Update Passed Unknowingly

[dbeland50]

When 1st purchased Hoster Quad,I used to get emails about upcoming updates. However, just checked & discovered one came out last March? And now I've got to pay to get up to speed? I think after you spend as much as I did for the big package, updates should be a given for the life of the product. I truly enjoy every aspect of my Hoster software, but the latest twist has b\me a bit perturbed. Anybody wish to comment? Feel free to let me know. Thanks.

[computex13]

I don't think they send emails out anymore. Those were the good old days. Now they are just like everyone else and just want your money. Too bad.

[dbeland50]

Roger that. Best presentation software out on the market & they want to vampire more. Yep...disappointed, but its understandable in today's market.

[billyo]

they used to have it posted on the header( top left corner where it says announcement ) when you open up the hoster thread, and also if you guys pay attention on Hoster forum, they always announced the released of the new upgrade..

[ddouglass]

There have been more updates since March and even if you had gotten that one you would still be beyond the 12 month period and would have had to pay for the latest one that recently came out.
I am sure we would all like to get free upgrades for life for a program, however the practical fact is it costs money to have programmers spend hours creating those upgrades. MTU spent countless hours and dollars getting Hoster to where it is today and offered totally free upgrades for well over a year as they brought version 4 to the state it is at now, with basically a complete rewrite of the program adding many new features never used before.
In addition to what Billyo mentioned you can always check for upgrades by using the "Check for Upgrades" in the Help section at the top of all MTU programs.

[dbeland50]

Leave it to Dale to talk true. I know I've been lacking in keeping up with update checks, but sometimes other things take precidence. Sorry about stirring folks up. All have a great day.

[computex13]

Dale,

I have been using MTU's product since 2001 and love them all. I check the forum everyday. If you notice, there is no mention of a Hoster upgrade on the Forum Announcement banner, only a Microstudio one from Auguest 4, 2009. I got that upgrade. There was never an email or any announcement about Hoster going to 4.2. I will stick with 4.10 and Widdows XP. I quit doing shows and just use it for fun now. You have always been a great supporter and helped a lot of people for MTU, I just think they dropped the ball for some of the people that have stuck with them for 10 years.

Mark

[ddouglass]

Actually at the time 4.20 came out there was an announcment. But there were problems with it and the subsequent 4.21 and 4.22 didn't get as much advertising. Also at the same time Admin was very ill and not able to do much for a while.

[dbeland50]

Can't help following this thread, because I got the notice for 4.21, but not 4.22 or anything subsequent. Kinda agree with Computex13 that something is amiss. Understand health problems, but come on...faithfullness with a product deserves consideration in my opinion.
Still no disrepect intended.

[Musicman51]

I once had questions about updates with a recording program i had. A wise gentleman from that company told me the way it is. And i will pass this bit of wisdom on to you all. He told me..."george, under most circumstances, you never own a software program. You only pay to use it, and only then, if you agree to our terms and conditions of use."

If mtu actually charged what there programs are really worth, none of us could afford to have the best. No one around here complains more then i do when somethings not right. But in these economic times they know it's tough, and i believe do the best they can.

[admin]

OK... you want facts as answers to your... shall I say "prodings". Here's the reasons.

1. An ex-vendor who we fully paid for his services in 2002 and 2004, maliciously in 2007 copyrighted the code we paid him for. Then, in spite of the clear and visible fact we weren't even using his work since Dec 8, 2004, he sued us in Federal court, served to me May 29, 2009. In 40 years in business, I have NEVER been sued. We have so far spent $55,000 on legal fees fighting for our rights. We expect to win, but it has taken well over 1,500 corporate hours of our time. There is NOTHING more important that solving this FEDERAL legal battle.

2. We were supposed to have new web scripts operational September 2009. I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and... you get the picture. They have just now (August 2010) been finished, debugged and under Beta Testing as I type. This will AUTOMATICALLY notify you when a new version is released if you connect your computer on-line to the Internet.

3. Even when we would take a week (yes, 5 business days) to prepare an email announcement, double-check it for no "false advertising", prepare the email list of users to send it to, and then send it over a 36 hour period to obey no-spamming rules, only to find that folks didn't add "@mtu.com" to their "accept" email list so they never receive it. Those who do, don't act on it so it truly seemed like a waste of time to us! It costs thousands of dollars every time we do this... yeah, crazy isn't it!

4. December 29, 2009 my wife called an ambulance around 11:30PM to get me to the ER. Over the next 9 days I was comatose in ICU and nearly died. I was in a wheelchair for months (with a ramp built in our front yard), and I still don't have my stamina back. I lost my left index finger to dry gangrene, and my left hand cannot make a fist any more (I'm left-handed). Just try touch typing without your left Index Finger! I've had to relearn touch-typing with one and a half hands.

5. Since the early 2000's, our policy has been existing users would buy an upgrade yearly. From late 2008 to recently in 2010, we did not enforce this. So... everyone started "assuming" we were now giving our upgrades away. I am sorry that mistake was made. Our 12-months upgrade is now enforced by our web scripts. There are many positives in this (such as no more upgrade RegCodes to keep up with), which I will blog about soon.

6. Yes, we are adding Blogging, Facebook and Twitter to our repertoire of tools to try and keep you informed. So, I recommend that you get ready, because that will soon replace our emailing.

7. Making a new version release takes days of time to:
* Prepare the final code with manual and Installation program
* Insure the version number is correct that is sent up to the web site, and test it
* Modify the web site with the new "version number" throughout all pages related to the product
* Upgrade tables our web scripts use to inform you when a new release is available
* Upload the new code to the store and download.mtu.com sites to deliver it
* Prepare Hoster Lite and Hoster Demo... so there's 3 files we must manage and make available to you all
* Prepare a list of the "important" new, changed, and fixed features and add it to the Upgrade web page (shy of the manual, that is the accurate list for your reference)

Frankly, after I do my part, I'm tired and sick of that release! Sometimes I forget to upgrade the "News" page, and frankly I just don't have the week of time to do an announcement.

Windows 7 and Vista 64-bit systems prevent Microstudio from working on them. We've been struggling to overcome this, but no joy yet, and $$,$$$ spent and counting.

We have spent a LARGE fortune on developing Hoster alone. I do truly appreciate that someone above said we had the best. You cannot imaging how much time we "think" about a feature, sometimes coding it only to find it couldn't work as we designed it to, and then recoding it before testing.

We have done a MAJOR upgrade to KHPro in the past months as this hasn't really been touched for years. It is truly a polished gem now, and does everything you have requested. As soon as I finish manual we will release KHPro 5.00. My typing speed is now the hold up.

We are adding in new Key change AND Tempo change into our products. It'll go into Keyrite first as that is the easiest to integrate and test with. It will then go into Hoster,along with some of the most efficient changes we have made in a while.

Hoster 5.00 won't look like the current product at all. It will look better, but it will be DIFFERENT so you will need to spend some time re-learning it. As a result, we will add the new Key-Tempo code into a 4.30 release, before we overhaul the appearance and functions. Some folks may opt to stay with 4.30, and that's OK. But those who move forward will be in for a treat over the years to come.

I hope this answers your desire for answers. Forgive me if I got too detailed in my personal life, but as Pres, I do direct the "MTU Orchestra". We've been out of tune recently, and now you know why.

[Musicman51]

Admin, i know you sent me a ticket awhile back and said you were having health issues with your hands, but i never dreamed it was to this extent. That's really serious, gangreen is nothing to take lightly. Up here in michigan, evening prayers are going out asking for blessings of healing, and for a satisfactory conclusion to your legal situation. Tomorrow evening {wednesday} you will be remembered during church as well. Seems the ones we trust the most in business, do us the most harm.
Respectfully Yours,
George

[dbeland50]

Admin, since it was my silly arse who started this thread, I take it upon myself to apologize directly for having sounded a bit testy or offensive. It won't happen again. I am an avid admirer of the Hoster software and have refused to use any other product. Every and anybody who sees Hoster in operation want to have it too, to which I always diect them to your web-site so that they too can see all the goodies. I will in fact pay much closer attention to your web-site henceforth so that I do know whats occurring and when. Once again, you guys are doing a fantastic job and please keep up the good work!
Dave

[computex13]

Admin, I too apologize. I was not trying to bash you or MTU. I just didn’t get the emails. I hope your health improves. I have been to court when I was in business and it does suck. It seems that even if you win, you lose because of all it takes out of you. You have always been good to all of us.

[ddouglass]

Since this has been settled I am closing this thread.