Yet more 'check for updates' madness: OpenOffice
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From: Rowland McDonnell on 14 Feb 2010 04:58 Ian McCall <ian(a)eruvia.org> wrote: > Chris Ridd <chrisridd(a)mac.com> said: > > > It *did* get released yesterday, but however the app does its "am I up > > to date" check is clearly broken/slow. VirtualBox has the same problem. > > It's quite common - OpenOffice is just one. I'm finding a fair number > of apps don't actually tell the truth about available updates. Just > seems bizarre to write that feature and then not test your new release > is picked up by it. What's important is that the user thinks that they've got a feature, not whether or not it works properly. It's all about smoke and mirrors - software quality control is a lost art in office/domestic computing. (industrial/scientific/engineering/warfare software systems are different) Rowland. -- Remove the animal for email address: rowland.mcdonnell(a)dog.physics.org Sorry - the spam got to me http://www.mag-uk.org http://www.bmf.co.uk UK biker? Join MAG and the BMF and stop the Eurocrats banning biking
From: zoara on 14 Feb 2010 19:52 SteveH <italiancar(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Chris Ridd <chrisridd(a)mac.com> wrote: > > > On 2010-02-13 16:02:24 +0000, SteveH said: > > > > > Ben Shimmin <bas(a)llamaselector.com> wrote: > > > > > >> I can understand that there is no automatic update from 3.1 to > > > > 3.2 > > >> (or whatever); but it just seems like a lack of foresight that > > > > 3.1 > > >> should not know that 3.2 is at least available (even if it isn't > > > > capable > > >> of doing an upgrade to the new version). > > > > > > I can almost understand this - I mean, OS 10.5.x doesn't remind > > > you to > > > upgrade to 10.6.x, does it? > > > > That's a paid upgrade though. OpenOffice 3.1 to 3.2 isn't. > > I don't see the relevance. > > Should all free software prompt an update for a completely fresh > version? Er, I think the point was that the *update* was free. Whether the original software was free is moot. Most of my software will prompt me when there's a free update available, and I appreciate it doing that. Even the example you gave of OSX prompts when free updates are available. > Look at it this way - this isn't just an update, it's a new download, > which is a completely different thing. IMHO, YMMV etc. Er, most software that I use will update by downloading an entire copy of the new software rather than attempt a patch. I don't see how this is relevant. Or are you trying to distinguish between major and minor updates? Apple have apparently managed to confuse a lot of people by numbering their major releases as point releases (10.5 to 10.6) "so all you Apple morons are paying for a minor upgrade each time!" but I'd be surprised if OpenOffice are following their example. Seems more likely that the 3.1 to 3.2 upgrade is a minor release and the "check for updates" mechanism is just borked. -zoara- -- email: nettid1 at fastmail dot fm
From: zoara on 14 Feb 2010 19:52 Jim <jim(a)magrathea.plus.com> wrote: > Steve Firth <%steve%@malloc.co.uk> wrote: > > > > Don't bother replying, please. > > > > What a shame that Usenet doesn't work the way you seem to think it > > does. > > Or is it that in the Magrathea household that you stamp your foot > > and > > mommy pops in a sweet to keep you quiet? > > Bless. I'm just amazed that I never noticed your last name is Magrathea. I suppose i shouldn't be - it's just down to your family's DNA. Snark. -z- -- email: nettid1 at fastmail dot fm
From: Jim on 15 Feb 2010 01:58 zoara <me18(a)privacy.net> wrote: > > Bless. > > I'm just amazed that I never noticed your last name is Magrathea. It's a well kept secret. Jim -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK Please help save Bletchley Park - sign the petition for Government funding at: (open to UK residents and ex.pats) http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BletchleyPark/ Thank you.
From: Peter Ceresole on 15 Feb 2010 02:08
zoara <me18(a)privacy.net> wrote: > Most of my software will prompt me when there's a free update available, > and I appreciate it doing that. Even the example you gave of OSX prompts > when free updates are available. I observed one of those hospital boxes they have put in the wards, over each bed. TV and phone services (oh, and adverts, don't forget the useful and colourful adverts). You top up a card to get your service. It's Windows based and the chap next to me, who wanted to watch the sport on Saturday, was suddenly confronted with a blue screen with a message on it saying that the system was off looking for an update. That was it... No warning. No 'later' option. No more access to the channels he wanted and had paid to watch. He says that a friend, who had had the same experience, said his system was basicaly inaccessible for most of a day. As it was, he went home anyway, as I did too, so I never found out how long the updates take. But it was only Windows. So it doesn't matter... -- Peter |