s use of language. As both programs are developed by Europeans, sometimes the language is a bit more formal (& accurate) but not as ‘friendly’ if you get my drift.
However, both developers are extremely responsive to problems. Hert (IDImager) is probably the most responsive of them all. I’m not quite how he does it & still has time for continued development but what I really like about him is that he does listen to his user base, takes a measure of their comments & makes changes when he sees a common thread. In his case—unlike some other developers I’ve had experience with in the not too recent past—there is nothing of ‘it’s my way or the highway’.
Working both these programs, i.e. UR & IDImager, does take a bit of time but I honestly feel I’ve broken thru some barriers & am actually encouraged about getting control over the various facets of my life & work.
I think both these companies are viable enterprises & aren’t going away any time soon so I’m willing to spend the time on them. And both programs allow manipulating all data in standard interchange formats so I don’t feel trapped. All in all, a positive experience.
Having said that I am watching MyInfo, the only other program that interests me at the moment. Zoot, IMO, will remain the same basically, albeit in a 32 bit coat. It will then take Tom Davis—Zoot’s one man band—a while to add bells & whistles we’ve come to expect.
I am one of those people who likes to work with a single program so even tho Zoot might be better for one thing or another, I’m willing to give it up for my all-in-one approach. So far, IMO, UR seems to have this covered pretty well.