I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few weeks…
David,
I found your work through Jon Hicks, of which I advocate no blame for. Your software is beautifull and functions in ways quintessential to how I suspect. I have yet to find a worthier Feed Reader. This in itself is a great accomplishment for which you should be proud. I own both Acquisition and Newsfire and enjoy them both.
In actuality, I enjoy them when they work. The myth that ‘Mac applications don’t crash’, comes from the fact that Mac applications rarely crash, but with your applications operational, this is hardly the case. I get crashes approximately every 20 minutes with a big fat “Your application has closed unexpectedly.”.
I paid cash in good faith that I’d get an application of standard quality, instead the real caliber of your programs are blinded by lack of care. And after Googling, I find this: http://squidnews.com/2007/04/17/david-watanabe-the-complaints/
I have shot off emails and even tried to get support via instant messenger. When I ask you about other things, such as Cocoa programming, I get responses but when it comes to your work, I don’t.
Asking you about transferring over licenses from Acquisition to Xtorrent (The same app, just a rebuild):
Zach Inglis: Quick question, is there a way to transfer licenses from Acquisition to Xtorrent?
David Watanabe: sorry
… Short, Impolite, And you’re rebuilding the SAME application.As a developer I know what it is to program applications, they start to become something that is a part of you. Something for which you have pride over, and I can only presume you have pride over your applications. Carry it over, let the world know. Allow people to enjoy your applications as they should.
Hopefully, this’ll get a spark out of you enough to actually get off your ass and realize you are being no more than a crook: taking peoples money with promises of quality and handing them a mangled piece of Carbon.
— Zach
Recently, I was having such a problem where Newsfire would reset itself once every day, I had no backup the first time. I didn’t feel I needed one, Newsfire only crashed, it didn’t crash so badly.
A friend of mine, Shawn Grimes had similair problems:
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I personally have never used NewsFire and have only played around with the trial version of Acquisition.
“taking peoples money with promises of quality and handing them a mangled piece of Carbon”
Sounds like a kind of anti-Santa… instead of free presents, you pay for coal.
Here’s my story with him. I can’t complain.
Its crappy to be a paying customer and get lousy support
Try Vienna - I’ve had no problems with that.
Sometimes many independent developers end up wearing too many hats and this leads to short quick responses because that is all they have time for. I do not think that Dave intentionally tries to come across crass, but does so because he’s stretched pretty thin.
Oh, and if he doesn’t want you to be able to transfer licenses, and if he gives you a hard time with support, and if his programs cause your system to become unstable - I do not recommend owning any licenses to his software.
I do not own any of Dave’s software (partially because I own alternatives to them) but he is, in my mind, one of the most creative Macintosh developers alive and there has to be something said for that.
My advice: Zach, if you don’t like Dave, his support, or how is software affects your computer. Do not buy his software. Dave, ask someone to help you with support so that it can be taken care of in a manner that befits your company and your product’s reputation.
I am having an absolute nightmare with this man. I have emailed and used his activation code retrieval service. Neither of wich has resulted in my getting the code.
what a bawbag!
I want my money back
When focus slides from making applications to making money, then something important is lost…