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a few thoughts about infoqube
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Posted by Pierre Paul Landry
Oct 21, 2019 at 02:31 PM
MadaboutDana wrote:
> that’s why I keep asking Pierre to produce a Mac version (oh, and an iOS version, too, Pierre, please)
> You’re a solo developer? Pshaw, what kind of excuse is that!!!
Yes, I am the a sole developer with zero net revenu for many years
(Big thanks to those who donated… but it barely cover licensing / web site costs)
In this context, I do not have the resources to hire a macOS / iOS developer
So until I can make some money off the Windows version, the chance of seeing a macOS version is null. Period
The only way for you to use IQ on your beloved Mac is to do like others have done and run it through VMWare / Parallels. It runs just fine, really.
And if you then find in InfoQube a useful tool for your information management needs, you’ll get over your dislike for Windows.
Respectfully,
Pierre
Posted by Lothar Scholz
Oct 22, 2019 at 04:42 AM
Pierre Paul Landry wrote:
>Yes, I am the a sole developer with zero net revenu for many years
If you don’t treat a business like a business it will never become a business.
When i follow your community link and see the top “recent question” highlighted if this software runs on Windows 2000, then you should know whats wrong.
There is still a market. That is not the problem.
Posted by tightbeam
Oct 22, 2019 at 10:50 AM
Lothar put it bluntly, but his point is still valid: it is so difficult for users - especially casual users, the vast bulk of the market - to get a handle on InfoQube that they give up (as I did).
InfoQube is the art film adored by critics but seen by few. If that’s your intent, congratulations; but if you really want to turn a profit, I’d discount comments like “extraordinary piece of software” and take a long, hard, cynical look at why your net revenue has been zero for many years.
Lothar Scholz wrote:
Pierre Paul Landry wrote:
>
>>Yes, I am the a sole developer with zero net revenu for many years
>
>If you don’t treat a business like a business it will never become a
>business.
>
>When i follow your community link and see the top “recent question”
>highlighted if this software runs on Windows 2000, then you should know
>whats wrong.
>
>There is still a market. That is not the problem.
>
Posted by Franz Grieser
Oct 22, 2019 at 11:12 AM
tightbeam wrote:
>Lothar put it bluntly, but his point is still valid: it is so difficult
>for users - especially casual users, the vast bulk of the market - to
>get a handle on InfoQube that they give up (as I did).
Same here. I trialled IQ in March/April on a small project, and gave up after a lot of trial and error. I found it clunky and difficult to grasp.
In March I suggested building a stripped-down version and - at Pierre’s request - listed a feature set that I thought would be fine for beginners (I guess Pierre must have overlooked my suggestions).
Here is my old post: https://www.outlinersoftware.com/messages/viewm/34459
——- citation——-
Franz >>And you could think about a stripped-down version of InfoQube :-)
Pierre >No problem, just list the stripped-down feature set and I’ll do it !
>;-)
OK, Pierre. A lite version of IQ (for me) would consist of
- Inbox
- Calendar
- Projects
- plus the Welcome and IQDoc grids
What I would disable: the Tags pane, the Tags and Link columns (what is the Link column for, anyways), and the Item Properties window(s). And throw out the Pivot commands, the Visual Basic Editor, Google Connect and other stuff most users will never need.
But please, make the Documents pane sticky (maybe with an option to hide it but not close-able). I closed that pane accidentally and cursed you because I couldn’t find a way to re-open it. I searched up and down the View and Grid menus, till - in my despair - I discovered the “View - Documents - New Document Pane” command.
That would make a much cleaner interface. Right now, I find the interface overwhelming and too noisy.
And, Pierre. Thanks for asking.
——- citation end——-
What I referred to was IQ 0.9.112f
Posted by MadaboutDana
Oct 22, 2019 at 11:24 AM
Dear Pierre,
I’m so sorry. What I wrote was supposed to be mildly ironic, light-hearted fun, acknowledging the very difficult experience of being an independent developer. I didn’t mean to touch a raw nerve, which I clearly did. So I apologise unreservedly.
I support a number of independent developers (clearly on macOS/iOS) and regularly write to them with encouragement/suggestions. I think that’s the least one can do when one is using a valuable product that is clearly the result of personal passion and perfectionism.
Just to be absolutely clear: InfoQube is obviously the product of enormous passion and commitment.
So anything I say about transferring it to macOS/iOS should be treated as humorous (although I now realise you’re not finding it even remotely funny - sorry again!), because I’m well aware you don’t have the time or resources to do such a thing.
As for Windows: On a more serious note, I realise you’re totally committed to the platform. But I have increasing sympathy with those among us who have switched to (various versions of) Linux, because that’s where all the least user-offensive/most politically aware activity is. As a UX, I regard macOS as vastly superior to Windows (and have explained elsewhere why that’s the case). But in terms of data collection, invasion of privacy etc., I recognise that the differences between Microsoft and Apple are nowhere near as great as the latter would like to pretend (the recent withdrawal of apps following censure by China is a classic example); here’s a rather good article on the subject: https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/21/apples-control-over-the-app-store-is-no-longer-sustainable/
Here in France, we have concepts such as Médiapart to demonstrate how political/commercial interests should be kept separate from journalistic integrity (in Apple’s case: integrity as arbiter of apps, artwork, journalism and pretty much everything else that relates to what has become a multimedia platform). Alas, the major U.S. corporates haven’t followed such a model, although there are very good arguments for believing they should. (More about the Médiapart model: https://www.mediapart.fr/charte-de-deontologie)
What am I saying? That I might abandon my beloved macOS for Linux? I’ve made the attempt before, while still locked into the world of Microsoft Windows. But alas, it’s not yet feasible, although today it is perhaps more nearly feasible than at any time in the past, even for translators (one of my favourite translation management apps, CafeTran, is available for Linux). Those in doubt about the advisability of doing so should perhaps read Cory Doctorow’s outstanding “Little Brother”… So at some point, then, I will do so. And perhaps you will as well.
Keep up the good work!
Bill
Pierre Paul Landry wrote:
MadaboutDana wrote:
>> that’s why I keep asking Pierre to produce a Mac version (oh, and an
>iOS version, too, Pierre, please)
>> You’re a solo developer? Pshaw, what kind of excuse is that!!!
>
>Yes, I am the a sole developer with zero net revenu for many years
>(Big thanks to those who donated… but it barely cover licensing / web
>site costs)
>
>In this context, I do not have the resources to hire a macOS / iOS
>developer
>So until I can make some money off the Windows version, the chance of
>seeing a macOS version is null. Period
>
>The only way for you to use IQ on your beloved Mac is to do like others
>have done and run it through VMWare / Parallels. It runs just fine,
>really.
>And if you then find in InfoQube a useful tool for your information
>management needs, you’ll get over your dislike for Windows.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Pierre
>