Curio version 13 has been released.

https://www.zengobi.com

I've been using the betas, and feel George has added several very interesting changes. There is a full set of release notes at the link, above.

For me, the addition of layers on idea spaces is very useful. And the "references" feature to create associations between figures expands the usefulness of Curio for managing related information in a project. The equation editor is also very useful.

He releases way to frequently. I bought the 11 version in December 2017. This would have forced me to buy 2 updates by now.

Lothar Scholz wrote:

He releases way to frequently. I bought the 11 version in December 2017.
This would have forced me to buy 2 updates by now.

George publishes each year a major release: Vs 11 was released in February 2017, vs 12 in April 2018, vs 13 in April 2019.
I wouldn't say that this is way too frequently.
Moreover, if you do not wish to upgrade, you do not have to.

The new major releases (11, 12, 13 ...) always contain new features. IMO the new features are well beyond the sort of tweaky eye candy that some developers call "new releases" and charge for. And, as Franz said, upgrades are not required. George supports back releases.


Franz Grieser wrote:

George publishes each year a major release: Vs 11 was released in
February 2017, vs 12 in April 2018, vs 13 in April 2019.
I wouldn't say that this is way too frequently.
Moreover, if you do not wish to upgrade, you do not have to.

George is one of the most dedicated 'artisanal' software creators.
I just sent him a note regarding a markdown issue, the fix will be in the 13.0.1 release. That's a 1 hour response time!
As Paul says, Curio brings meaningful improvements with every release.
I felt v12 was more relevant than v13, but happy to support the continued work.

Paul Korm wrote:

The new major releases (11, 12, 13 ...) always contain new features.
IMO the new features are well beyond the sort of tweaky eye candy that
some developers call "new releases" and charge for. And, as Franz
said, upgrades are not required. George supports back releases.


Franz Grieser wrote:
>George publishes each year a major release: Vs 11 was released in
>February 2017, vs 12 in April 2018, vs 13 in April 2019.
>I wouldn't say that this is way too frequently.
>Moreover, if you do not wish to upgrade, you do not have to.
>

I don't agree, and I think devs are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Omni Group go the other way (incremental updates for several years and then a major new version) and they get hammered (a) for not producing major updates frequently enough ("Look! Things has this and 2Do has that! Omni are falling behind) and (b) for charging for the once-very-few-years major updates.


Lothar Scholz wrote:

He releases way to frequently. I bought the 11 version in December 2017.
This would have forced me to buy 2 updates by now.

From my Curio history note in Devonthink:

"2008: US 149 (program)
2009: US 69 (update to Curio 6)
2010: US 69 (update to Curio 7)
2013: US 50 (update to Curio 8)
(2015: didn't bought the update to Curio 9 - US 50)
not used 2015-2018
2018 sept US 87 (update to Curio 12)
total: US 424
ver. 13 - 2019 april - 6 months later - US 70?"

Too often - definitely leaving now.
An excellent program - but just worth the money if you are a heavy user in my opinion -
otherwise there are other good alternatives.
I have mainly used the program to produce simple graphics.

That heavy user would be me.

Certainly when all you do in Curio is use its graphics tools, you are using only a fraction of its power, and not necessarily the best fraction at that.

WRT the updates, at least Curio has never *lost* significant features in any part of its upgrade path (yes OmniFocus I am pointing at you here). I also take heart in the fact that Curio is not so wedded to a notion of backward compatibility that it has to carry its past weeds along with its new roses. Finally, I am much more assured by having robustly-generated, yearly updates than by awaiting updates whispered in dark hallways for so long that you begin to fear the final offering may be outdated by the time it really is released (yes DEVONthink I am pointing at you here).

Gabbe wrote:

From my Curio history note in Devonthink:

Too often - definitely leaving now.
An excellent program - but just worth the money if you are a heavy user
in my opinion -
otherwise there are other good alternatives.
I have mainly used the program to produce simple graphics.

Thing is, even older versions of Curio are unbelievably powerful. I haven't updated for a couple of years now, but I have no complaints about whichever version I'm currently on (can't remember, offhand, that's how important versions are to me!)

If I really needed one of the latest features, I'd go for it like a shot - it's an exceptionally robust, capable program and I know the feature would have been superbly implemented.

Just upgrading automatically isn't always a good idea, especially when the product is mature.

And hey, I'm talking as an inveterate CRIMPer here!

$500 (or $550) in eleven years doesn't seem bad at all to me for a heavy-duty, well-supported app like this one.

I'm at the point where with my own gear and productivity habits I really need (or at least prefer) apps that are cross platform - apps that have iOS verisons and/or web versions. So it doesn't matter how good Curio is if I am stuck using it on a Mac. But if I were deeply into it I'd have no problem with the pricing.

And don't forget, there are three versions, so if you don't need the Pro version, you can opt to upgrade to the less expensive Standard or Core versions.

Steve Z

What I meant by "simple graphics":

I am a retired architect who had a construction management company for many years
and we used several sophisticated time planning programs for thirty years.
But for simpler projects, Curio was excellent for creating flexible graphical timetables.
For pure time planning, however, it is simplified and inflexible.
The strength of the program is the visual power - I used it for some years for my personal planning.
Now as a retiree in southern France, there is not so much need for planning ...
My program basket is Devonthink-Scrivener-and the new Agenda.
I think Curio has a small but very committed user group -
but a lower price I think would be good for a survival - like Omnioutliner ...