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Topic: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software? (Read 8521 times) previous topic - next topic

Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

I'd really like to know a lot more about the week-to-week, or month-to month activities of Noteworthy Software...

For example, what can be expected as far as new releases, how's the developping going, what "wishes" are being worked on, deemed unrealizable or on standby (so we can keep from pissing off the developpers with the same wishes all the time!)... that sort of thing!

Updates and news on the site's front page could be a good idea, too!! How 'bout that?!?

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #1 –
gd'idea

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #2 –
It would be a nice, yes! Give us a taster of things to come.

Of course, I don't know what other commitments Noteworthy have - is this wonderful program something you do in your spare time? In which case, please excuse us hassling you for commitments.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #3 –
Actuallt, I think it's a *bad* idea. I used to be in technical marketing years ago (it is a business, not sales, kind of thing), and I spent much of my time trying to explain why "upcoming products" were not upcoming. It is a slippery slope: Customers begin to rely on future predictions; they are not happy if they arrive (because they were expected), and are enraged if they don't arrive (because they already made plans).

I believe the stock market works much the same way, e.g.: "XYZ Corp announced record high earnings today. XYZ stock dropped 20% on the dissappointing news, as analysts had expected more."

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #4 –
I understand the concerns on that behalf, but I'm more concerned of getting fed-up with waiting for upgrades, and going elsewhere, just to find out that I bought another program with the features I'm looking for AT THE SAME TIME I BOUGHT THE COMPETITION'S PRODUCTS!!!

There's a nice thing called fidelity - something you might be familiar with - and it would be a shame to abuse of one's faith in something!!! If version 1.+ or 2.0 is to come out in 5 days, at least, I'll know; if it's in 5 months, well, I'll be patient! Knowledge is power, gentlemen; customers - like cruise passengers, the domain I'm working in - hate to be in a weak position!!!

So you're free to consider the "expectations-disappointment" point of view, but also consider what I just said... I'd hate to become a "former NTW user" in your face, especially for those reasons!!!

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #5 –
David - I understand your frustration.

I found NWC 1.1 on a program compilation CD which raised my interest.
Finally getting web access I registered just in time for version 1.3f.
I've waited patiently for some of my wishlist items to appear - they are all improvements to notation that have been requested since the wishlist first appeared- but to no avail.
Even had to write my own workarounds like Drum.bas and Boxmarks to make my parts readable for the players in the band.
Along the way there have been some pleasant surprises with the upgrades - like midi keyboard input and the addition of midi controllers.
Other upgrade items - like layering - I really have no use for at all.

NWC has some outstanding features:-
* Qwerty keyboard input is a stand out.
* Ease of printing another.
* Print quality is excellent - very readable.
* Print preview copy and copy special are great tools.
* The price is right.

But:
Finally I had to bite the bullet and buy another product to achieve the output quality I need.
I still use the qwerty input when writing a score but export elsewhere to add marks, print the parts or produce a midi file.

Pity - NWC is a good product, I believe in the shareware concept and applaud Eric's continual free upgrade policy but I couldn't wait forever - life's getting shorter and there are still plenty of arrangements to do.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #6 –
I'd like to thank Robin Withey, Robert Allgeyer and Barry Graham for their input on this question, and I also understand very well the points being brought here - that's what makes this forum such a good place for trading information!

What I'd like now - either as a closing argument or a continuing one - is some input from NoteWorthy themselves!!!

Do you think I could hear from them soon? Even a threat letter would be appreciated (!) because it's a sign that they show some concern...

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #7 –
My, we are a rowdy bunch! Within recent memory, many of us were quire excited by the addition of staff layering, additional note properties, and free plug-ins to other programs. I myself found staff layering extremely useful for SATB choral music, and the keyboard input can't be beat. Even our music director admits that the NWC printout looks better than famous-major-name printout.

So what if many of us use a second program for enhancements not found in NWC? Remember, the more features a program has, the more it bogs down. Don't believe me? Try using a recent-version major drawing program.

The real issue is not how to revise NWC to make it capable of nearly anything, but rather which specific enhancements add value and are most necessary, yet do not require total overhaul. I really don't know.

To change the topic slightly: When you think about it, why is MIDI still used? Is it in memory of Elvis? Whatever the reason may be: It's serial, it's slow, it's not capable of many things, but it's the standard! Likewise, think of all the effort spent on trying to make digital music sound like a "real" instrument, when the acoustics of many real instruments are based upon compromised tonality.

Maybe NWC is fine just as it is. I know that the thought causes many of us to shudder, but I suspect that most who read this forum are the more advanced users anyway. There is such a thing as "market niche."

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #8 –
There is much truth in what you say.

I forgot to mention that NWC is the most robust Windows program I have ever used - this is probably due to it's unbloated state and the programming skill of the team.

Eric has said (I can't quote since I don't archive what happens here and the newsgroup) - that NWC is not a sequencer and it is not a midi file editor.
I assume then that the program's major use is a "composer".
It fulfils this function very well - the qwerty input makes life a lot easier for those of us that are keyboard impaired.

But David's use is similar to mine - production of parts for pop and contemporary tunes for reading musicians to sight read on the job.
The notation capabilities may be fine for choirs and quartets but there is a serious shortfall in the area mentioned.
I'm happy that the notation is suitable for the majority of the users - you got your wishes granted - I had to buy mine elsewhere.

I take pride in what I present to musicians - if the output doesn't meet my standards I'd rather manually copy the parts - which I have to do for rhythm parts in NWC scores because of the lack of rhythm markers, drum notation, repeat bar symbols. Boxmarks was a product of that frustration.

My reply to David pointed out the good points of NWC and I would like to think that "all good things come to those who wait" - but (despite my fondness for NWC - it was all I had for many years) there comes a time when even the loyal user has to move on.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #9 –
I have noticed in the past that Noteworthy Software never reply to discussions regarding improvements to the program. Probably a sensible policy, since people might think they were promised things and complain when they didn't happen, but frustrating all the same. The only time we get news about bug fixes and improvements is when they actually happen.

Robin Withey

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #10 –
> something noteworthy to say about my question?

I am not exactly clear on the question, but it appears to be a demand like: "tell me what you are doing"

We maintain a web site where all new releases and other product announcements are made. This forum is part of the web site. Rather than wait for someone to ask what we have available, and then respond, we proactively announce things when they become available.

When we get a bug report, we verify it and will often announce our intentions to include a fix in the next release.

However, we do not pre-announce feature (product enhancement) plans. Plans, schedules, and priorities change, and we do not intend to make these decision cycles public.

In short, when we have something to say or announce with regard to new features, you will find summary links at:

http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/newstuff.htm

We also usually provide announcements here and in the newsgroup as well.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #11 –
Sounds reasonable to me, NWC! As I explained above, pre-announcement is not always a good idea, even when (as is usually the case) the customers want to know.

Besides, as I recall, that has consistently been NWC's policy for as long as I've had the program

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #12 –
I have also notice NWC's reluctance to join certain discussions, and have decided that they are very wise in this regard. Forums have an anonymity (is that a word?) which tempts us to be more aggressive than we might otherwise behave, such as in a face to face meeting.They give users a lot of leeway in this forum.I think that NWC's terse and laconic style keeps them above the fray, where they belong.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #13 –
Yes, Robert, we definitely are a rowdy bunch! As for MIDI, I somehow believe it's misused a lot - especially when you mention live performances! As I probably mentioned elsewhere, I use MIDI almost exclusively - when editing or reproducing a song for edition - for catching up with my ears what my brain could have missed! (sounds weird, said like that, but it's basically that!) ;-)

But now, there's a specific member which happens to be present in most other discussions in the forum, BUT HAS NOT SHOWN UP HERE! NOTEWORTHY SOFTWARE! Don't they have something noteworthy to say about my question? Pun intended! Or is it that they're looking for a politically correct way to tell me to shut up, and be patient, and all good things come to those who wait!?!?

You know, my dear friends developpers, programmers and managers of NoteWorthy Software, any answer would have pleased me, except one: none!

Now you know what to do.

Re: Whats happening lately with Noteworthy Software?

Reply #14 –
AH! THANKS! That's all I needed to know from you!

Shame that it took so long and so many speculations about the answer you gave me!

As for the deep origins of the question, it comes to the fact that there's been a certain consistency with the new releases, plug-ins and service packs, and now it seems to have... I don't know... sort of stagnated! Maybe I'm wrong, but I bought the version at 1.30, and inside 6 months, I ubgraded thom there to 1.55 and 1.70! ...that was almost 2 years ago!

Hope that it explain my concerns, and why this question! I just want to make sure NWC's still alive!...

And Art... yes, it is a word!