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[patented_licks]

This link – http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=90659.0 – lists new features. Seems like a very short list for $27, with nothing discernible to a user satisfied with MC19.

Are there any new features in MC20 worth upgrading, or is this just typical developer milking of the customer base?

Thanks for a reply.

[Matt]

Development is a process.  If you join a version early, you can help shape it.

[Vocalpoint]

Development is a process.  If you join a version early, you can help shape it.

Matt,

Apologies but I have to agree with the OP - I have been an MC "early" adopter/supporter for years now - but I have to be honest - v20 is the first version that I have oddly been indifferent about in terms of dev cycle (slow) and new feature set.

I continue to struggle to find a single reason to upgrade v19 here at home since v20 seems to have almost nothing worth making the move for. Forgive the angularity but when I see "Added a Date First Rated" field or "Description is shown in the tooltip if it's not empty." listed as "new" features - the skeptic in me can't help but say "really?"

Whilst I do not agree with the "milking the user base" comment (yet) - I do hope the future of v20 generates more excitement than that existing list.

VP

[mwillems]

Matt,

Apologies but I have to agree with the OP - I have been an MC "early" adopter/supporter for years now - but I have to be honest - v20 is the first version that I have oddly been indifferent about in terms of dev cycle (slow) and new feature set.

I continue to struggle to find a single reason to upgrade v19 here at home since v20 seems to have almost nothing worth making the move for. Forgive the angularity but when I see "Added a Date First Rated" field or "Description is shown in the tooltip if it's not empty." listed as "new" features - the skeptic in me can't help but say "really?"

Whilst I do not agree with the "milking the user base" comment (yet) - I do hope the future of v20 generates more excitement than that existing list.

VP

IMO, the WDM driver is a huge deal because it allows for integration into JRiver of audio from any PC source.  

For folks who don't use their HTPC's for streaming audio services, web video, or video games right now, it may not be sinking in how game-changing the WDM driver is, but I'd have paid the upgrade price for the driver alone with no other upgrades.  

DSP over DLNA is a big deal too; it's easy to underestimate it until you've had to deal with DLNA speakers (which are growing in popularity). 

[Vocalpoint]

IMO, the WDM driver is a huge deal because it allows for integration into JRiver of audio from any PC source.

Well - that may very well be - but in IMHO - for me personally - in it's current state (forced driver install) v20 cannot be placed on any of our studio machines. We cannot allow any application to alter system level drivers on a pro DAW...so this "feature" is now actually - a liability - preventing me from placing v20 on the DAWs - even with my purchased license.

Perhaps the option will come to not install it - but until that comes to pass - this is a "non-feature" for me.

Also - in term of chasing new users and getting more to join the MC family - any new feature called "WDM Driver" doesn't exactly set the world of fire. Joe Average who is looking for a new really good media player - won't choose MC because of some feature called WDM Driver. It reeks of a geek speak and again - nobody (except us geeks in here) have any idea what this is.

DSP over DLNA is a big deal too; it's easy to underestimate until you've had to deal with DLNA speakers (which are growing in popularity).

Same for this. I am not discounting the goodness factor for people that it may benefit - but bottom line - what is it? Is it essential to making me (or another potential new user) upgrade or purchase? Does the public at larger even understand what DNLA is and so and so forth.

Personally - I never use DSP effects ever - so this is a non-issue to me as well.

My take is - JRiver loves to roll out this kinda stuff and call it "new features" - but if you are not a REALLY active forum member and actively following the day to day goings-on with MC - that feature list reads like a dev log - and none of those things is going to snare a new user cause nothing there screams "I gotta have it".

Seems like MC needs better marketing or something - cause here I am - a 100% lifelong devotee to this app - and even I can't find it worthwhile to upgrade.....and I really wanna

VP

[Matt]

Vocalpoint it's up to you.

We're working hard on things we think are worthwhile.  You decide if you want to support us.

Thank you for your support in the past.

[Vocalpoint]

Vocalpoint it's up to you.We're working hard on things we think are worthwhile.  You decide if you want to support us. Thank you for your support in the past.

Matt,

Understood and of course I love the app and will continue to support you as long as the product meets my criteria.

However you may want to consider a little more careful thought for the user base when rolling out what you think "is worthwhile" - really isn't.

WDM Driver has effectively stopped me from supporting this version now since the software has become intrusive to my environment and violates our IT policies.

It's unfortunate that a feature deemed worthwhile in this case - is an all or nothing choice in this regard.

Cheers,

VP

[rudyrednose]

To OP:
Many people use JR for one ot two aspects of their media life, that is audio and perhaps movies playback.
The customers seeing all the small and large improvements here and there are using JR for audio, movies, television (live and PVR), and photos.

My OTA television experience went from fair to really good with the latest work on EPG imports from xmltv.xml, thanks to work by both Yaobing and the zap2xml.exe tool author.

Another factor to consider is the considerable effort currently under way to bring up OSX and Linux versions on par with the Windows version.  Once achieved, efforts put into the core JR will be reflected on all supported platforms.

Personally, while I like to think I am not a fanboy, I see my upgrade money as a "subscription" allowing a small dedicated company to attract and retain best in class talent (along with reasonable profits).  That $20-26 annual cost is very reasonable considering the enjoyment I get out of it, even more so when I am allowed to install it on all my computers at home (one on each TV, my desktop, my JR server) and my office laptop.

To VP: you make a very good point about the forced driver install.  Hopefully the team will find a workaround (checkbox to actively refuse driver installation ?), but MC is first and foremost a home product and we are very far from "pro" prices 

[Matt]

WDM Driver has effectively stopped me from supporting this version now since the software has become intrusive to my environment and violates our IT policies.

Next build:
Changed: The installer can be run with /NoDriver to skip the driver install.

[Vocalpoint]

To VP: you make a very good point about the forced driver install.  Hopefully the team will find a workaround (checkbox to actively refuse driver installation ?), but MC is first and foremost a home product and we are very far from "pro" prices 

Hey - don't get me wrong. I love MC, what it brings to the table and will continue to support it no matter what. And I realize it's a home product - but my studios are in my home and we have come to appreciate MC and the "gift" of wonderful tunage that it delivers in the studio spaces.

However - home or no home - in 2014 with a heightened status to security, privacy concerns and all the other stuff we have to deal with - I would have thought JR would have been a little more accommodating in this regard. No one wants anything installed without their knowledge - especially a low level system driver than certainly has not been tested on the billions of possible hardware configs out there.

I love my MC but I just don't have the luxury of time to troubleshoot a DAW that suddenly goes belly up due to some new driver suddenly making an appearance.

We have v19 on the main machine now so we are sorted for the meantime.

Cheers,

VP

[Vocalpoint]

Next build:
Changed: The installer can be run with /NoDriver to skip the driver install.

Oh yeah baby!

You guys - well...rock.

Thank you so much.

Cheers,

VP